I need sleep

[Oliversmumsarmy]

Had a chest infection and nasty flu virus since before Christmas

I usually take 7-8mg of Melatonin that usually knocks me out and I was getting around 6 hours of sleep.

Since I have had this virus the Melatonin does nothing.

I have had 1 hr and 21 minutes sleep last night and nothing tonight.

I am desperate for sleep

Insomnia coincided with the menopause

Gp won’t vive me anything apart from a prescription for 2 mg of slow acting Melatonin that doesn’t do a thing

Any body know how I can go back to getting a few hours sleep

[Oliversmumsarmy]

That would be a step too far with my set of doctors.

[rosie39forever]

Then all the more reason for a referral to a specialist.

[Oliversmumsarmy]

The breast cancer risk is only if you have had a direct relative ( mother or sister ) who has had breast cancer before the age of 45

Yes I have.

[Katisha]

I find kirkland sleep aid tablets quite effective. Amazon.

[rosie39forever]

The breast cancer risk is only if you have had a direct relative ( mother or sister ) who has had breast cancer before the age of 45. As long as you have no other health issues you can take HRT for life and many women do, especially transdermal which is considered safer.
Taking HRT doesn’t delay symptoms it treats symptoms, if your going through meno you still will regardless of weather you take HRT or not.
I take HRT because I want a decent quality of life, I don’t see why I should struggle and just get through the day when I don’t have to.
There so much more known about breast cancer and HRT now and if were in your shoes I would be asking for a referral to a gyne specialising in meno then at least you would have options, I know first hand what chronic insomnia can do to your health from heart disease, stroke risk and dementia.

[Oliversmumsarmy]

I a not sure HRT would do me any good in the long term.

There is a history of breast cancer in my family so I think apart from the doctors not prescribing it anyway I don’t think it would be prescribed to me because of my family history

I didn’t think you can take HRT for any length of time and it is just putting off the inevitable

Melatonin does at least give me a few hours sleep and I have been taking it with magnesium which does help.

My gp told me to stay up till I was tired then if I only got a few hours to stay up till bedtime the following day and this should reset things.

I tried to tell him I could go days with out sleep but I don’t think he believed me

[rosie39forever]

Your insomnia is due to declining oestrogen, no amount of melatonin, magnesium or lavender oil is going to replace it if I were you I would print out the nice guidelines on HRT and insist that your doctor adheres to them. I can't believe that they are being allowed to discriminate against potentially 50% of their patients by not prescribing medication it's outrageous.
My peri insomnia was so bad that I was hallucinating and couldn't string a sentence together, a week after starting HRT I was sleeping a solid 7-8hours a night and have done ever since, this could potentially go on for the rest of your life.

[Oliversmumsarmy]

My insomnia is a product of the menopause

I have been to my gp over and over.

Normally take about 7mg.

Never seen anything to do with heart issues apart from using it as a possible help

[hotstepper4]

What about a weighted blanket? I don't have one myself, yet, but I really want one. I struggle with sleeplessness, and if you Google it, some people are hailing them as a miracle cure for insomnia

[rosie39forever]

My daughter has a sleep disorder and takes melatonin prescribed by her consultant, taking large doses is dangerous.. although it's a natural hormone you can overdose on it and overdose can cause heart problems. As an adult you should never take above 10ml. I know you'll try anything when you're desperate but do be careful. Also prolonged use of high dose can cause insomnia as your body adjusts to the dosage. You sound really desperate, you need to go to your GP and demand HRT or a referral to someone who will prescribe it for you.

[Oliversmumsarmy]

Had 5 hours and 55 minutes woo hoo

[Oliversmumsarmy]

Just an update.

Had some horrendous night sleeps. I think mainly because I have a lot of stress in my life. Not helped feeling knackered.

Took about 17mg of Melatonin one night and managed 45 minutes. Just wanted to be knocked out

Last night ended up taking 10 mg and 2 magnesium and managed according to my fit bit a “good” nights sleep

Going to do the same tonight

[Mintypylonsfryingsurplus]

Thats fab! You must feel so much better getting a decent bit of sleep. I take 375mg one but sometimes use the spray skin oil too, but as I said it was working too well. Post back later too if it still working as be good for others to know about this as it simple and cheap 😊

[Oliversmumsarmy]

Well I had 6 hours and 16 minutes sleep and felt so much better this morning.

