menopause and insomnia

LauraAnn · 12-20-2010, 08:03 AM

Has anyone had insomnia that comes with menopause???? I haven't slept 8 straights hours in over a year and it's driving me nuts. I take over-the counter menopause meds with black cohosh and other herbs, but it only helps minimally. I average 4-5 hours a night. I have layers of bags under my eyes. LOL HELP! If anything helped, I would love to hear what it was.

Thanks a bunch,
Laura

theredhead · 12-20-2010, 08:18 AM

Finding a saavy doctor who knows how to properly test hormones and prescribes bio-identical hormones is your best bet. My menopause symptoms made me miserable until my hormones were normalized.

LauraAnn · 12-20-2010, 09:51 AM

Thanks, Laurie. I'm calling this afternoon!!!

LauraAnn · 12-20-2010, 10:00 AM

By the way, just looked at your pics and you guys look amazing!

theredhead · 12-20-2010, 10:13 AM

Thanks so much! I can't tell you how much bettter our lives have been in the seven years since we started low carbing. Dr. Atkins was a brilliant man.

ravenrose · 12-20-2010, 10:57 AM

This is a problem, yes.

I have second thoughts about the whole hormone thing... I mean the whole POINT of menopause is a lowering of hormones. It's not a mistake the body is making that needs correcting, right? I think it's better to cope with the decrease and get on with life, myself. It is just strange to call supplementing an older woman to the hormonal levels of a young woman "normalizing"!! Normal is low, it's just a bumpy road getting there sometimes.

First, do you sleep alone? I know this has connotations of marital problems or something, but when you are going through this stage I highly recommend it if you can. Not only are you much more susceptible to awaking and STAYING AWAKE when your bedmate makes the slightest movement, but it's nice to be able to roll into the cool part of the bed if you wake up with a hot flush happening.

Second, have you tried melatonin? I suppose I shouldn't be able to recommend this without blushing after what I said about normalizing sex hormones, but our levels of this hormone drop a lot as we age and supplementing it can help loads.

You may need both a 3mg pill and a time release 3mg pill to get to sleep and stay asleep a reasonable length of time.

LauraAnn · 12-20-2010, 12:17 PM

Ravenrose.... I hear ya. I have "toughed it out" for a year now hoping it would smooth out. But it hasn't and I am exhausted.

Ironic that you mention sleeping alone... the only time in recent memory that I have slept through the night was at my parent's house 2 weeks ago and I was sleeping alone. You are right about the easy awakening. I used to sleep through anything and now everything wakes me up. The strange thing is, between 230-400 I wake up and I'm WIDE awake. Not sleepy at all. My hub gets up twice a night to go to the bathroom... never mind that he works nights as does my son. My house is never calm and quiet. If it was, i think I could sleep better.

I'll check the melatonin out, thanks!

12-20-2010, 08:03 AM	#1
LauraAnn Senior LCF Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 160 Gallery: LauraAnn Stats: 271/189/150 WOE: WLS - NoS Start Date: 02/01/08	menopause and insomnia Has anyone had insomnia that comes with menopause???? I haven't slept 8 straights hours in over a year and it's driving me nuts. I take over-the counter menopause meds with black cohosh and other herbs, but it only helps minimally. I average 4-5 hours a night. I have layers of bags under my eyes. LOL HELP! If anything helped, I would love to hear what it was. Thanks a bunch, Laura

12-20-2010, 10:57 AM	#6
ravenrose . Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: California Posts: 9,078 Gallery: ravenrose Stats: lost 130 lb so far, and miles to go before I sleep WOE: low carb controlled calorie Start Date: June, 2009	This is a problem, yes. I have second thoughts about the whole hormone thing... I mean the whole POINT of menopause is a lowering of hormones. It's not a mistake the body is making that needs correcting, right? I think it's better to cope with the decrease and get on with life, myself. It is just strange to call supplementing an older woman to the hormonal levels of a young woman "normalizing"!! Normal is low, it's just a bumpy road getting there sometimes. First, do you sleep alone? I know this has connotations of marital problems or something, but when you are going through this stage I highly recommend it if you can. Not only are you much more susceptible to awaking and STAYING AWAKE when your bedmate makes the slightest movement, but it's nice to be able to roll into the cool part of the bed if you wake up with a hot flush happening. Second, have you tried melatonin? I suppose I shouldn't be able to recommend this without blushing after what I said about normalizing sex hormones, but our levels of this hormone drop a lot as we age and supplementing it can help loads. You may need both a 3mg pill and a time release 3mg pill to get to sleep and stay asleep a reasonable length of time. __________________ Often I don't come back to read threads where I've posted. If you want me to see something, please send me a private message. Thanks!

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12-20-2010, 08:18 AM	#2
theredhead Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 2,407 Gallery: theredhead Stats: 229/147/145 WOE: Atkins/hCG/maintaining EASILY with JUDDD Start Date: 09/04/03	Finding a saavy doctor who knows how to properly test hormones and prescribes bio-identical hormones is your best bet. My menopause symptoms made me miserable until my hormones were normalized.

12-20-2010, 09:51 AM	#3
LauraAnn Senior LCF Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 160 Gallery: LauraAnn Stats: 271/189/150 WOE: WLS - NoS Start Date: 02/01/08	Thanks, Laurie. I'm calling this afternoon!!!

12-20-2010, 10:00 AM	#4
LauraAnn Senior LCF Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 160 Gallery: LauraAnn Stats: 271/189/150 WOE: WLS - NoS Start Date: 02/01/08	By the way, just looked at your pics and you guys look amazing!

12-20-2010, 10:13 AM	#5
theredhead Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 2,407 Gallery: theredhead Stats: 229/147/145 WOE: Atkins/hCG/maintaining EASILY with JUDDD Start Date: 09/04/03	Thanks so much! I can't tell you how much bettter our lives have been in the seven years since we started low carbing. Dr. Atkins was a brilliant man.

12-20-2010, 12:17 PM	#7
LauraAnn Senior LCF Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 160 Gallery: LauraAnn Stats: 271/189/150 WOE: WLS - NoS Start Date: 02/01/08	Ravenrose.... I hear ya. I have "toughed it out" for a year now hoping it would smooth out. But it hasn't and I am exhausted. Ironic that you mention sleeping alone... the only time in recent memory that I have slept through the night was at my parent's house 2 weeks ago and I was sleeping alone. You are right about the easy awakening. I used to sleep through anything and now everything wakes me up. The strange thing is, between 230-400 I wake up and I'm WIDE awake. Not sleepy at all. My hub gets up twice a night to go to the bathroom... never mind that he works nights as does my son. My house is never calm and quiet. If it was, i think I could sleep better. I'll check the melatonin out, thanks!