Trouble staying asleep often waking in early hours

[TonyRPH]

I have trouble sleeping right through the night.

I usually go to bed around 10:30 / 11:00pm but then wake up at random times - most often 2:00am / 3:30am / 4:30am

With the times being seemingly regular, I did wonder if there was some external noise waking me up but I think I have ruled that out.

Once I'm awake, I can often be awake for over an hour, despite feeling tired and wanting to do nothing else but go back to sleep.

There have been times when I've just given up and gone downstairs and done something on my PC for an hour or so, and usually once I've done that and returned to bed, I drop off pretty quickly.

This has been going on for about 5 - 8 years, and I have previously consulted my GP who's answer was to prescribe sleeping tablets (despite me explaining that I have no problem getting to sleep..). The sleeping tablets didn't help.

It's usually worse in the summer months with the very early sunrise - I have fitted a blackout blind to help with this.

For quite a while now, I have epic slumps during the day and find myself struggling to stay awake, and usually at weekends end up napping on the sofa for an hour, and sometimes during the week napping for around 45 mins or so.

I try to avoid these daytime naps, so as not to disrupt my sleep and further, but sometimes it's just inevitable that I have to give in to it.

In case it matters, I am mid 50's, and powerfully built probably slightly overweight.

I welcome any help or suggestions.

TIA.

[TonyRPH]

@CoolHands - Stress could be a factor. I try to stay off my laptop after 9:30 ish - and usually have a window open as well.

@Wacky Racer - I used to have an eye mask, however I just couldn't get on with it as I didn't like having something across my face.

@Luke. We have a fan on when it's been really warm, but I find it tends to wake me up!

@GreenDog - Snoring - yes I have been a bit of a snorer, but my O/H says she doesn't hear me snore much (if at all) lately (a couple of years - which is about the time a bought a new pillow)

@Peanut Gallery - I drink decaf, and tend not to drink coffee after 9pm however sometimes I've had a coffee as late as 10:30 and I sleep fine... :|

@craigjm - re sleep apnoea - my O/H's ex used to suffer from that - she doesn't think I do.

@condor - yes - getting up to go for a pee has been a bit of an issue at times but I usually find I go just because I'm awake.

@hepy - My O/H has suggested Zinc / magnesium tablets as well.

@MickyDncl - I'm not sure how I'd get on with earplugs - I don't like the isolation!

@Johnnytheboy - your suggestion doesn't sound silly at all - I used to do that (kind of like a nighttime daydream if you like) and it used to help, but not any more!

Thanks for the suggestions!

One other thing I used to do was listen to music - however that doesn't work for me any more either.

I'm a lost cause

[TonyRPH]

I'm not quite sure how this return to our old style sleep pattern is going to fit in with modern life though!

Our forebears were not bound to get up for work and probably had more time to themselves during the day maybe?

I'm "fortunate" to be unemployed at the moment, however when I did have a full time job, I would struggle to get through a normal day, having to deal with epic slumps due to being so tired.