I am now 4 years post menopause and the insomnia (which started at the menopause) has got really bad. I wonder why some women get this as a bad side effect and some dont. Is it to do with low oestrogen meaning low serotonin (trying to find out the cause and then, maybe will get the cure)
I have literally gone a whole night with no sleep whatsoever. On other bad nights I can get 2 hours sleep, generally, about 3 nights a week I get 3 hours and occasionally 5 or 6.

I have tried many of the treatments others have used but unfortunately, the only thing that works for me is amytriptiline which, after 5 days gives me depression.

The big question is, does this get better on its own in time? Has anybody had it badly then it has improved?

Thanks.

Christine

Have you tried Tranquil Sleep by Natural Factors? It was recommended to me on this board, and has been a life saver.
Good Luck.... Mary

Take Benadryl tablet (25 mg) - you can take it every night as its non-addictive - works well

oh my dear Christine...this has to be one of the worst things that has plagued me with these hormonal changes.....I began almost 5 years ago too!

I can count the number of nights I have slept 8 + hours over the last 5 years....that's how bad it has been.

I too have tried a number of things, but as the lack of sleep has been caused by the overworked adrenals pushing too much cortisol out at the wrong time, hence, high anxiety usually just as I am going to bed and if I wake up during the night - which is always - I get 'hot' which I am assuming is an adrenal surge, which comes along with an anxiety spell....it truly is awful.

I am post by 2 years now and wondering when my body - and mind - will sort itself out!!!???

I am wary of taking anything, simply because I have had bad luck with stuff I have taken in the past....they usually give me a huge anxiety attack instead of calming me to sleep!!

good luck Christine...let us know if any suggestions here work for you!

Caz

After three months of feeling like the "meno-fog" was 10 times worse…I gave up on the amytrip and started looking for holistic/homeopathic alternatives.

I have had excellent luck with tart cherries.

It sounds a bit like “voodoo magic” but it has worked for me and both my daughters
( they are still “kiddos”…lol …..29 and 24 but the insomnia is something I have dealt with all my life and seemed to have passed the quirk on to them, gotta love genetics.)
Tart cherries are loaded with melatonin.

I drink eight oz. warmed organic tart cherry juice and eat 15 tart cherries 30 minutes before bedtime.

It helps tremendously if you can get at least 15-20 minutes of direct sunshine and fresh air early in the day. It just seems to make the cherries “kick in better”. I have used a used melatonin supplements but the tart cherries seem to work much better.

Also…keep an eye on your caffeine consumption.

Check the caffeine content on drinks, snacks etc….you might be shocked to find out how much caffeine you are consuming…unawares.

When I started really watching what I ingested after 3:00 p.m. I discovered I was getting the equivalent to three-four cups of coffee…in the eve…without having the pleasure of having coffee!

Thankyou so much my menofriends. What a great support group. Three good suggestions to try. I will give them all a go.

The Benadryl I can get easily over the counter.

I will look on the net for the Tranquil Sleep.

Tart cherries (I assume I can get them in the supermarket). They sound tasty (I will have to watch out for the hypoglycemia just before I go to bed though. I have been diagnosed with this after the glucose test at the hospital.

Caz, am with you on the adrenal issue. I have had 4 of the 4 a day saliva tests done over the last 5 years and first I showed high cortisol in the morning , dropped like a stone by lunchtime, then over the range afternoon and night. The last one showed too low all through the day. They are a mess and cant we feel it. If I do go to sleep I dont get this, but if I dont, I get all of the anxiety, the jumpiness, internal shakiness. With this insomnia, I notice, I have one chance to go to sleep when I am first tired at night. If I can do that, I will sleep for 3 hrs. If something jerks me awake on that one time, I dont get another chance, it is then that I am awake all night. Like that one time has given me the biggest adrenal surge and that keeps me awake, thats what it feels like.

I have a friend on the low dose hydrocortisone and it has really helped her, with me, it sort of made me dizzy and sleepy. Both of us have been diagnosed with CFS as well.

Thanks again.

Christine