Would HRT help with sleep issues?

[Strumpetpumpet]

I’m 53, last period 18 months ago. I do have hot flushes but they aren’t too bad, my main problem is lack of sleep which apart from making me feel exhausted most of the time, has also increased the frequency of migraine and normal headache. I don’t have a problem falling asleep, but wake in the early hours usually feeling really anxious and am then unable to get back to sleep. I am having issues at work which won’t be helping with the anxiety, but I’m sure if I could get a good nights sleep, I would cope better.
I’m wondering if HRT helps with sleep and if it’s worth speaking to my gp about?
Would be grateful for any words of wisdom x

Usually it does, yes. Unless your GP is well informed on menopause they are unlikely to give you HRT just for sleep issues and are more likely to offer anti depressants or sleeping pills, sadly.

You might need to up the hot flushes and use those as the chief reason.

Ok, thanks for that, I will bear that in mind x

Try magnesium. I used to wake up multiple times.
A nurse friend of mine recommended magnesium. Now I wake once and go back to sleep within minutes.

Thanks I will look at that x

I'm on hrt and it doesnt help with my sleep/night time anxiety. I'm having a shitty time with my 3 teens and crap job though. I might try magnesium that a pp suggested

I’m on HRT mainly because of nighttime palpitations/anxiety. When Everol patches were in short supply a while ago, the sleeplessness came back with a vengeance. Thankfully, supplies and sleep are back to normal again.
I also went through a phase of increased migraines around your age. Thankfully, once I was post-menopausal, they’ve pretty much stopped.

I second magnesium, it helps me as well.

It worked for me straight away after 2 months of waking at 3am, whereas magnesium (and all the other recommended supplements) didn't. Literally with a week I was back to my normal waking time.

It helps for some, not at all with others, so certainly worth giving it a try.

Be wary of antidepressants as the most common one given, which indeed do not only treat depression but anxiety too can make sleep problems even worse.

Sadly, the antidepressants that do help with sleep are the old ones and they come with difficult side effects. Still taking amitriptyline once a week gives one reasonably better week and helps me psychologically. GPs are very happy to prescribe for sleep as it's none addictive, the dose is much lower than what it would be for depression and you can take it as and when you want to.

Poor sleep is the only residual side effects of my menopause. Like you I wake up with the sense of hyperness/anxiety that makes it difficult to get back to sleep. I've learned to do so with focusing on my breathing. It took quite some practice before going to sleep but my brain has finally associated these exercise with sleepiness so 4 times out of 5, I'll drift off again. Sadly, I still suffer from not getting enough deep sleep and do battle tiredness every day of my life. I've accepted it as one accept a long term condition but still hope once the menopause is over, I will learn to have good deep reparative sleep again.

Good luck OP and remember you're not the only one there are plenty of us menopausal women around operating in a daze!

Yes HRT usually helps with sleep, although sometimes you'll have to try a few different options before finding the right one for you. Make sure you tell your GP about your migraines, HRT tablets can make migraines worse so you'd be better with a patch which gives you a more constant level of hormones in your system.

I tried three different ones and it didn't help.

Progesterone is supposed to induce sleep but it does the opposite for me, so it doesn't matter which one I try, the outcome is the same.

Hi , I also found magnesium worked but recently I've gone onto 5-htp which I get from Holland and Barrett ,I take a about 6 a day spread evenly throughout the day with the last 2 just before Bed .
I'm like you I can go to sleep but can't stay that way . I also find it evens out my moods and I feel less anxious on it . I'm also on hrt for the hot flushes but I'm thinking of coming off it for a bit .

Like you I have suffered terribly with poor sleep and increased anxiety associated with peri menopause. I also have migraines which have worsened too. My GP was great and prescribed an oestrogen gel and progesterone tablets. It's taken a couple of months to see any difference but my anxiety has reduced considerably and I'm much more able to fall back to sleep when I wake in the early hours. My migraines haven't improved sadly but I'm trailing different medication at the moment for them. I'd definitely recommend seeing your GP. I had been taking magnesium sleep spray and valerian for ages and they weren't having a significant impact. Good luck OP...I really empathise!

Thanks so much everyone for the great advice, I’ve ordered some magnesium and have booked an online appointment. Virtual hug to all of you who are suffering too, and thanks so much for taking the time to reply, it’s much appreciated xx

I find the days when I take my progesterone tablets, I sleep better.

Im thinking of asking to try the mini pill instead, as my insomnia increases greatly during ovulation.

Hi
I’m taking Femoston 1/10 tablets, prescribed them after the shortage of Evorel patches. I was fine to begin with but now have lower abdominal pain and bloating. I also have seen an increase in getting cystitis. Has anyone else experienced this ?

Please look at the menopause doctors website www.menopausedoctor.co.uk/ - she also has a great podcast.

Due to not being able to get patches I have recently ordered Melatonin from US Amazon - not available without prescription in the UK. Still waiting anxiously for it to arrive. Magnesium is a must. I wake up with lower leg cramps without it.

When desperate I leave off my femeston or take extra progesterone (from my huge supply of tried and failed HRT options). I also do Headspace etc but wake up again 30 minutes later. Such a lot of effort for so little return. I only ever sleep without waking for the first 3 hours or so. Nightmare. This has been going on for years. I long for deep sleep.

Yes HRT is fantastic for sleep. If I forget to take one I always wake up in the middle of the night. Usually on HRT I sleep at least 6 1/2 hours unbroken.

@FindMeInTheSunshine

I second magnesium, it helps me as well.

3rded

Can I use Tesco magnesium or do I need a proper job one!

Thank you all! Just looked at the Menopause section as I’ve been awake for the last 3 hours worrying about everything and thought “I’ll just see if anyone else has any advice” . Will be buying some magnesium tomorrow and calling the doctor to see if I can try a different HRT!

How did you get on with your GP Lolapusht?

After 5 months of hot sweats from 5 to 15 times a night and not being able to go back to sleep, my winning list is:

• no evening red wine :-( I think it makes me more alert once I wake back up
• no evening chocolate either: for the same reason as above
• woollen bedding (mattress topper, duvet and pillow) & woollen nightie
• soy milk instead of cows milk

- 2 raw leaves sage at lunchtime (although I'm aware that I can't keep this up long-term - this made a same day impact - fantastic) The difference is astonishing...and a total relief. If I do wake up and my brain is busy, I get up for an hour or so and do something...I find once I've done something about the thing I'm worrying about, I get back off to sleep better. I hope some of these things help.

@AurorayRuben

How did you get on with your GP Lolapusht?

Haven’t got round to it yet...too tired! Between getting children organised, Christmas sorted and working I’m lucky to stay awake much past 8pm and I forget most things if not in front of my face 😂