Perimenopause and insomnia

[mommybunny]

I'm 47 and until a couple of months ago had periods every 23 days from the age of 12 like clockwork (except of course when pregnant). In all that time I went to university, completed law school with a full-time job, worked for two high-pressure international law firms, moved overseas, got married, moved house a couple of times, had two babies and two miscarriages, lost out on promotion twice and was ultimately made redundant from my job, and have been living a quiet life at home in the last year.

With all that stress going on I never had any problem sleeping through the night, but in the last couple of months (at around the same time my periods started going haywire) I have very frequently been waking in the night and been unable to get right back to sleep. Last week my DH was away on a business trip and I slept much better, but now he's back and I'm waking again. I was so cold last night when I went to bed (alone) that it took me over an hour for my feet to warm up and send me to sleep, but I'm wondering if it could be his body heat in the bed after he comes up that wakes me. I haven't been waking with hot flashes though, and haven't had any hot flashes at all during the day.

Has anyone else experienced this, and if so, what helped you get a good night's sleep?

Many thanks.

Insomnia is a classic sign of menopause.

Are you in the US? As a BTW because 'flashes' is a US term and in the UK it's 'flushes'.

Yup that was exactly me two years ago. I had a colleague who was a year or two ahead of me, so she had lots of tips. The best were:

1. To eat a kiwi fruit just before bed. Sounds v. simple but I found it really effective.

1. Not to stay in bed too long once you are awake. Don't lie there getting stressed about being awake. Go and make a (preferably decaf) cup of tea, relax, read a little or watch something boring on TV. Then go back to bed to sleep.

1. However, after a couple of weeks, if you are still getting up every night, don't let it become a habit. Stay in bed, and relax for a night or two. Remind yourself that it's OK to have a night of rest, rather than sleep - you can still be resting whilst awake.

1. If staying in bed, avoid thinking of anything exciting or stressful: I found it useful to make boring lists - ie 26 items beginning with each letter of the alphabet - 26 things to buy in the supermarket, 26 football teams, 26 girls names, 26 boys names. If the list is too challenging/exciting it doesn't work (26 places to go on holiday = too interesting!) but it just keeps your mind off the fact that you are awake, so lets it focus on something, rather like counting sheep, which I can never do, as I am rubbish at visualisation.

1. Google "sleep hygiene" for other ideas - how to prepare yourself and your bedroom to maximise sleep.

It probably only lasted about 6 months for me, and I now only have a very occasional night's disturbed sleep.

HTH

You were lucky long - only 6 months!
For many women it is THE PITA of peri and meno. My mum has not slept well since the menopause.

Lack of sleep was the main factor that drove me to HRT as I was exhausted. Its effect was more or less instant.

I do know I was/am lucky, though am high risk so wouldn't be able to have HRT, so was very relieved. Of course, it could all kick off again anytime - I am still not out the otherside quite yet!

what constitutes your high risk- fine if you don't want to say.

I have been waking midnight, 2.45 and then 4.30 nearly every bloody night...it's awful

I'm having problems getting to sleep due to anxiety. Started with a panic attack in the middle of the night. Taking HRT but no relief in sight. Feeling pretty desperate and SO tired.

I started having sleep probelms in January of this yr. Although i've had blood test and not going through the menopause, I suffer night sweats, hot flushes, mood swings but the not sleeping is horrible so I can sympathise with you on that one.....at it's worst I was awake for 48hrs. Sleeping has been better but still not many nights I sleep all night. I have tried herbal sleeping tablets but i reacted to them, I tried a glass of wine but that didn't help, tried exercising also. it's just finding something that works for you.....

I'm 42 and the last year has been awful. The consultant finally confirmed and I will start HRT next week. I am so hoping it makes a difference. My personal summers are driving me crazy as have such difficulty sleeping

I haven't slept for months. I have an almost permanent headache as a result. Sometimes I am woken by night sweats, other times a noise outside will wake me and that's it, wide awake the rest of the night.

I'm touching it out and won't be taking HRT, but I'm seeing my gynae consultant next week for a check up and will be asking him for advice.

toughing it out, not touching.

is there a reason why you don't want HRT?
It's a treatment that will work.
I had so many sleepless night that it was the main reason I went onto it and intend to stay on it pretty much forever and my gynae agrees.

Why on earth would you want to tough it out????? Would you say the same if you had an under/over active thyroid or similar?

I have been on hrt for a week and within 3 days the flushes abaited. Had very rude dreams every night the last few nights and sleeping a bit better