Early morning wakening

[truelymadlysleepy]

I've been on HRT patches for 2 years without side effects. My hot flushes have gone, thank goodness.
But in the last 6 months I've been awake about 5 am every morning and I'm knackered.
I have no problem getting to sleep, just going back off in the early hours.
I'm strict about going to bed & getting up at the same time.

I don't feel depressed but am anxious in the time before I should get up.
Could it be the HRT?
TIA

[RaquelGarcia]

Yes, and if you have been on the HRT 2 years it could be a good time to try weaning from them. Hope it gets sorted!

[truelymadlysleepy]

Thanks Raquel, do you think I should talk to my GP? I don't want sleeping tablets, nor am I keen on going back to the horrendous flushes.

[Mintyy]

I'm afraid I don't know the answer to your question but I am menopausal and I have the thing of waking up like clockwork at 5am with my heart pounding (see endless whingeing threads of mine passim) and not being able to get back to sleep. However, I am not and never have been on hrt.

These are the things that help me sleep - black out curtains, ear plugs, no alcohol, not getting too hot - so even now, in the winter, I sleep under a summer weight duvet in very light night clothes - natrasleep herbal sleeping tablets (I will take one or two if I wake up at 5 and sometimes they do help me go back to sleep).

[truelymadlysleepy]

Glad it's not just me, horrid for you too Minty. It's grim isn't it? I already do your things apart from the natrasleep. I'll try them. Thank you.

[Mintyy]

They are quite good ... I've tried all the herbal sleeping tablets and they are my favourite. I also think that trying to be relaxed and not worked up about it is the biggest help of all (but very difficult to achieve, I know). How did last night go? I woke up at 4.30 and read a couple of pages and managed to get back to sleep until 8am. So I feel great today!

[thornrose]

I often wake up at 4/4.30 with that horrible anxious feeling and I'm not on HRT but I'm pretty sure I'm peri menopausal.

[truelymadlysleepy]

I'm glad I'm not alone with this. I'm not really an anxious person but the sheer exhaustion is getting me down. If my GP has anything useful to offer I'll let you know.

[jaffacakesallround]

why should someone stop HRT after 2 years Raquel?
Sorry - but you need to update yourself on this. The recent recommendations are that women can stay on HRT as long as they need to if they are aware of the risks.

OP I think that without HRT you will find your sleeplessness much worse.