Weird sleep issues - restless, itchy and hot

[redrabbit29]

I'm 39 and most of my life I have had periods of issues with sleep. Sometimes for several months and then it subsides and it gets a bit better. Mostly it is manageable.

Recently, I've been in a bad phase and the symptoms are really odd.

I spend most of my night with:

- Restless legs and body (fairly common I think)

- Feeling very hot and bothered (despite the room being fairly chilled)

- Itchy all over - this is the worst as I just scratch everywhere. My legs, body, my arms, my fat bum, my crotch. It just goes on for hours and when I try to stop I just can't. I don't think it's the bedding or the washing powder as all my other clothes are fine, and when I do sleep and get into a restful phase it is fine.

Has anyone had similar issues?

(Yes I have tried everything over the years... hot baths, exercise, no exercise, no caffeine, magnesium, herbal remedies, night nurse (does help sometimes), yoga, meditation, etc.)

I'm fairly sure it's a mental issue rather than physical

[springfan62]

I find breathing exercises the best for sleep.

Breath in for 3, hold for 3, breath out for 3, hold for 3 repeat.

[Badda]

Have a listen to the latest podcast The Referral - Dr Karan - it’s all about sleep and mythbusts with some great tips.

[geeks]

springfan62 said:

I find breathing exercises the best for sleep.

Breath in for 3, hold for 3, breath out for 3, hold for 3 repeat.

I do this while counting prime numbers when I can't sleep. But I am not sure either will help the OP in this instance

[Tom8]

Are you male or female?

[simon_harris]

How hot are you getting, like change the sheets sweaty or close to it?

without wanting to be alarming that is a symptom of lymphoma it might be worth speaking to your DR if only to count it out.

[sib8292]

Might be symptoms of kidney disease. I had all of them, culminating in kidney failure and a transplant. Suggest you ask go for a blood test in particular to check creatinine levels. Anything above 200 would be likely to give you one or more of those symptoms. ( mine is now 120, compared to reading for a healthy adult of my age of 100/110. I no longer have the symptoms....).

[sparkyhx]

itching can be a sign of liver problems - simple blood test can rule it out

[simon_harris]

given that the OP hasn't returned to the thread I think we can assume it was terminal...

[HRL]

Tom8 said:

Are you male or female?

A pretty pertinent bit of info required indeed. My wife suffers from those symptoms but it’s the menopause, nothing else.

[WyrleyD]

Could also be diet related. This did happen with me and because of my T2 diabetes I decided to try out a carb free 18/6 diet with no food for 18 hours and then two to three meals in the remaining 6 hours and finishing all meals by six pm, I now don't get hot during the night and have slept well after the first week.

I agree you should go and get blood tests done as it could be kidney, liver or thyroid issues, all those could cause the night heat.

[redrabbit29]

simon_harris said:

given that the OP hasn't returned to the thread I think we can assume it was terminal...

[redrabbit29]

Tom8 said:

Are you male or female?

I'm male and have no other health issues

simon_harris said:

How hot are you getting, like change the sheets sweaty or close to it?

without wanting to be alarming that is a symptom of lymphoma it might be worth speaking to your DR if only to count it out.

Not sweaty hot, barely even hot to the touch but just internally warm and uncomfortable.

---

Thanks for everyone's replies about going to the Doctor, the possible diet, medication, other options etc. Really appreciate it.
I've had a better few nights but I will see about booking an appointment - my new job role has a health care thing so I will give that a go

My diet has been terrible the last few weeks - too much alcohol and bad food. In a bit of a rut to be honest.

[Rumblestripe]

redrabbit29 said:

simon_harris said:

given that the OP hasn't returned to the thread I think we can assume it was terminal...

Praise The Lord!

[simon_harris]

Rumblestripe said:

Praise The Lord!

It has been 3 days!

Alcohol is very bad for sleep, my sleep quality is always much poorer when I drink, I also find that when I eat carbs/sugar that I get very hot and suffer from restless legs.

[Frenchda]

Checked for diabetes?

[cookie1600]

Short term to confirm a few things in your own mind before seeking professional advice. Have you tried antihistamines?

They might help the itching and can make you drowsy i,e, might help with the sleeping?

[sherman]

Does it gappen more when you eat pasta or some other food stuff?
It could be a mild gluten intolerance ?

[redrabbit29]

Good suggestions on the antihistamines - I have some in the house so will try that depending on how the next few days go.

I haven't noticed anything connected with my diet. I will monitor this though and see if anything does cause sleep/itchy issues

[stackmonkey]

redrabbit29 said:

Good suggestions on the antihistamines - I have some in the house so will try that depending on how the next few days go.

I haven't noticed anything connected with my diet. I will monitor this though and see if anything does cause sleep/itchy issues

Any update?

Any luck with antihistamines?

Did it prove terminal after all?