Hello Everyone:

I'm 52 and in menopause. I take BHRT which works great for hotflashes. Beginning last May I started not sleeping. I am so sick of this I could just go postal. I feel like **** all day because I am exhausted. I am not particularly stressed, do have outlets and things that I enjoy doing, etc, etc. so that's not the issue. I just lay in bed for hours on end.....awake. It is SO GD frustrating! I am enraged all the time about this. I've tried SSRIs, melatonin, tryptophane--they worked intermittently and I had to give them all up as they made me feel depressed and anxious the following day. I'm afraid to try Ambien, etc., as I know it's habit-forming. I don't know what to do but I tell ya, I can't go on like this much longer. I work full time, have a daughter, pets, and a busy life. I am so goddamned sick of not sleeping. I dread going to bed.

(((((((((((Dawnifer)))))))))))))))))

Welcome to PS. Not sleeping really bites. I'm sorry you're struggling so much. Perhaps trying Ambien maybe 2 or 3 nights a week may help you break the cycle. I don't sleep well do to night sweats and hot flashes. I was having a bout of sleeplessness 2 weeks ago from some homeopathic remedy...barely slept for 4 nights and was at my wits end. I bought something called Sleepy Time (over the counter) and it actually worked to my surprise. I took it for 2 nights and I slept like I usually do. At least I wasn't up all night or from 3 pm on.

I hope you get some rest soon.

Hugs,
Karen

I am sorry. I can so relate...I was awake from 3am to 4:30am and I have to get up at 6am. GRRRRR!!

You know, my mom had insomnia for several years, and near the beginning she decided that the "not sleeping" was interferring with her quality of life far too much. She decided if she needed sleeping pills to sleep, then so be it. She too Zopiclone, half a pill, every night for probably 10 years. On a recent trip to Europe she was so tired from jet lag when she returned home she didn't take her sleeping pills, and slept just fine. She has not needed to take the sleeping pills since.

So really, how habit forming was it for her? Ten years and she went off it cold turkey, and....nothing. She was fine and had found natural sleep again.

I went through a long period of no sleep and what I found to help me was.. taking calcium & magnesium citrate at night rather than in the am. These will wear off too though and not work after awhile so you may want to take one or the other but not both.

And the other thing that helped was to relax. I wouldn't sleep but I could still get rest just by not allowing it to frustrate me. Sounds crazy but once I accepted that I was going to be awake all night long I could close my eyes and just 'think'. I wouldn't think about anything specific and I wouldn't sleep not even for a moment but once I woke up, I wasn't as exhausted either.

But quite honestly you sound angry. Do you find that you are more angry than usual? Because that was one of my first symtpoms. You said you were on BHRT, but what kind? Estradiol and progesterone? Do you cycle your progesterone? Do you take it at night? Progesterone does help me sleep, in fact all I want to do is sleep (or eat) when I'm on progesterone. It sounds like maybe your doses aren't high enough. Are you Post? or still having menses?

Hi Dawn -

You're right to be cautious about taking sleeping pills because they can be addictive for SOME people. However, it wont do any harm to take them for a few days so you can catch up with some sleep. If you DO decide to take them long term and then have problems with addiction, only come off them under the guidance of your doctor. Dont EVER stop taking these drugs cold turkey.

Sorry you're not sleeping. I started having insomnia when I was 38 (now at 47). aghhhhhhh! Anyway, still perimenopausal and supplementing with estradiol and it DOES help me with sleeping. However, when I've skipped periods and had to add in the prometrium it totally disrupted my sleep. (next time will be trying other form of progesterone). Are you on a combined hrt? You need to try them separately to see how YOUR body reacts. It is the only way to find out what does what to you and your sleep cycle. Not sleeping totally blows! Good luck. J

I am so goddamned sick of not sleeping. I dread going to bed.


I have been really sick for months with bizarre symptoms -- physical and mental -- partly due to perimenopause and partly due to yet identified causes (my new doctor recommended being tested for neurological Lyme Disease).

I also was having terrible times sleeping. My sleep is still not perfect, but I have a bedtime regimen that I've been following that helps a lot, and I often can sleep now for 5 or 6 hours, sometimes even more. What I do is about an hour before bed I have a cup of Celestial Seasonings Sleepy Time tea (which has chamomile in it) and I take two valerian capsules. Then shortly before bed I take 3 calcium/magnesium tablets (the brand is Rainbow Light and that's the recommended dose), washed down by a glass of warm milk.

If I happen to wake up too early, I sometimes take an extra valerian, and I also recently started taking "Gaba Calm", a supplement that contains three of the main inhibitory neurotransmitters.

