What is up with my sleep

[fairyfingers]

Mid 40s. Used to be an excellent sleeper. Do suffer from anxiety and that can manifest in 3am wakings but generally fairly rarely.

For the last maybe 2 weeks my sleep has been shot. I am waking up at 1/2 and also at 5ish. Every time I wake I need to pee (quite rare for me) but it's not the pee that's making me wake iyswim.

I am anxious and going through a cycle at the moment although it's easing. this week I have started taking propranolol to help. Take this in the morning and the sleep issues did start prior to taking.

I am getting very hot but not in a flush or night sweats way, just hot. I think this is because my bedroom is cold when I go to sleep so I layer on extra covers then when dh comes in, he heats the bed up more so it gets really warm.

I had bloods for all kinds of stuff including diabetes just before Christmas and all lovely.

I have switched from tea to decaf coffee but only a few cups a day. Pretty much reduced caffeine for anxiety reasons. Dont drink past 8 and rarely alcohol.

Sometimes I can go back to sleep. Other days I can't. I can feel myself getting anxious about this which will obviously make it worse.

Looking at my Fitbit (which I know isn't great) I'm not getting much deep sleep at all.

Obvious suggestion is start of peri menopause but it's been like a switch! From good sleep to shit overnight. I slept better when I had babies tbh.

Any ideas?

Peri-menopause, I'd bet my house on it. Anxiety, increased anxiety, insomnia, temp fluctuations, etc, are all classic symptoms. HRT is a lifesaver, and I highly suggest you look into it asap.

I did wonder......

My dr gave me the mini pill to try and level out hormones as a first step but she didn't want me to start at the same time as the propranolol as we're doing a trial of what works best. Looks like I should do some reading and go back

I would be trying the mini pill first, personally. When my peri started, I suddenly had horrific anxiety out of the blue which I had never suffered from before. In very short order I had insomnia, hot flushes, night sweats, etc, etc, and I soon realised it was peri. I was 44. A couple of months later I started the mini pill and it was miraculous. My issues were gone almost overnight. I'm 47 now and I still feel wonderful. No anxiety, no insomnia, no temp issues. I really would be willing to bet your problem is hormonal.

Would it help to take your propranolol dose closer to bedtime? I was under impression is stays in system but the full effect is just for 12 hours.

I take it at bedtime and am usually awake nearly all night, it apparently makes you feel tired but that's not my experience, at least not at night.

Thanks for the replies.

I did start taking it at night then the leaflet said it can cause sleep issues and nhs website said switch to mornings which I now have.

I need my period to start I think (hopefully Friday), then do a full cycle on the propranolol and then try the mini pill (I have a 2 month supply of each). I do feel less anxious this week than I normally do pre period but also obviously knackered and eating everything in sight and weeing a lot. I always wee more and have a monthly 'eating day' but this is worse than usual

Right, I am going to try for a couple more hours. Thankfully wfh tomorrow so no commute, no meetings and a day in comfort

I could have written this post, with the exception of the problems bwith body temp.

I am taking some old sleeping tablets I had from a bought if insomnia I had back in 2012 just to get some sleep! I am going through a lot of change right now at work and at home so my anxiety is quite something...plus back pain...but the lack of sleep is the killer. I am 45. All the best.

2012? Are they even in date ?!

I'm feeling the same. Dh snores like a warthog and I just can't ignore it like I used to so we take it in turns to sleep on the settee. Even in bed though I'm finding I'm waking at 3 or 4 and not being able to drift back off. The thing with me is though that I'm constantly tired and sleep a lot through the day if I'm not working but even if I stay awake from 6 a.m until midnight I'd still not get a decent night's sleep.

I have no answers but wanted to let you know that I am in the same boat.

I'm betting peri menopause too.

I'd never had sleep issues till I hit my early 40s, now I either can't get to sleep or I'm up at 4/5 am!

Peri menopause id say. Been going through the same for years. Everything is heightened. No sleep, anxiety ect.
I talk kalms. Herbal tea.
Put lush sleepy lotion on of a night time and put lavender pillow spray on too.
Helps. X

That's interesting @fairyfingers my GP has advised I take it before bedtime to work best for anxiety I get through the night. I do find it usually wears off in the daytime or at least has less of an effect then.

Also have you tried the app called Headspace? I listen to it at bedtime and it's very helpful.