The sleep thing

[gobackanddoitproperly]

I would have been an Olympian swimmer, should such an event have existed. Now, I can’t remember the last time I slept through the night. I know this is part of menopause (52, no periods for 3 years now) but my question is, does anyone else experience this, in the absence of hot flushes? Just a general ‘wakefulness’ I suppose. Every night, from about 2-4 am? I do get the odd hot flush, but they’re not severe and not in the middle of the night.

I’m not on any HRT.

SLEEPER not swimmer!

retirement and not having to wake at a particular time helps, as does the basic of avoiding caffeine and getting in some exercise.
melatonin (which is available here without prescription) is helpful.
i do sleep well from 10-2 ish and again from 4-7. i stay in bed and simply relax.

Yes, this is me exactly. Hence me reading Mumsnet at this time!

I don’t get hot flushes either. Yet. Just wide awake every night around this time.

Hi I am on HRT, but same problem. Hence me being here. Not every night, but most

Yep. No flushes (I’m on HRT) but I dream of sleep.
I’ve also got used to treating night time as a three-stage thing; sleep till 2, potter about or just chill till 4, then nap till 6.

Yep, that's why I'm here at this time! Again.

I get anxious over stupid stuff this time of night. I convinced myself that I had lost an item of value so worried about it for half an hour , in the end I had to get up and check in the garage. I hadn’t lost it at all. Now can’t get back off. I’ll start fretting over something else now.

Hmm I can get melatonin OTC. I tried taking it before going to bed and it didn’t really help. I don’t have issues going to sleep, it’s the staying asleep that is eluding me. Maybe I’ll try taking it when I wake up in the night.

I have very flexible hours and work from home, so @theblessedcheesemaker perhaps i could also try your tactic. I do like getting up early.

@overbyyer I am largely over the nocturnal anxiousness and feelings of doom but I totally get it. Those were some dark days (nights) for me, having previously been super chilled.

Yes I used to be the most laid back person going. Now the smallest thing can set me off. God help me if I had something major in my life

Waves and everyone here. I too could have been a triple gold medallist in the sleeping olympics. Now, a total insomniac. Have used the time to research menopause treatments and have decided to look at bio identical HRT. Anyone tried this? I suppose if you have, you’re probably asleep though 😭

Hi neta, I’m just on ordinary HRT. As you can see not helping tonight!

I used to be a great sleeper, back in the day. Worked shifts and could sleep anytime , anywhere

We are all completely normal. www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-16964783

@OverByYer oh no! The reason I was looking at bio id was because it’s my understanding that you get a more tailor-made approach to your specific needs following blood tests and then you get the ‘right’ mix of Progesterone/oestrogen/testosterone . I do have an NHS referral (yay!) but wasn’t sure if they run bloods before prescribing? What was your experience?

@pelagra I think I just pine for my previous well rested morning wake ups…😭😭😭

i find the melatonin works better if i take it at 8:30 pm and it just helps shorten the awake time. so asleep till 2 then back asleep at 3. helpful but not perfect.
not on hrt, i don't know it was all that popular to prescribe 15 years ago.
no hot flushes at this point, actually very little even in perimenopause (as it was called) just super short waves of heat over by the time i noticed what they were.

[quote Netaporter]@OverByYer oh no! The reason I was looking at bio id was because it’s my understanding that you get a more tailor-made approach to your specific needs following blood tests and then you get the ‘right’ mix of Progesterone/oestrogen/testosterone . I do have an NHS referral (yay!) but wasn’t sure if they run bloods before prescribing? What was your experience?[/quote]
I had a 5 minute GP appointment and was advised that Femoston was the most spot for me. Thanks to lockdown haven’t been able to get an appointment to review so am still on it. I don’t get flushes or night sweats but have awful anxiety

I'm usually awake between 3 and 5. I'm so tired and my brain is mush. I was wondering about asking the doctor for sleeping pills but am worried about side effects.

@OverByYer thanks, hope the sleep fairies come soon 🤞

This might explain why I've been waking in the night so much lately. I am so tired, I just want to sleep instead of lying awake worrying. My periods have changed over the last few months. I am 42, could this be the start of it??

www.sciencealert.com/humans-used-to-sleep-in-two-shifts-maybe-we-should-again

It used to be normal to sleep in two shifts. Have a read of this. Maybe we should change expectations.

I’m often awake in the night too

I’ve not had a good nights sleep for year, arthritis doesn’t help or muscle spasms, I hate the menopause I really do. 10 years of crap.

yes, exactly my situation! so annoying

I'm normally awake between about 2.30 til about 5.30. No hot flushes ,just wide awake.