Menopausal insomnia crippling me

[Scottishescape]

Hoping HRT is the answer but wondering if anyone has any words of wisdom.
My sleep has steadily gotten worse over the past 6 months or so. It’s taking me ages to fall asleep and then I’m waking after about 3 hours, need a wee and then although I do feel like I nod off, it’s more like dozing and then I’m awake again fully after about 2 hours. I don’t have night sweats but do feel hot randomly. This is the same in the day. Not hot flushes like some have, but really really warm and flustered. I wee way more in the night. Have a feeling of anxiety/impending doom/knotted nervous feeling pretty much most of the day and feel low and weepy. I’ve had a coil in that’s now due out as the nurse said it will no longer be giving me any progesterone and I’m not sexually active. I’m 55 and due to having coils for 15 years and no bleeding I’m not sure if my periods have stopped but everyone seems to assume they would have.
I have good sleep hygiene, no caffeine after 12 and get regular exercise.
I start HRT today (oestrogel and utrogestan) and hoping so much they help as the sleep deprivation pretty much means my quality of life is overall rubbish just now.
Can anyone relate to this and give me an idea on any likelihood of the HRT helping and when it might kick in 🙏

I did this for a while too, until I read that this class of antihistamines has been shown to massively increase your risk of developing alzheimers. I had no idea but I googled it and yep, it's real and serious. Worth reading up on.

Thank you! I'll check that out.

Magnesium oil on the soles of the feet is working really well for me.

Hey OP, insomnia you describe completely wrecked my ability to function. I changed job, dropped responsibility and still not improved. This was 14 years ago, male gp offered me antihistamines to deal with lack of sleep. I was in despair - and remained so for 10 years. I retired and relied on catch up during the day. I’m not sure if there is any scientific validity but I started taking magnesium supplements and they seem to have worked. I completely understand how desperate it is and I hope you find a solution. This is the part of menopause which I resented most (hot flushes didn’t make me feel as crazy as insomnia did).

To those who use ustogestran have you had any side effects from it? I don’t need it as I’ve had a hysterectomy but wander if it’ll help my anxiety and sleep and I have been prescribed it but avoid taking it

I was quite worried about side effects and so delayed for a bit. I feel very comfortable on a on evorel 50 patches and 100 mg utrogestan just before bed.

HRT was like a miracle for insomnia for me. Other things to try until it kicks in - sleep tea, harrogate organic magnesium spray, aromatherapy associates deep relax oil 😴

I tolerate it well but I know some don’t. It’s worth a try. I think I had a bit of bloating to start (could have been something else). I find it calms my mind and stops those middle of the night panics

Its definitely still worth taking even if you don't need endometrial protection. It helps protect bone health, thyroid and heart function, reduces inflammation, promotes good sleep and cognitive function 👍🏻

Edited to add i quoted the wrong person sorry 🫠 this was to socks1107's question ☺️

HRT, zero alcohol and magnesium supplements are what has worked for me.

HRT (gel and utrogestan) has definitely helped my sleep, I was the same had mirenas through my 40s and into my 50s so didn't know when I went through meno but then got hot flushes and poor sleep. The progesterone really makes a difference, if I forget to take it I do not sleep as well.

I can sympathise @Scottishescape HRT has helped with sleep as has taking magnesium. But the most reliable help has been taking one Piriton tablet just before bed. Has to be the orange packet that you can buy from behind the counter at Boots. It’s the only way that I can reliably sleep through most nights.

As I mentioned to someone earlier in the thread, this kind of antihistamine is now known to be a risk factor in developing dementia. I would look into this more and decide how to mitigate this risk. My understanding is that people who take these antihistamines regularly for three or more years are at risk of incurring irreversible damage to the brain. I was very shocked to hear it!