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[lubi loo]

separate beds, audio books ,mindfulness meditation...and the knowledge that at some point i will be so knackered i will sleep. Also allow myself time to nap or go to bed and rest when not working...

If i need to get up i do if i need to just rest i do..I think the secret is to accept this temp discomfort

[Misty]

I have just had a read through this thread (and a good laugh too - read about someone like me who can hear a fly fart in the next room at night and I have also had to cover up my clock to stop me calculating just how much sleep I haven't had ). 

Like a lot of you out there, I have always had sleep problems - hormone related - and have had next to no sleep for the past three months and it is driving me crazy.  GP confirmed that it is definitely a symptom of the perimenopause and  pushing me to try HRT (last resort, as I don't like the idea of taking hormone replacement - too many contraindications for my liking at the moment ), but has advised using Phyto Soya, which I have just started a week ago.  Nothing, but nothing has helped with the sleep issue and over the years, I have tried everything going, but it has helped to know that so many of you suffer too and that I am not alone, or going mad!!

BTW - zopiclone and Phyto Soya Nightime don't  mix - gives me a full on headache the next day, even on half a 3.75 mgm tablet.

Trying to do without any kind of hypnotic natural or otherwise at the moment ................yawn.

[bev couzens]

i tryed karams ,one of them knocks me out for a day ,i took one at night,,now i take 2mg of vailum twice a day,,its helping with my anxiety attacks,,now i,v been given ADS,,they make me very wobbley and my hands shake alot..i still dont sleep very well..and when i do i have very nasty dreams..BEV

[TJ]

Sleep?  Oh, is that what it's called? Mine is sporadic at best. Doctor wanted to put me on Remeron (an older anti-depressant) and it made me feel absolutely zombified!  Like we need that in menopause?! I drink sleepytime chamomile/valerian tea which helps. I take a .25 mg (half of a .5 mg) tablet of Klonopin for anxiety.  I slept last night from about 11:15 pm to 2:30 a.m., tossed and turned, got up at around 4:00 am and went into the other bedroom due to neck pain and finding the other bed much more supportive I fell asleep til 8 am. I dont find too much that helps except the Klonopin and the tea. That's about it.  No way do I want to take that stupid antidepressant and feel worse. I find that less is  best....at least you have a baseline on how you feel. 

[Lucky Stone]

Even with the hrt, my sleep is not as good as it used to be. One decent night followed by one where I just can't either get to sleep or stay asleep. And I could also hear a fly fart (or OH snoring and snuffling  )  At the moment, I am staying put and eventually I do drift off .... but it's a pain.

[melis]

Having tried most natural remedies as I cant take HRT and it seems to be the flushes and feelings of dread/fear that wake me up I have for the last week started taking st johns wort and Omega 3 just one of each.. but Im sure im feeling a bit calmer less anxious..
I was also prescribed one of the older anti depressants (Amitriptyline 25mg) for pain and sleep..  but I couldnt handle the zombiefied feeling either.

[Taz2]

Hi Melis - the zombified feeling disappears after a couple of weeks. It is great at relieving pain and aiding sleep if you can get over the first week or so. My doc started me on 10mg which is the standard starting dose for pain relief.

Taz x

[melis]

Oh thanks for that Taz my doc put me on the 25mg and I even tried cutting it in half ..but if the st johns wort and Omega3 stop working I will go back and ask about 10mg dose.

My daughter has been on Amitriptyline for post natal depression (on a much higher dose) and she said the same thing that after the first couple of weeks she didnt feel zombied anymore ..she was first put on one of the newer anti's ..seroxat ..and was made a lot worse..the doctor actually apologised to her ... she was really poorly kept pacing the room and when she sat down her legs kept fidgetting.. but she did really well on the old Amitriptyline.

[Taz2]

Pleased that your daughter is feeling better. PND is such a horrible type of depression. Just when you should be over the moon with your new, successfully delivered and healthy baby, WHAM! you feel like nothing is worth living for. Everyone else adores your new little son/daughter but it is as if you feel that anyone other than you would be a better person to be looking after them. I hope that it soon lifts for her.

Glad to be of help with the Amitryp.

Taz x

[Trey]

Hi Taz, Wow! Wish I'd known the zombie feeling would pass.  I quit after a week years and years ago.  Now I'm tempted to re-think it for chronic pain control.  I thought gee, I took Elavil and had the same effect, and then realized that Elavil and Amiptrip are one and the same.  Thanks!  It was decades ago - must be one old drug.

[melis]

Yes Taz PND is rough .. she had that a few years ago ..but sadly has had a repeat bout of depression and was put back on the Amitrip and has made a big improvements ..back at work etc..but she has to stay on it for a couple of years as it is a subsequent bout..
Thanks again x

[wallflower]

I have no problem in getting to sleep ...I have for many years - 30 or so, listened to 'talk' tapes + now CDs.  This I have found out is pretty common, altho' I don't think Alan Bennet would be flattered to know just how many of his works have sent me sound asleep!
But, I sleep for maybe 2 or 3 hours, then it's up + out, to the toilet, to the fridge, just 'out'.  I don't even think I maybe need the toilet, I just get up.  Fortunately, I go back to bed and straight to sleep.
I mentioned this to a nurse + she gave me some antibiotics - she said I had a urine infection.  I slept straight thro the night for the first time in years...she said that the mp 'dries you up' and that you are more prone to infection..the nightly up and abouts have now returned.....I must be up at least 5 or 6 times in one night...anyone else out there doing this...I do think the nurse was right...

[Taz2]

It is true that the menopause can lead to more frequent infections and the need to pass urine more often. The information in this link seems helpful in explaining more about it. Do you have any vaginal dryness or soreness? http://www.womens-health-concern.org/help/focuson/focus_urogenitalprobs.html

Taz x

[lel123]

I can hardly believe this, I have never been a very good sleeper, but now I am 46 and suffering from night hot flushes, oh and day time ones too and Im guessing I perimenopausal, but what I had no idea about was the sleeping problems associated with it.
As I said earlier ever since my kids were born I have been such a light sleeper, and it doesn't take much to wake me, but now, I just cannot get to sleep for longer than about an hour at a time at night, its so frustrating, and I thought it was just me and my sleeping probs, but now thankfully I think, it seems its a symptom of being perimenopausal.
I listen to my ipod to help me get off, but just lately find I am listening for longer and longer, then waking all night long, its making me so miserable. The Pharmacist today gave me some tablets with 'sage' in them and they are supposed to help with the hot flushes and hopefully that will lead on to a better nights sleep, guess I just have to wait a month now to get them into my system, and Im hoping and keeping everything crossed that they will be the answer to all my problems......  yeh right..... anyway we will see.
Thanks to all you ladies out there for sharing your ideas for help, and support, I had no idea this was a side effect!
x

[Taz2]

Hi Lel - welcome to the forum.

I hope the sage works for you. Let us know how it goes. You will find lots of ideas on here and friendship too - it takes all of us by surprise exactly how many symptoms are caused by becoming peri. Are you still having periods by the way?

Taz x