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My diet and overall health are good, and I know the basics of good sleep habits, so I really am not looking for the basics of insomnia--please don't bother posting that stuff.
I'm looking for other women who have dealt with or are dealing with the ups and downs of hormones wrecking havoc on sleep. I'm waiting on a cortisol test results to see if my adrenals are out of whack so other than that I'm at a loss on what to do.
Has your doctor been helpful in getting to the underlying cause (estrogen, progesterone?) rather than sleeping pills? A menopausal specialist wants $600 just to get in her program and that covers nothing but acceptance to be treated. My reg doctor gave me sleeping pills, my gyn said menopause is a normal part of life. I'm frustrated and so frickin tired.
Not sleeping was my worst nightmare as I entered menopause. I could deal with anything else but not insomnia. But of course what do I get... insomnia. It literally has been going on for years, yes, years. I only get a good night after being awake for 2 nights and going to work during the day. I would wonder how am I doing this?? Been to internist many times about it, taken prescription pills, taken alternative things like the usual melatonin, valerian etc. Nothing helped, I was incredibly frustrated. I can't take hormones due to a clotting disorder but to honest, wouldn't anyway due to problems with those.
I had tried Trazodone years ago and it really didn't do anything but decided to try it again recently and it does help now, don't know why it didn't before but I am sleeping somewhat better now. I do not sleep every night but I am sleeping more nights in general. I kept a sleep log before the Trazodone and I averaged 3 nights a week that I never slept. I work in a hospital and some shifts are 12hrs. What a nightmare to try and get through that with no sleep. I am happy to say that it never effected my mood and I could stay on an even keel.
Honestly, I don't expect this to ever change at least for me. I figure when I retire I will not have to worry about being tired at work. I can deal with sleepless nights more when I am not working. I am 62 1/2 and way beyond being post-menopause so I really think I am stuck with this.
So, I understand what you are experiencing. and yes, I agree... whenever I see something about "how to get a good nights sleep" I read it but it always turns out to be the same old stuff.
I've been finished with menopause for years and the insomnia has never gotten better. My mom was the same way. If I take half a benedryl I can sleep 8 hrs, otherwise it's 3-4 hrs max. Sorry I can't suggest somethng better.
Thank you ladies both for your responses. I've dug into hours of reading and have found some things that may help us. Magnesium--a likely deficit for everyone The Magnesium Miracle | Dr Carolyn Dean MD ND
Also, I tried last night, L-Theanine; I took double the dose and had a blissful night of about 6 or 7 hours of okay sleep. It's an amino acid with relatively zero side effects. I was groggy this am but not that ambien type of zoney feeling. Just groggy. It's a step, right?
I bought magnesium spray and used it right away. Read about it and see if you're not intrigued to try it. Can't hurt and will likely help.
I have low tolerance to just about anything-I have been known to get drunk on a glass or 2 of wine. Yeah, I'm a cheap date. When I have trouble sleeping (usually from back issues) I take a 800 mg of ibuprofen and sleep like a baby.
I'm right with you and have had intermittent sleep issues for many years. I've tried ibuprophen, Benadryl, magnesium and melatonin and they work to some degree but what works the very best for me, in the natural realm, is 100 mg of 5HTP with 1500 mg if L-Tryptophan as recommended by my naturopath. The first time I took it, it was like magic!
I also have Ambien which is amazing but I only use a small dose to break a week long sleepless period although I wish I could use it daily . I wake up after that feeling like I've had the best sleep of my life!
P.S. I'm posting this at 4:24am and have been awake now for a few hours as I didn't take anything to sleep!
Location: Stuck on the East Coast, hoping to head West
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I use natural progesterone. I use it before bed. I began using it when my since-retired midwife told me to try it. When my symptoms get worse, I use more. I also periodically gradually reduce it to see how I do.
When I switched ob-gyns, I asked my new one her opinion about natural progesterone. She didn't believe it would harm me, but doesn't believe it helps, either. She claims that any relief I'm getting is all in my head. So what? I still benefit. Interestingly, she did offer me my pick of prescription meds (sleeping pills, HRT, anti-depressants, etc). I didn't/don't use any of them.
I still have moments of insomnia, but not like it was and it usually only lasts a night.
Oh my gosh, I went through horrible insomnia at menopause, too. My worst symptom was feeling like little bugs were crawling under my skin...eek..who could sleep with that sensation??
Over it now. What helped somewhat was taking black cohosh, vitamin D, and starting a yoga practice...but honestly, my sleep only returned to "normal" after menopause was over by a few years and my hormones settled down.
The plus side was that I got s LOT of good books read...
OP, keep looking for doctors who deal with menopause until you find one who works with progesterone, at least, or hormone replacement in general. You can get over-the-counter progesterone (your body's main sleep hormone) at some health food stores or vitamin shops. Call around. Your local food co-op might have it. These days I'm pretty sure all progesterone is "natural", i.e. made from herbal sources, if that's a concern. It's only available OTC in a low dose, though. And be careful about dosing: don't overdo it. Best to do this under a doctor's supervision.
Lots of doctors tell menopausal women to go on sleeping pills. The problem is, you're not supposed to use them as a long-term solution; it's been shown to be harmful longer-term. It's totally irresponsible of doctors to recommend that, and just plain lazy. I don't know why the primary care docs who are certified to prescribe hormones are so out-to-lunch on this. A puzzlingly high percentage of them don't seem to know that the sex hormones are also the sleep hormones.
It's progesterone that gets you to sleep at night. It's estrogen that keeps you asleep in the wee hours of the night, and it calms down the hot flashes, too.
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. I wake up after that feeling like I've had the best sleep of my life!
