Perimenopause/Sleep Issues

[loves2read]

Argh. I am having sleep issues. Does anybody have any tried and true non-medicinal tips for sleep issues related to fluctuating hormones? I'm not having any night sweats or hot flashes, just can't seem to get to that deep sleep that I have enjoyed so much since I quit drinking. I have been lax about not having any caffeine after noon and I have not exercised regularly. I will put those two things to work and see if it makes a difference. So far, I am not thrilled with this time in my life. It's not the worst thing I've experienced, but good solid sleep is very, very key to my sense of well being and stable mood.

[Jigsy]

Hi loves,
I was just diagnosed with peri.
I cannot sleep unless I take some sort of sleep aid. (Advil PM)
I have tried to sleep without them, but I just lay there,
no matter how tired/sleepy I am.
Looking forward to others posting here.

[Jen]

Oh, I am so glad someone started a perimenopause thread. I don't have the sleep issues (yet) but I've heard that cutting out the caffeine after noon can really help and I know some people have had success with melatonin:

Melatonin Article (http://www.newstarget.com/006622.html)

Now, can anyone tell me what they do about being COLD all the time? I am driving my family nuts with all the thermostat fiddling. :(

[loves2read]

Now, can anyone tell me what they do about being COLD all the time? I am driving my family nuts with all the thermostat fiddling. :(

I would try some good aerobic exercise and maybe wearing an extra layer in the house. This is such a trying time in our lives, huh?:mad:

Jigs.....I have some Xanax (very mild 0.25 mg) and I take it about once a week when the lack of sleep is just too much. If I can get one good night's sleep I feel better for several days. I tried one Tylenol PM the other night and it didn't do squat for me. Maybe I should try the Advil PM and take two. I just worry about being "hungover" the next day from those types of medications. At this point, however, I'm willing to try anything. Do you find that you can fall asleep, or you think you can, but you end up laying there tossing and turning? I just feel like I'm "surface sleeping." I hate it.:mad: Sleep is such a salvation for me.

[Jigsy]

Do you find that you can fall asleep, or you think you can, but you end up laying there tossing and turning? I just feel like I'm "surface sleeping."
Ah yes, the surface sleeping. I hate it! If I don't take something, I will nod off, but within minutes, I am looking at the clock again.
I toss and turn. I feel comfortable in a new position for like, two seconds, then I have to move again.

Jen, time to get out the thermals and flannel.

[PBgirl]

I'd be very interested in hearing about new sleep tricks as well. I toss and turn all the time....plus I wake up earlier than I should (like after 5.5 hours) then I get up and two or three hours later, I'm tired as hell and then take a nap. I'm trying to begin going to bed at a decent hour so the naps need to come out of the equasion altogether (unless ill, or overly taxed). Tylenol PM leaves me with a sleep hangover. Xanax has become the norm for me (.25 mg) and I don't want to take any more of it and I think my body wants more. I'm looking to do a diet overhaul and not have any caffiene after 4:00 p.m. I'll post my results in two or three weeks and let you know if it makes any difference. I've noticed that there is a lot more sugar in my diet than I realized....even in my 100% whole wheat bread....the third ingredient (third!) is brown sugar. I'm thinking this has to have something to do with the body's ability to sleep and relax (added sugars in foods).

[Jen]

I propose this as appropriate Perimenopausal Attire:

http://www.tech2.com/media/images/2007/May/img_6174_lostplanetpc.jpg

Keeps you (nearly) warm enough, it has vision-assist goggles, crotch protection just in case someone wants to touch you there (NO!), and weaponry to assist in dealing with people who move too slowly or cut one off on the highway. Convenient toolbelt for carrying feminine hygiene products (because who the hell knows WHEN you'll need them), antidepressants, and sleep medication. One-zip exit in case of hot flash. :D

[Changes]

Jen, once the hot flashes start you won't be cold anymore. I know this for a fact.

I haven't had a period once since I quit drinking, so I think I'm full blown menopausal now. I have no clue what that means, but I'm digging on the no period thing.

[Jigsy]

HA! Jen, I love that!!!

