Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Sunnydays on December 04, 2017, 05:29:14 PM
-
If I was given a wish, it would be to sleep at night! A good nights sleep would stop me being cranky and also boost my immunity system. On a good night I drift between sleep and awake through the night, quite relaxed. At worst (most of the time) I see the hours tick by , fidget around and even my dear husband who sleeps a straight 9 hours the minute his headband hits the pillow, gets disturbed by me. I've tried everything except sleeping pills! There is no pattern - I can have caffeine before bed and sleep well, another night I have none and sleep badly.
I have no tips for sleeping well (obviously!) however my tip that helps me get on with it the next morning - I do brief sun salutations as soon as I get up. It makes me smile and push aside just how €¥€%^ I feel! I can go to work then with a lighter heart :))
-
I was taking a phenergan tablet 3-4 nights a week and that did the job but since then I've been put on 10mg amitriptyline for nerve pain in my lower back, not only has it allowed me to do so much more I get such a good nights sleep too
-
That's me, too! And no pattern at all which is more so confusing! I would nod off ok but then wake up with a jolt and then it goes ... no sleep, troubled thoughts, you all know.
Ive recently restarted HRT ( 50mcg patch and Utro for 12 days) and it seems that the sleepless nights have reduced! Early days yet as I havent finished a month yet but sweats and heat have also decreased which were a big part of the night madness!
When I do wake at night, I take valeriana drops. I also take a good magnesium + vit B6 with dinner. No sleeping aid though - too scared to try any :(((
Can't wait to be able to sleep again like a baby like I used to all my life! This peri thing is trully awful!
-
It depends on your sleep pattern and how much sleep you think that you require? Also, how much sleep you actually get, because sometimes people sleep without being aware! Often I sleep but don't realise until I wake up ::).
My pattern of sleep varies. Usually these nights I sleep well. If there's something on my mind or if I simply aren't tired, I can have a few nights of being awake. Because I know this will pass it no longer worries me, years ago I had very little sleep as I was in a very busy job.
I watch TV in the evening. Warm bubble bath with Very Good Book and cuppa, into a warm bed and read until I drop off. Those nights when I wake in the early hours I go to the kitchen and make a cuppa.
-
This could be me too ! There is rhyme or reason; people around me have suggestions....coffee, using a phone or ipad (blue light affects the brain sometimes), too much activity too late...etc.etc. Nothing makes a difference. I've been like this in peri for the last year and a half and I'll be honest with you there are days I resort to a tiny amount of lorazepam to help me drop off. I feel exhausted all the time, yawning and cant keep my eyes open, but...the moment I lie down to sleep.....ta da lol
There are two things that sometimes help me, but you have to really focus and commit to them.Relaxation and mind distraction games you can 'play'; You know the type of thing, counting down over and over from 100 to 0 in reverse. Lying on your back and visualising every part of your body being warm and heavy. There is probably an online list of suggestions somewhere. The one thing I will say, which is easier said than done, it to not 'put pressure on yourself' to sleep and feel anxious if you don't drop off. The more you think about not sleeping, the less likely you are to sleep.
-
I have pregabalin to be really helpful. It is quite sedative and I had little to no side effects from taking it. I would highly recommend you discussing this drug with your doctor.