Coping with no sleep

My son was rushed into hospital Sunday with his asthma and is over the worst but isn't ready to go home yet. The problem is that I've been here with him 23 hours every day leaving only to go home so i can shower and sort out the animals, but i just can't sleep!! I've managed about two hours tonight, the same last night and none at all Sunday. So now I'm tired and getting tearful and it's looking likely we'll be here for a couple more days yet, news that he isn't going to take well. I've haven't got anyone who can come and take over here for a while so i can go home and sleep and i wouldn't be able to settle away from him anyway. His dads been coming in for the hour i go home but doesn't seem to want to stay longer even though his work have given him the time off, but then he's never really good enough so no change there! I just don't know how I'm going to get through today and im really missing my other two kids!!
All suggestions sensible and amusing welcome. Cheer me up please guys xx

It's always difficult when someone you love is in hospital. But it sounds like he's on the road to recovery. It sounds like he's not in intensive care or in imminent danger. Probably the best thing you can do for all of you is to go home, get some rest and try to restore some semblance of normality.

It would probably be good for your son to get a straight 8 hours sleep - use that time to get away yourself. If he can't manage 8 hours at night, I know asthma can often be worse at nights, then see if he sleeps during the day - whatever works.

He's not in danger by the sound of it... perhaps try and back up a bit and look at things from a different, brighter, perspective. That will help him when he sees you not stressed out.

You'll also need to be refreshed for when he comes out of hospital back home so you can look after him then if needed, and do the rest of things you need to in your life.

Look after yourself first so you can look after others. You HAVE to have that balance.

All the very best for a great recovery and lots of peaceful time ahead.

Vic.

[kaivalagi]

Sorry to hear this KJ, best advice above, you'll both need sleep.

Also has the hospital provided a bed for you alongside your sons? If not ask for one or maybe it's best going home to get some me time for just a little bit. Are you driving back and forth...if so be careful...no sleep and driving dont mix well!

Please look after yourself, only then can you properly look after your son. Easier said than done I know...

[Bri w]

Good to hear he's improving.... so now its your time to relax.

Get yourself down to the theatres. Dress up in theatre greens/blues and go in and have a whiff of the gases. Guarantee you'll have a damn good sleep with that stuff in you... or you'll see some of the most beautiful colours on the planet.

[pookie]

See if they have a side room..grab some ear plugs and those airplane eye cover thingies. Not sure how old your son is but maybe have a chat and sound the idea out. Agree with the above re going home and looking after yourself.

If it were me I'd get dad there for an hour and make sure he hasnt anything on ( get a couple of dvds) and go home for a kip

All else fails have some cake and tea.. hope you son gets sorted out and back home soon.

As a shift worker, I tend to just eat my way through sleepless nights which does lead to an unfortunate tyre of fat around my hips mind. Go get some sleep at home if you can, most kids find their parents an embarassment anyway

[dizzyblonde]

Looking after children in hospital is horrendous

Go home, and go to bed at night. It's easier said than done, but you do have others dependant on you too.
If he's over the worst, I'm sure that's a signal for you to relax a little.
When Oli was in special care, and I was told I couldn't stay in hospital anymore, I cried all the way home. I felt like a bit of a spare part and didn't know what to do, but my eldest hadn't seen me in nearly four days or so, apart from the odd visit. It just didn't seem right leaving baby.
The special care baby unit nurses are extremely capable, and I felt like I was intruding, so took that as an indication to get some sleep!

I'm sure those looking after your son will do their job, so he can come home quickly,

Sorry to read this KJ but you ain't no help to anyone if you're not in a good state yourself, your lad won't want to see you down, he needs his jolly mum to lift his spirits! As long as the worst is over, you've come through that and now it's time to get you straight in time for him coming home Take care hun xx

Depending how old your boy is I would leave him with the hospital staff. I had my tonsils out when I was 7 and spent about 4-5 in the hospital. Both my parents worked so I stayed there and amused myself. Tell him when your going to visit so he knows he will see you at whatever time and if you leave about bedtime for him you can still get home and rest and be back for about 8 - 9 yourself

I can understand not wanting to leave him in the hospital alone and go home, I don't know how old your son is, but mine is 5 years old tomorrow, and to leave him there under the care of nurses he doesn't know would scare him sh*tless.

Asthma is also scary as hell for a parent, breathing oxygen is of course vital to life and asthma attacks can be fatal. You can also be in hospital for a long time with it as until they are managing 4 hours without inhalers they won't discharge the patient.

I've been there myself a few times KJ, and Kettering children's ward are actually very good and let you climb in the bed with him to get some sleep. You still don't sleep properly though as there are other children crying, parents coming and going, a visit from a nurse or doctor every hour or two (and when the doctor comes you want to speak to them).

If the hospital you are in won't let you share the single bed, then take in a camping mat, a sleeping bag, a pillow, some ear plugs, and an eye mask, and camp on the floor next to the bed and try to get your head down as much as you can.

I have all of these things I can lend you all (my camping mat is a 2 inch think Thermarest that at 16 stone I sleep soundly on and don't feel the floor) and I'm close enough to bring them over in the car. Or if you need anything else I can help with let me know.

Take care x