I have been living with a host of menopausal symptoms for over two years now (hot flashes, sweats, chronic insomnia, mood swings, migraines, exhaustion, you name it) and I feel the lack of sleep is severely affecting my overall mood at this point and causing great tension between myself and my family. I cannot seem to get my estrogen leveled out (try everything natural, no interest in drugs or hormones) and nothing seems to work right now. I take a small dose of Xanax or Lunesta to try to get some sleep, but the amount is so spotty (with flashes waking me through the night) that I just know I have worn myself down to a complete and utter emotional mess from all this menopause stuff.

I'm 46, run 10 miles daily, vegan, no not drink or smoke or drink any coffee or tea - I watch my sugar and my white flour intake - what else can I do to get decent sleep or at least do something so I'm not so miserable and moody?

I can offer advice, just wanted to let you know I'm doing just about what you are doing (I wish I could do 10, I'm only up to 3), but also watch very carefully what I eat, no gluten/dairy, very, very little sugar, if any and try doing relaxation before I go to bed. I actually have no trouble falling asleep, I just wake up about every hour on the hour! Very frustrating and exhusting! I'm hoping someone comes up with something.

ladies,
I have insomnia which was really bad 9 months ago. I was addicted to Ambien CR. Had to get off of that and now I'm on klonopin. My biggest problem was anxiety riddened and depression. I'm 46 too but went into early meno 6 yrs ago. I think it's just hitting me now. Doc doesn't think so. I don't have any hot flashes or night sweats but other crap I have. I would do anything not to have anxiety anymore. You guys are doing everything right with your health so just hang in there and keep posting...(((((char)))))

It's the most frustrating and most days, defeating thing I think I've ever had to contend with, really. Not knowing how to manage your own body or health for me is unnerving, but to know succumbing to anxiety medication and now sleep meds (of which I cannot afford) and still not to feel better is a serious issue for so many women. The fact that so many turn to dangerous hormone treatments, or antidepressants because they either can't bear another day of being miserable and sick, or because their doctors have convinced they "this'll take care of it all" to discover it really only helps (and for some, doesn't help at all) for a short time.

I find the random remedies to actually be more confusing that helpful; how are we to know what works for us, when each individuals hormonal makeup is so exclusive to each female? So we try and try, spend money we don't have, to still end up exhausted, sleep deprived, depressed, hyper moody, and so many others...

I woke this AM as I always do, after having been woken numerous times with flashes (is at the point now where when I do sleep I sleep so lightly it would take an elephant tranquilizer to get me through more than five hours uninterrupted), and thought, "this ***** so bad, feeling so lousy day after day after day. But, I get dressed, lace up my shoes and hit the pavement - I know I'm stronger for having done so, I know at least I am in control of this part of my life, but now, sitting here writing, the waves of exhaustion hit me and I feel like all I want to do is cry, cry, cry.

So we soldier on, praying that one day we wake up, feel pretty decent, don't want to kill someone or shot ourselves in the face, realize the flashes and fatigue have subsided and we rejoice that's its finally all over.

I just hope I get that day before I suffer a heart attack from all the constant cortisol surging through my blood stream 24/7!

I just hope I get that day before I suffer a heart attack from all the constant cortisol surging through my blood stream 24/7!


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That particular statement really hits home for me. I think that worries me the most. The lack of sleep, the anxiety. My cortisol is high as well and I know that is the worse thing that is happening inside me. I guess exercise is supposed to help reduce that, I'm not really sure. When your feeling like a blob, unmotivated to actually take action (that would be in my case) it is really frustrating. I am/was used to my body, knew how to read it. Was rarely sick with anything. Now I have all kinds of strange things popping up and it is frightening to say the least. Here's to us figuring this out. I myself had to give in and try and AD for the anxiety/panic/depression. Also, taking Xanax until hopefully the AD kicks in. I will try anything just to get the stress levels down and then can work on other proactive things to get my well being back.