Even dropped a pound in weight.

[Oliversmumsarmy]

Just been out and bought myself some magnesium.

Didn’t realise there were different kinds.

Got the one that mentioned being well rested on the label.

Going to take it with my Melatonin tonight and see if I can really have a good night sleep.

Interested to see how my weight fares as i looked it up and it says it can help with weight loss (probably because you get more sleep)

[Dontdisturbmenow]

I take magnesium, even the gel type that you put directly on the skin so it is quickly absorbs. I'm sure it does some good inside, but has had no effect whatsoever on my sleep. It's beyond being sorted by some minerals!

[userxx]

@Mintypylonsfryingsurplus What dose of magnesium do you take?

[Oliversmumsarmy]

Didn’t realise it would knock you out

[Oliversmumsarmy]

Will definitely get some Magnesium. I have read about it before but thought it was just a supplement like taking a multi vitamin

Didn’t realise it plus knock you out.

[Mintypylonsfryingsurplus]

Same here I feel your pain 💐
However out of desperation I tried magnesium supplement and they totally knock me out. In fact too much as now groggy every morning so going to chop them in half to see if I still sleep 8 hours plus without feeling the other way. Give them a try as they cheap to buy OTC

[Oliversmumsarmy]

There used to be a comedy on tv called I think My Hero.

At one point everyone I knew was thinking the same thing, the doctors surgery depicted in the programme was based on this surgery
If you had to call to get test results the music that you heard playing was the Peter Sellers, Sophia Loren song Goodbess Gracious Me until someone pointed out that if you were awaiting test results for a serious illness that it was some what inappropriate

[Oliversmumsarmy]

Again my surgery are really reluctant at prescribing any sort of sleeping pills. I have asked for some form of sleeping pill just so
like Dontdisturbmenow I can use it for a couple of times per week

But the answer is No sleeping pills don’t work

I live in a very affluent area and everyone I know goes private because the gps surgery is so crap.

I once asked if I could have an allergy test. I have really bad eczema that I keep under control with no wheat and no dairy.
But every so often I get breakouts and know it is something I have probably eaten.
I was told categorically that there was no such thing
Arguing with them doesn’t do anything.

Usually on Melatonin I was at one point getting close on 7 hours and was feeling like I could just cope. I really need 8hours +
This virus has really knocked me off kilter.

[Dontdisturbmenow]

OP, I know exactly what you are talking about. Before the perimenopause hit, I had no idea what poor sleep was. No matter how stressed, busy, over-excited, anxious I was, I always managed to sleep like a baby.

Until the perimenopause. All of a sudden, my sleep started to be disturbed and despite making radical changes to my life, removing stress, adaoting a very healthy lifestyle and all the recommended routines, sleep remains an issue.

After trying everything, and I mean everything, I finally found something that helps, amytriptiline. I was very reluctant to try it due to what I'd read about it in terms of side effects, but I got to the point when I just had to try it. I expected the horrible nightmares some people described, dry mouth, not being able to get up in the morning, etc.. but I didn't have any of these issues.

I did find that after taking it every day for a few weeks, it stopped working so well and I did start developing some symptoms, so I now take it only twice a week and for these two days, I get 7 hours of sleep and much more deep and REM sleep that makes me feel more refreshed in the morning. Knowing that I will get at least two decent night sleeps a week makes me much less anxious about the others, and even though it still not good, I don't get as upset about it as I did before.

It's none addictive so doctors are happy to prescribe on repeat for sleep issues.

[rosie39forever]

You're within your rights to request a referral to a gynaecologist who specialises in meno.

[rosie39forever]

Their policy is bullshit and against NHS and nice protocol, a gp surgery can't just decide it's not going to prescribe a certain medication to a large group of patients, if I was a woman in your area I'd be livid and taking this to the nhs ombudsman it's outrageous.