Menopausal insomnia

[Mirandasbestmate]

Please can anyone help or suggest anything? I'm getting desperate!
I wake up about 4 am every momring & ive had enough of it. I can not nap in the day as I work, but I'm fed up of feeling constantly exhausted & it is affecting my family & my work.
I fall asleep no problem.
I tried HRT 2 yrs ago(I'm 52) but stopped as I found the 2 nd 1/2 of the pills - elleste duet- gave me horrendous PMt & mouth ulcers. I take boots menopase now plus a vitamin b supplemEnt.
I mentioned lack of sleep to my Gp & she said it was common to need less as you get older, but I feel I need more than I'm getting.
I've been up since 4 agin today & just want to cry.

[Badders08]

Patches?

[Fruitboxjury]

Have you tried Epsom salts and magnesium, cut out all stimulants in the evening and go to bed a touch later?

[Mirandasbestmate]

Thanks ladies , glad I'm not the only one up!
badders, apart from the obvious, how do parches differ from pills? Isn't it just the same hormones ? Forgive my ignorance.
Fruitbox, I never drink alcohol or caffeine & exercise regularly. I take magnesium supplements in the morning sometimes- do you think it would be better if I took them later in the day ?
I have been on the menopause matters forums but cant see anyone else suffering 😁 Thanks again

[dubdub17]

I'm the same. So fed up of (for) me 3:45am wakenings. I've started taking magnesium again but at night. I'm on hrt elleste solo and it worked for a while when I switched from the patches but then stopped.

Occasionally I take Nytol once a night but even those don't guarantee a good night's sleep.

I think it's a bit dismissive of your GP to say that older women need less sleep. I'm 54, have two school age kids, a full time stressful job and am a lone parent. I need sleep!

[Badders08]

Same hormones different delivery system 😁
I can't take hrt tablets - they give me hemi plegic migraines but patches are fine

[Discoisabelle]

A lot of women swear by Magnesium supplements at apprx 500mg a day ( 2 capsules each day) which you should take every day, it relaxes muscles, also you can buy the Magnesium spray which gets into the body much faster and apparently helps to promote sleep. Magnesium tablets can give some women a funny tummy. Do not forget mindfulness : when you wake up during the night, do not allow the restlessness overwhelm you, on the contrary, concentrate on your breathing and relax with it, it takes a while to focus on your breathing, but it is a very good technique you could try. Just don't wind yourself up.

[PollyPerky]

I often wonder why women think one type of HRT is no good but don't reassess and try other sorts!

There are 3 types of progestogens, and the Mirena coil, as part of HRT.
You could try Utrogestan (natural progesterone), or Femoston (dydrogesterone) or a Mirena coil.

I'm not sure the mouth ulcers are connected - sounds like a coincidence unless you are actually allergic to something in the pill itself. Have you tried patches? or oestrogen gel?

Loads to play around with before giving up on HRT.

[Mirandasbestmate]

You & me both Dubdub!
Not a big fan of nytol etc as they make me feel so groggy the next day, though unsure how this us different from the overwhelming exhaustion!
Have been out & bought some magnesium tablets so will start those tonight.
Plan b is menopace night tablets which have 5htp (?) in them which I'm sure I read might help.
Polly I will keep the Dr as plan c. Thanks for the advice. Don't want a coil but the other 2 suggestions sound good. I thought the mouth ulcers were coincidental but they were too regular for that. They did disappear once the hrt stopped so I am convinced there is a link somehow!
Thanks everyone

[lovemylover]

My Dr has put me back on Livial and says they will help with promoting sleep, i am another who only sleeps 3-4 hours, although i am retired i could have a nap in the day if i feel tired, and occasionaly do nod,