Inability to sleep is grinding me down

[RandomMess]

I’be never been a great sleeper but it’s just ridiculous now. I have been awake since 4.45am 😭

You sound similar to me - also huge amounts of trauma and in my case, most likely nd too. I can't comment on the low blood pressure issue, but it's worth asking your gp for advice. Unlike the ssri drugs it has a sedative effect, so very helpful for switching your mind off at bedtime.

Constipation can be dealt with (less likely side effect at low dose anyway): you can get some All Bran down you!

Do you sleep alone?

My ds sleeps with a fan blowing cold air on his head. Helps drown out other noise, and stops him over heating. I’m the opposite and need to be warm and cosy to sleep.

He sleeps much, much better on summer holidays when he can follow his natural rhythm and be a night owl. My df was similar - sleep deprived for most of his adult life until he took early retirement on medical grounds and was able to sleep when his body wanted to instead of when he was supposed to. I wonder if some people just need a different schedule and can’t adjust the way others do.
That’s not very helpful right now though when you need to work.

Are you getting treatment for arthritis? Do you need to look for options to decrease pressure on your body (maybe a water mattress or something like that?).

In regards to constipation, increasing water consumption and fibre (psyllium husk capsules if your diet is lacking) will offset that.

Yes I asleep alone.

I already take psyllium husks plenty of water and high fruit & veg diet, again most likely linked to low gut mobility due to being ND, such fun! Went I was vitB12 deficient it was utterly awful.

Yes I’m working through treatments for the Psoriatic arthritis., mainly my hands and feet.

I feel your pain, it’s incredibly debilitating and I wish I had an answer. The lifestyle advice above is all well-intentioned but as it’s fundamentally caused by hormones I definitely think HRT done right should contribute to the solution. I don’t know what that looks like as mine isn’t doing it for me yet! My nurse that prescribes my HRT did also mention the option of trying mirtazapine but at the moment am trying continuous progesterone instead of sequential. I intend to give it some time to settle but so far it’s not helping sleep and I’m back to early morning waking every day (instead of a week of 2-3 hours, a fortnight of groggy progesterone sleep and a week of transitioning from one to the other).
I hope we can all find a solution that works for us 🤞

Do you really want medication with potentially serious side effects? I understand that you’re presently desperate but please think on:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mirtazapine

@Loopylalalou no I don’t but continual sleep deprivation is really bad for you too. Early onset dementia, mistakes at work etc etc.

To get the podcast on, you have to go on your phone. So have the screen light, which signals to brain - morning. Plus… you can be tempted to have a look at other sites… like you did last night with mumsnet!

you don’t with Alexa

Try cbd oil

Are you physically tired op? Do you exercise? Walk a lot?

I don’t want an Alexa in our home and I set my podcast going when the lamp is on and I’m doing all my meds etc.

Believe me after being awake from 4.45am by 11pm I was knackered!

But that wasn’t what I asked

were you physically tired?

Whats your movement like during the day? Exercise? Or very sedentary?

I haven't read or listened to all of this but it might be worth exploring. He can go on a bit but he seems to know his stuff - https://www.hubermanlab.com/topics/sleep-hygiene

I read your wiki link to see what these supposedly serious side effects are, and found nothing. Am I missing something? I'm not doubting all medications come with risks, you only need to read the leaflet inside any medication to give an idea of what could happen , the same as hrt itself, bit I can't see mirtazapine as being especially dangerous.

@CheckACthe only time that exercise made a notable difference was when I was doing 2 hours a day cardio & weights in the morning. I cannot face starting my day at 5am every day to achieve this.

If I do that or equivalent after work then I sleep badly.

I’ll happily settle for 5 hours solid sleep per night, 6 would be amazing.

So now what is your movement and exercise like?

I do an hour of exercise 3 weekdays, sown weekends I will be active all day - walking/gardening. Makes no difference between the days I do and don’t.

On holiday I was swimming and walking lots every day, no difference.

Are you …. Happy? Mentally stimulated? Socially stimulated?

And I’m going to guess that you don’t drink, and when you did it also made absolutely no different to your sleep!

If I drink I do get to sleep more easily but doesn’t stop me from waking up during the night.

I’m happy enough, work mentally exhausts me.

Every single suggestion without exception has been disregarded

So 🤷‍♀️ face it Op…. Sleep is not your friend.

You are you now going to tell us that you tried that and it makes no difference whether you face that fact or don’t 😆

Didn’t read very far then …

Common side effects include sleepiness, dizziness, increased appetite, and weight gain.[11]Serious side effects may include mania, low white blood cell count, and increased suicide among children.[11] Withdrawal symptoms may occur with stopping.

That all creates a no no for me.

Magnesium, valerian, sleepeze from boots, black out eye mask and ear plugs have done the trick for me. And no caffeine after 11am. Still not as good as it should be though.

Wait for it…..

Well one of the " common side effects " is sleepiness, which if I'm not mistaken is what the OP is desperate for. Not all side effects are bad. Some can be extremely positive, as it is in this case. But still can't find the evidence that suggests mirtazapine has " serious side effects ".