[loves2read]

I seem to fall in the category of women who ovulate sometimes. I ovulated this month and just got my period yesterday. I was up three times last night bleeding to death. I swear.....if I can't sleep because of my hormones, I can't sleep because I'm trying to avoid the slaughter fest that is sure to happen if I don't get up and take care of business several times per night. It's maddening. I need this like I need a fucking hole in my head. I have a wedding to go to tomorrow and I'm dreading it. I hope I can get most of this out today.:mad:

[Jigsy]

Might be time to bring out the heavy artillery.
http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/6117/incontinencewr6.jpg

[loves2read]

Hahahahaahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!! I have those and it feels like I'm wearing a brick in my undies. Do you remember middle school when you got your period and you had to wear one of those and ride your ten-speed to school? I do. Maybe that's why I am a damaged individual.:D

[Rogue]

Oh Loves-- I'm into all this as well. I still have regular periods, but ohmigosh--I can't do without "double-coverage" of tampons and pads (safety in numbers!!).

And the sleep thing has been driving me MAD. I finally went to the doctor last month and she put me on Yaz, a very low dose birth control pill to regulate the hormones through out the month, reduce especially severe sleep disturbance that week before I get my period (I would be up nearly all nicght for 4-5 days--apparently this is class perimenopausal stuff), AND to reduce what has become an insane degree of flow. I'm just hitting period number 1-- can't say I've seen any improvement in my sleep this month so far, but the insomnia did spike the last few days: in fact, slept terrific last night, and started today. Maybe as my body gets accustomed to the pill it'll be better next month? Good to have the pre-menstrual stuff not at all bad-- emotionally I have been much more even this month as well.

My doc also prescribed Lunesta--doesn't do anything more for me than Tylenol PM, which doesn't do anything either..insomnia problems we a major contributor to my drinking--I could at least ensure I would get to sleep, but seldom could ensure I would stay asleep.

ANY caffeine after noon, including decaffienated drinks have to go: No matter what it is guaranteed insomnia if I have any caffeine later than midday.

[loves2read]

Hi Rogue! Yes, I have to make a concerted effort to keep the caffeine out of my diet after noon. It seems to make a difference for me. As for the birth control pills, I can't take them due to heart disease in my family and an increased LPa factor (heart disease) that has been noted on my blood work. So, I'm stuck. My doc did give me progesterone to help with the bleeding dysfunction, but I talked to my psych who told me that progesterone causes depression. So, now I'm doubly screwed. We can't win. I'm trying to put up with the bleeding situation and if it gets to be too much I will go in and have a thermal ablation. In and out surgery and fairly painless. I have a few friends who have had it done and swear by it. I will just wait it out and see if I can handle it. The sleep issues are the most bothersome to me. It's maddening since my whole day can be dictated by my quality of sleep the night before. Argh.:mad:

[Rogue]

I can live with all the rest too,-- the sleep thing, however, is bad on a host of levels, especially day-after depression, lethargy, etc. Wish I had better answers on that score: I'm due to check in with the doc in 2 weeks on the birth control pill/Lunesta progress,--Lunesta has been no help, and I still was dealing with major insomnia about every other night. The Yaz has helped with some issues, but still is not a great solution for making the sleep better, or not yet. I will definitely be continuing to check in here for other ideas or anything that has helped others.

[Megs]

Jen, that proposed perimenopausal outfit made me crack up laughing - that was brilliant!

[Twiggy]

I propose this as appropriate Perimenopausal Attire:

http://www.tech2.com/media/images/2007/May/img_6174_lostplanetpc.jpg

Keeps you (nearly) warm enough, it has vision-assist goggles, crotch protection just in case someone wants to touch you there (NO!), and weaponry to assist in dealing with people who move too slowly or cut one off on the highway. Convenient toolbelt for carrying feminine hygiene products (because who the hell knows WHEN you'll need them), antidepressants, and sleep medication. One-zip exit in case of hot flash. :D

PERFECT!!!
LOL!!:p

[PBgirl]

Jen....I am laughing so hard that I am almost crying.

You have a talent for tongue-in-cheek, sarcastic (can things be both tongue-in-cheek and sarcastic???) comedy. I think you should go into the greeting card business....for perimenopausal women....Think of the returns!

[loves2read]

I love the part about someone cutting you off in traffic.:mad: I got pissed off the other day because the toaster wouldn't stay down. Geeeeeezzzzz.