Good luck and take care.
Mich

Oh, please don't misunderstand, if AD's are the way you can cope and feel better, I'm not judging AT ALL. Its just for me, the possibility of any weight gain is a big no-no since I do run as often s I can in 1/2 and full marathons... seriously, if I knew it would work, if I knew anything would work and not cause me to gain weight, I'd try it. Yes, the high levels of cortisol raging in my body totally freaks me out - I wish I could find something that can level out or balance that - heart attack is a big scare for me. May I ask; what AD's and what does are you on? How often do you take the Xanax and how much?

Power on darling, we WILL get through this!

Hi twistoffate, I feel for you. Not sleeping is the worst torture a human can endure. It messes with the mind and the body. I too used to train hard, I trained for hours as a black belt and also in the gym. I was unstoppable. I felt great, until the perihell hit. I suffered with insomia for quite some time. My sister had it so bad she thought she was going to crack up. She did not try to gut it out like I did. She went on AD's and adivan. Seems like she fought it for months but it finally resolved. Neither she nor I drank alcohol or smoked and I even stopped sugar and all caffein. That did NOTHING. Not to mention I was pretty much a vagan as well. That just caused me a life long problem with anemia! So here I am, I am eating my second skinny cow ice cream sandwich, I had 2 cups of coffee today and I am so darn tired that I can't wait to go take a nap. I sleep well now, the problem is I want to sleep all the stinking time. This just does not make any sense anymore does it. The other thing that helped me so much was to take a teaspoon of childrens liquid Benedryl. That stuff ROCKS! My fiance is a huge strapping 230 lbs of muscle. He has had severe insomnia since I have known him and when he takes the Benedry, he sleeps! Baby Benedryl. How funny. Life is full of idiocyncrosies. Give it a try....you have nothing to lose. I will bet if you smoked a cigarette, drank a couple cups of coffee and threw back a couple of twinkies, you would sleep like a LOG!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL I am just kidding, but it's all so outrageous, this midlife thing that I wouldnt' discount anything anymore...........Debra

Really, children's Benedryl? I wonder how that affects my nightly weaning off Lunesta? You're not supposed to interrupt dosages (I'm down to 1/2 of a 1/2 because its too addicting I think) so if I take the baby benedryl will I have reactions? Oh the anemia thing - I had that so bad I had injections of iron for six weeks, three times a week twice a year - then meno hits, no period for two years and my iron levels aren't nearly as bad. When I'm my most exhausted I swear the run actually makes me feel better - they say for chronic fatigue the best remedy to exert yourself - who knew? Yes, mid life is HIDEOUS sometimes! So your man is 230 and can sleep on OTC meds? Has he ever taken prescription sleep aids?

So tell me, how was it coming off the Ambien CR? I'm having the worst time weaning off my 1 mg of Lunesta... I have anxiety during the day a teeny bit, but its "anxiety induced insomnia" that has had a grip on me for three years now... the hot flashes just make it SO much worse - if I could sleep through the night for at least 7 hours, I would be so indescribably happy

twistoffate,
Well I was on it for 6 months and I started cutting it in half which they tell you not to. But like you it was getting expensive. $145.00 for 30 pills. My insurance wouldn't cover the CR because they made generic and didn't work for me. My psych. doc told me to take 1mg of klonopin at night anf for some odd reason it worked. The first night I think I got 4 straight hours of sleep and eventually a little more sleep unless I have anxiety then forget it. It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. I'm really impressed by all the running and healthy life style you lead. Me forget it. I tried and didn't work for me. I now have a beautiful week old granddaughter and have to be there for my daughter. She's new at this and only 23 so a lillte scary for her. I'm exhausted but keep on. Wedon't have a choice. Good luck with the Lunesta.
(((((char))))

I know you say hormones are out but Progesterone is a wonderful sleep aid and gets rid of the flashes/sweats if it works for ya! I would much rather take a BHRT than sleeping pills myself.

A 23 year old and a grand daughter - congratulations! I have a 23 year old myself, and I was 23 when I gave birth - amazing how the time and life just disappears isn't it? I'm glad to hear the AD works for you, I'm researching and trying all sorts of things to find the magic bullet for me - its out there, I just know it!