Again, I'm still having terrible symptoms including memory problems, feelings of depersonalization and anxiety off the charts at time. But at least with these supplements I find that I'm able to sleep a bit, whereas before I would lie awake all night freaking out.

Try them, they might work for you too. Good luck!

Dear'Dawnifer'
Have been down this road and was eventually so worn out I got a Prescription sleeping pill from the Doctor called 'Stilnox'I started them and enjoyed two weeks of quality sleep.Then so as not to get addicted I very,very slowly began to wean off.It was o.k..It seemed I had broken the anxiety of not sleeping so started to sleep fairly well on my own.I do have some tablets left and have no worries about taking them again if needed.

I also enjoy a warm bath before bed with a glass of warm milk with a little honey and some ginger and cinamon spices.I rarely drink coffee,no alcohol or cigarettes.Yoga semms to help too.

I wish you lots of luck as lack of sleep leads to depression and a higher incidence of accidents whilst driving etc.

When ladies like yourself express trepidation about medication it is a healthy sign as you are more aware of the dangers of addiction so will only use as needed.Same with Xanax, I have it available for very high anxiety but hardly ever use it.

So good luck
Hope you get some sleep soon
Elizabeth

Have you considered trying a little Benadryl? I find that if I am having trouble sleeping a half dose of Benadryl really helps. If you have seasonal allergies like I do, all the better. I am not a big medicine taker and medicine does affect me so I only take a half a dose. I bought the children's liquid form and take a half dose of that. I don't do it for longer than a few nights, but it does help me fall asleep and sleep without waking until morning. I have read where doctors say to try it for sleep problems and for me it seems safer than prescription sleep aids.

Dor

I do not use HRT-estrogen and progesterone but I find that since using a little testosterone I sleep like a baby. I also have lots more energy during the day and a more positive outlook. They key here is a little-too much and I am wired.

Prior to using testosterone I used to lay awake all night with negative thoughts going round in my head so it has worked like a charm for me

janet c

I am using a biodentical progesterone and sleep like a baby finally. Over 2.5 years I had forgotten what that was like.

Hi dawnifer:

I am so sorry you are suffering this way. Hugs to you.

I have insomnia off and on and wish I had some thing that would help you. Just remember whenever you do sleep, hang on to how you feel and know that you will sleep again.

Dawnifer, It's terrible to not get much sleep. I found Sleepy Time tea with Valerian(sp) helped me. I also used the Valerian pills and found 3 did the trick to get me at least six hours of rest. Good luck!

I have trouble falling asleep because my brain is going a million miles an hour every night. I've found that if I can find a way to shut that down, I can go to sleep. What works is for me to "bore" myself, meaning that I will focus on something that needs concentration but isn't interesting.

* I'll count backwards from 100, but actually draw the numbers on a chalk board in my head instead of just thinking them (the old "counting sheep" game);
* I'll try to name all the world's capital cities or remember the states in alphabetical order;
* Try to remember my teachers' names from elementary school;
* Crossword puzzles are good too. They make you concentrate, but are kinda boring at the same time;
* Orgasms. Not trying to be crude. An orgasm right before you go to asleep (with a partner or on your own) can do wonders.

A lot of times it's not the falling asleep but staying asleep. When I wake up at night (at least twice, usually more), I just tell myself over and over "Sleep. Relax. Sleep. Relax." Works every time.

Is it possible you're just not tired enough to sleep? I've had that problem as well. Until recently I led a pretty sedentary lifestyle. I wasn't getting enough activity for my body to go "I'm tired. Let's go to sleep."

Hope one of these suggestions works and you get some much-needed shuteye.

Acupuncture has helped me with sleep. I had a period in the fall for about 2 months where sleep was very bad for me. I'd wake up anywhere between 2-4 am and never get back to sleep. Much better since acupuncture. Sometimes I stil wake up but I can go back to sleep. If I don't I don't worry about it, and I usually sleep normal again the next night.

I am pleased that you posted this as I am embarking on a session of acupuncture for my bowel problems and my sleep (as well as fear/anxiety/no libido etc.,!!)

hope I get the same results.

Caz

Dawn:
I can relate quite well. I, too, am on BHT----feeling better than I have in years. I began taking the smallest dosage of Ambien about 6 months ago. I was so tired of not sleeping, I really missed sleeping!! The Ambien I take is only to help me drift off to sleep---there are other "flavors" of Ambien as well. You need to sleep to live your life---it is quite difficult, as well as dangerous to be sleep deprived (driving, dealing with all of the normal ups and downs of life, work and children....). Perhaps you should chat with your Doctor---mine was completely in favor of it. Glad I did it. Good luck---hope you find something to help you soon.....
Chris