I’m desperate for advice on handling sleep disruption caused by my husband. Since late 2019, his restless legs, snoring, and nighttime movements have been keeping me awake. He also has bouts of insomnia, during which he uses his phone, and suffers from back pain, all of which disturb my sleep. We’ve tried numerous remedies including a weighted blanket, sleeping tablets, earplugs, an orthopedic mattress, and a super king-sized bed, but nothing has worked. He’s tall, so his movements easily wake me. We live in a flat without a spare bedroom, and our sofa is too small for him to sleep on. Recently, he started an antidepressant, which has increased his restlessness. I’m considering all suggestions, including possibly trying melatonin, though it’s hard to get prescribed here in the UK. Would separate beds be too extreme? I’m open to any ideas at this point.
I’m from Australia, and we face similar issues with getting melatonin prescribed. Many here order it from Iherb without problems, even though it technically requires a prescription. Unfortunately, it didn’t work for me.
@Vince
Thanks for sharing your experience. It might be worth trying melatonin given our situation. Sorry to hear it didn’t work for you.
Here are a few things that have helped us: 1. Smart bulbs with red light settings for bedtime. 2. Separate king single mattresses instead of one large one. 3. A high-quality eye mask for shift workers, available on Amazon. 4. Synchronizing our sleep schedules. 5. Evening walks and avoiding snacks after dinner. 6. Taking calcium and magnesium supplements for my restless limbs, though I’m not sure which change was most effective. We also temporarily relocated our pets to help with our sleep schedule.
@Sayer
I also recommend separate mattresses and removing pets from the bedroom. Cold showers before bed and sticking to a regular schedule might help too. And definitely keep phones out of the bedroom, replacing them with less disruptive alternatives like books or journals.
I found that earplugs were surprisingly effective for me, a revelation like a Christmas miracle. They’re inexpensive and might be worth a try.
The single mattresses might be a practical solution, even though we just invested in an orthopedic mattress. We already use special lighting, which helps me but doesn’t seem to affect him.
Sidney said:
The single mattresses might be a practical solution, even though we just invested in an orthopedic mattress. We already use special lighting, which helps me but doesn’t seem to affect him.
Consider trying separate mattresses and separate blankets. It can make a significant difference.
@Darin
This is known as the Scandinavian sleep method. It’s worth looking into!
Vale said:
@Darin
This is known as the Scandinavian sleep method. It’s worth looking into!
I didn’t know there was a name for it!
A nasal dilator from Amazon might help with the snoring. They’re inexpensive and might provide some relief.
I’ve had similar snoring issues. Nasal strips reduced the noise significantly. For you, a sleeping headband with Bluetooth might help drown out the noise with soothing music.
Grounded sheets have been effective for me.
Consider a chair that folds out into a bed for the living room. It’s not ideal, but it might offer a temporary solution.
Magnesium L-Threonate has significantly helped my husband with restless legs. If he has a physically demanding job, this might be a contributing factor. Magnesium Glycinate in liquid form might also be beneficial.
A small inflatable bed could be a temporary solution for one of you to sleep on the floor.