[bigsister987]

Might be time to bring out the heavy artillery.
http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/6117/incontinencewr6.jpg

Jen and Jigsy - lauging so hard I'm crying:D Wow do we women need a sense of humour some times

[Rogue]

More if you need a good laugh:

YouTube - Middle Aged Woman

[down2one]

Oh my goodness....I feel your pain loves2read. You've described my cycle this month to a tee!!!!

For sleep issues, I use Sleep Formula from GNC. It contains valerian root extract...stinky stuff but effective. It also has calcium and magnesium in it. It doesn't make me feel dopey in the morning like an advil pm does.

[loves2read]

Argh....I had Mexican food for dinner and ordered a Coke. What an idjit. I am soooooooo tired, too. I didn't sleep worth a crap last night. I guess I'll have to give in and take one of my Xanax tonight. I don't like to do it. I only fill the prescription once a year and I try to save them for some unforeseen, hopefully non-existent catastrophe. I just really need to sleep tonight. Wish me luck.

I got this in an e-mail last year and saved it. The funny thing is that I wasn't yet in this perimenopause phase and couldn't relate. Boy.....how things have changed.:eek:

http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/4575/pmsdwarfspt4.jpg

[loves2read]

Okay......slept like a rock. I wish that could happen without some medicinal help. I'll give it another try tonight without any medication.

[loves2read]

Slept really well on Saturday night without medication, in spite of the hubby breathing his stinky red wine breath all over me.:mad: God, I hate that. Last night, after playing golf in the afternoon, I was asleep by 9:30 and slept for 9 hours. I woke up a few times, but was able to go right back to sleep. I'll take it.

[gifted]

Loves,

Get up early (even if you have had no sleep) and go to the gym---check out a spin class, then lay off of the sugar. You can still have coffee but avoid the sugar and after 2 days you will fall into bed begging for your pillow.

[loves2read]

Hahahaaa........that's good advice since I am really trying to get back to exercising on a regular basis. It's just so time consuming for me to go to the gym. Drive there, work out, talk with my girlfriends, which is unavoidable, and then drive home or shower there and then drive home. I don't know how people who work can have the luxury of working out every day. I just don't get it. I work from home and time is money for me.

[rw]

I get you on the time thing loves, it takes me over a hour to go for a 6 minute tan, and the spa is on the corner 2 blocks away!! It's such a social place and the owner is quite chatty!

well, I thought I was almost done, but after 3 months of nada, I woke up to a surprise yesterday. So this is only the 3rd time I have gotten "it" this year. If I was still regular I would of seen it coming, no wonder I was so irritable this weekend.
Thats the hard part, trying to know what is hormonal or just plain bitchiness. on one hand I wish I was done for good and on the other I am turning 50 next week and the fact that I am not makes me not feel so "old"

For sleep, I take "simply sleep" its tylonal pm, without the tylonal. basically its just Diphenhydramine.

[rw]

A husband and wife decided they needed to use "code" to indicate that they wanted to have sex without letting their children in on it. They decided on the word Typewriter.

One day the husband told his five year old daughter, "Go tell your mommy that daddy needs to type a letter".

The child told her mother what her dad said, and her mom responded, "Tell your daddy that he can't type a letter right now cause there is a red ribbon in the typewriter." The child went back to tell her father what mommy said.

A few days later the mom told the daughter, "Tell daddy that he can type that letter now."

The child told her father, returned to her mother and announced, "Daddy said never mind with the typewriter, he already wrote the letter by hand."


I JUST HAD TO POST SOMETHING, THE FACT THAT I AM ON THE RAG HAS BEEN ON FRONT PAGE ALL DAY

[bigsister987]

Ha ha good one RW:D

[Jigsy]

I know this thread got off track but I wanted to share some
info.

I went to my doctor who is very knowledgeable in Eastern and
Western medicine.

I mentioned to her my lack of sleep and that I didn't want
to take harmful med's each night to sleep.
She recommended "Sound Sleep". I found it at Whole Foods
for less than $10 for 30 pills. It works! Check it out if you are
having trouble sleeping. No grogginess in the morning.
Also, I am having an Expanded Female Hormone Panel
screening.

This will show my doctor and me EXACTLY where my hormones
are normal, deficient or excessive.
This test starts the first day of my period. I swab my mouth, store
it in the freezer. 3 days later, I swab again, and so on until I have
about 11 swabs. This gets sent to the lab. I should have the results
in about 6 weeks.

From there we alter things like; diet, exercise and use
supplements -no hormones.