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]

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.

[Oliversmumsarmy]

Didn’t realise it would knock you out

[userxx]

@Mintypylonsfryingsurplus What dose of magnesium do you take?

[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!

[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)

[Oliversmumsarmy]

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

Even dropped a pound in weight.

[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]

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

[Oliversmumsarmy]

Had 5 hours and 55 minutes woo hoo

[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.

[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

[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

[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]

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]

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.

[Katisha]

I find kirkland sleep aid tablets quite effective. Amazon.

[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.

[rosie39forever]

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

[Oliversmumsarmy]

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