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Menopause

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Original poster

Why can't I sleep!

74 replies

burntoutnurse · 05/10/2023 00:31

I'm so exhausted, can barely stay awake through the day.

I usually put my tiredness down to working night shifts but it's NEVER been this bad...

I am peri menopausal.

What can I do to help me sleep! I was falling asleep at 8pm, came up to bed and now I'm wide awake 😩

OP posts:
Findyourneutralspace · 05/10/2023 00:33

I don’t know but I’m following for tips. I’m so fed up of this. It’s really affecting my quality of life.

Pinkglobelamp · 05/10/2023 00:33

Same here :(
I read Mumsnet instead.

bemorebernard · 05/10/2023 00:33

Same x

Original poster
burntoutnurse · 05/10/2023 00:38

I also read Mumsnet 😁

It's awful. I get the teens up for school and head back to bed sometimes.

Today I didn't, because I figured it might help me sleep better tonight, I dozed on the sofa instead 🙈
My sleep is terrible anyway due to night shifts, but this is something else! I am actually excited to sleep all day tomorrow before my night shift

OP posts:
AardvarkUmbrella · 05/10/2023 00:44

Following. Also up late as my circadian rhythms have gone haywire.

I've stopped having breakfast in the morning as eating just makes the tiredness worse.

Totaly · 05/10/2023 00:45

I’m awake too! Been up since 5:30. Exhausted and worn out even a hot bath hasn’t helped.

Sunshineandrainbow · 05/10/2023 01:37

Every few nights I take sleepeze from boots to help me get a full night.
Magnesium is meant to help too.
I am going to try sleep tea bags when I go shopping.

I am awake now as got in from work at 1am. Got to be back at work at 9am so hope I sleep soon.

Original poster
burntoutnurse · 05/10/2023 01:42

Sunshineandrainbow · 05/10/2023 01:37

Every few nights I take sleepeze from boots to help me get a full night.
Magnesium is meant to help too.
I am going to try sleep tea bags when I go shopping.

I am awake now as got in from work at 1am. Got to be back at work at 9am so hope I sleep soon.

I've tried the sleep teabags. They did not taste nice!

OP posts:
escript · 05/10/2023 01:46

Magnesium is not helping. HRT I thought might help, but not at all. What next I don't know.

Teapigs sleep tea? I think they're possibly lavender and camomile. Whatever they are they don't work.

Geppili · 05/10/2023 01:57

I am with you.

Original poster
burntoutnurse · 05/10/2023 07:47

I think I dropped off about 5:30 🥱

OP posts:
JinglingSpringbells · 05/10/2023 08:20

You might ant to try hrt.
Insomnia is a very common peri and post meno issue.

Chesneyhawkes1 · 05/10/2023 08:32

I use melatonin now. HRT didn't really help much. I work shifts too.

RaceToTheMiddle · 05/10/2023 08:33

Just go to the chemist and buy some Sleepeze tablets. Not the herbals ones but the pharmaceutical ones. They are basically strong type of Antihistamine.
They are the only thing that works for me when I go through a bad patch of insomnia. And it’s so lovely to get a good nights sleep.

RaceToTheMiddle · 05/10/2023 08:35

This is the active ingredient

Why can't I sleep!
StuntNun · 05/10/2023 09:12

Magnesium glycinate can help some people. I take over the counter Sleepeeze tablets when it's really bad but they can only be taken in the short term.

fairislecable · 05/10/2023 09:30

For many years (since the menopause) I have suffered with sleep problems.

I have no difficulty in falling asleep but after 3 or 4 hours I am awake, so at first I used to read books it didn’t help me drop off though.

I then tried audible books, no lights needed, and it depended on if the story is gripping I didn’t drop off. After trying many, Bill Bryson has such a soft voice it worked quite well. I use ear buds every night and I am careful what I choose to listen to.

If I have a run of bad nights I take 2 anti histamines (loperamide) and they work really well and I have no drowsiness the next day. I only use this as a last resort as I worry the effect may wear off then I have nothing in my armoury.

Recently a friend gave me some melatonin and I tried one tablet but it didn’t work, it was suggested I take 2 but haven’t tried that yet.

The main thing is NO light as it is too stimulating.

MaryJanesonabreak · 05/10/2023 09:37

I find that the progesterone part of HRT is what keeps me asleep. I’ve only had two boxes since November, because of the shortages, but both times for the 28 days that I’ve had them, I’ve slept properly.

escript · 05/10/2023 12:58

My local pharmacy only has Phenergan, Numark or Nytol. I've just checked.

Which is best of those?

RaceToTheMiddle · 05/10/2023 13:24

It depends on the ingredients of them. The picture I posted above is the active ingredient th at works for me. Doesn’t matter what brand the tablets are. Same effect.

Sunshineandrainbow · 05/10/2023 22:33

Have you got a boots near you? They do sleepeaze. I but 10mg ones and I half mine and it works when I need it.

Sunshineandrainbow · 05/10/2023 22:36

Just googled and the numark sleep aid has the same ingredient as sleepeaze. Hope it helps you.

daffodilandtulip · 05/10/2023 22:44

Magnesium definitely helped me. At one point I told myself it was all in my head and it couldn't be making that much difference and stopped taking them for a few days. My word! I barely sleep for a week! Straight back on them!

escript · 05/10/2023 23:10

Thanks. I'll pop in tomorrow for the numark.

Sunshineandrainbow · 05/10/2023 23:49

Do you take them at night?