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[dahliagirl]

I have had phases where I just fail to drop off - I seem to stay in a state of almost dropping off, but it doesn't quite happen until I crash out just before the alarm goes.  For me it has got better with hrt.  I don't think it ever lasted more than 3 nights on the trot, but it is horrible.

I find drinking plenty water during the day, and keeping a glass of water by the bed helps with the overheating. I am not sure if you overheat because you are not asleep, or you are not asleep because you overheat.  Anyway, it helps with the bladder and night time weeing too, and amazingly can reduce the number of times you need to wee in the night.

I have two brothers who sleep badly and they both listen to the radio at night - one has a pillow radio.  We have also tried this: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/4b5JlqFvkXb3FhHCM2MjqG9/prepare-for-an-8-hour-lullaby but not sure it actually worked.  It was interesting, though.

[Peroxideblader]

Thanks dahliagirl...I could cope if I had a few nights like I do but it's every single night...no respite apart from a sleeping tablet once a week . I do have water but a therapist told me to get up and read if I can't sleep so I drink when I'm up for my hourly get up.  I've tried music cbt relaxation cds and apps but if anything they wake me up I need total silence hence why I wear earplugs ...I really hoped hrt would help but 10 days in there's no change..but should I expect results yet??

[Roadrunner]

10 days isn't very long in the land of HRT. You're right to say give it a month and then look you see if things have improved. They may not be all solved but moving in the right direction if you know what I mean. I found the improvements were subtle and continued to get better over time. Easier said than done when you're sleep deprived though. X

[Katia]

I've just stopped the gel, the estrogen and am just using the Utrogestan and all the insomnia, racing heart, night sweats, hot flushes have gone. Too much estrogen seemed to cause as many problems for me as solve them

[Peroxideblader]

Thanks roadrunner..if it was any of the other symptoms I could cope with slow improvement but after 4 years of sleep starvation I'm at my wits end and a month feels like a year to wait.
Katia...so glad your insomnia has gone but was it the same as mine the inability to get to sleep or early waking due to sweats? And I didn't know you could take progesterone only without the oestrogen?

[Taz2]

Have you taken this test? http://www.nhs.uk/Tools/Pages/Sleep-self-assessment.aspx. Might give you something else to try?

Taz x

[CLKD]

Also if you are passing urine every hour then something is wrong!  You may not be drinking enough which will cause the kidneys to work more = the need to pee more often.  Your Practice Nurse could arrange an output/input chart which means measuring everything you drink and pass and the time of each.

Time to see a Urologist maybe?

[Peroxideblader]

Already seen consultant in urology done the pee test diagnosed with overactive bladder tried botox in my bladder twice but hardly made a difference and had to self cathertize for months so it's just another ailment to add to my list.

[Taz2]

Haven't you been offered any further treatment though and were you seen under the care of a pelvic floor specialist? There are other treatments to try so don't give up. It's not fair that you should be given the botox and then, when that failed, were just left to get on with it. The urology department is usually the first port of call followed by the urinary continence team. I hope you get some more help soon!

Taz x

[Peroxideblader]

Taz2 that's the NHS for you in my opinion it's that and nothing after. As it's not leakage it's frequency there aren't as many options mainly botox and a relaxing pill for the detruser muscle at the Base of your bladder to stop it vibrating and signalling you need a wee so often.that didn't work paralysing it didn't and pill for Ms that works on stabilising did nothing. So that's it no cure bye bye never mind. I live with it now it's part of life..can't go anywhere without knowing there's a loo and nightly wee trips are the norm. Sad but true heh ho.

[Katia]

Peroxidebladder - it was waking at between 1am and 3am and like ping wide awake and then struggling to get back to sleep.  Night sweats have gone since I stopped the gel too.  It's so strange as estrogen is supposed to help sweats, burning and flushes.

[Peroxideblader]

Katia are you able to stop oestrogen and just use utrogestan as that's my issue I wondered if my oestrogen levels are OK which is why the 2 weeks on it have brought on this anxiety and bleakness....did you get advised by a doctor to cut out the oestrogen and just use utrogestan?? And when do you take it what days etc thanks

[Katia]

I stopped both of them for about 8 days for blood tests.  I felt so much better, all hot flushes and night sweats went.  Looking back, they came with HRT.  I'd only been on it about 2 months.  I decided to continue to stop.  After a few days I had crazy hunger and a spot, really greasy skin and th VA was a problem so I started the gel.  Back came all the problems.  I stopped the gel and decided to try the U on it's own.  It's been fine so far. I take it orally, every night.  I've added back a bit of gel - about half pump.  Any more and I seem to burn and have night sweats.  I spoke to the consultant yesterday.  There's no problem taking P without E, but I do need some E, just not the gel.  I guess it's a bit like taking the  mini pill. 

[Peroxideblader]

That's good news as it's the oestrogen that's made me ill. I'm going to start with one pump oestr8gel and 100mg of utrogestan days 15 to 26 I believe and see how I get on but my gp whose never heard of this hrt regime said if I take 100mg progesterone it has to be days 1 to 15?

[Katia]

Peroxidebladder -

In a review by Prior, oral micronized progesterone (OMP) appears to effectively treats vasomotor symptoms and sleep disturbances, and monotherapy is potentially safe for symptomatic menopause.