Can't sleep

[KathiCville]

I'm about three years older than you are and suspect that you might be right about the perimenopause, at least in part. I'll be 53 this month and went into full-on menopause about 18 months ago. Having trouble sleeping is, according to my gyno, a pretty typical side effect of perimenopause (and onward into menopause, bleagh.) So is "brain fog"---the inability to concentrate as well as you used to. Not to mention simply not having quite as much natural get-up-n'-go. (Can't wait for the post-meno zest!! )

Have you tried melatonin yet? I use it occasionally when I think I'm likely to have a restless night. The only side effect that I'm not crazy about is a slight groggy feeling in the morning. But that might just be me; YMMV!

A little lavender on your pillow might help too. The scent has a relaxing effect.

I'm wondering if you have any aches or pains that are waking you up? I've found that since about age 45 I've had a heckuvatime getting really comfortable at night. I did the usual: changed mattresses, pillows, etc., in search of relief. I also started sleeping with a pillow between my knees, which helped some, but didn't solve the problem. I finally recognized that I was often waking up because I was in pain, particularly if lying on my side. (My favorite sleeping position.) In my case, it was a deep burning achiness that at first I couldn't identify. After digging around online here on TE and elsewhere, I finally realized that the source of the pain appeared to be mainly tight IT bands, with tight quads and hamstrings thrown in.

I started doing pigeon pose and other IT band "stretches" religiously (including foam roller stretches) and within a month a pain that had been keeping me awake every night for MONTHS on end virtually disappeared. I'm sleeping better now than I have in probably five or six years. (Not perfectly, mind you, but MUCH better.)

I'm sure other TE'ers will have plenty of insights to share! Good luck!

[Chicken Little]

I'm 48, and have the exact symptoms you do. I'm just putting up with it. Books on tape, organizing the office at 2 a.m., etc. I'm lucky my job is flexible, and I don't mind riding in the dark evening or morning hours. I'm not fighting this.
Yet.
I am reminded that there is no word for menopause in over half of the known languages.

[malkin]

From my grandmother:

Velma's Law: If you can't stay awake, go to bed; if you can't sleep, get up.


When I'm breaking Velma's Law, I lie in bed and listen to the BBC World Service. It's not as sweet and boring as it used to be when they'd play Big Ben clanging out the hours and present hours long documentaries on efforts to build tunnels to save frogs from the dangers of motorways, but its still usually more subdued (boring) than modern US radio. If it doesn't put me back to sleep, at least it is interesting.

[OakLeaf]

Are you getting enough natural light during the daytime? That will play havoc with my sleep cycles if I don't. Full spectrum bulbs help a lot if you have to work somewhere without a window.

[Crankin]

I occasionally have sleep issues, but since I've been in menopause (that's when you actually have not have a period for a year), it has been better. I've always been a light sleeper, though. What really helped me is a new sleep schedule because of my daytime schedule. I go to bed later and sleep just a little later. I've had years of getting up at 4:30-5:00 AM. Now I sleep until 6 or 6:30, unless i naturally wake up earlier, which does happen when the sun comes up early.
And most of sleep issues had to do with stress.

[marni]

I suffered from insomnia for years and finally learned to accept that if I couldn't sleep, there was no sense fighting it so I would get up and do something non stimulating and repetitive, dusting, folding laundry, cleaning cupboards,reading and or hot milk with sage (soporific) and honey. Now I have found trazadone which helps to shut up the mind monkies, and if worse comes to worse, I take an,a, one advil liquigel which lets me sleep and takes care of any aches and pains.

That and two hours of vigorous exercise seem to help more than melatonin ever did. Vitamin C is also supposed to be a soporific, but I have grown to love hot mile with sage and honey.

Good luck with finding a solution. I know it ain't fun.

[jelee1311]

I'm sorry you can't sleep,insomnia sucks. I see an accupuncturist and she has given me a few formulas that worked. I like the chinese herbs because they don't make me wake up groggy. I would love to tell you what they are but I can't pronounce them. I do seem to sleep better on the days I ride or swim. Good luck