I'm so into these STS workouts, but my perimenopause insomnia is killing me!!!

[777spirit]

I really am at my wit's end here....

I'm 49 years old, been working out for over 30 years now. But this perimenopause stuff is really kicking my a$$!

I'm still having a period though it's basically every 5-6 weeks and only lasts like 2 days at most. But the insomnia is what's killing me. I do all the "right stuff", eat right, don't drink caffeine, etc.

My gyn told me he thought I should go on birth control pills to alleviate some of these perimenopause symptoms (hot flashes, insomnia, mood swings, etc.). He explained that since I still have my period, that HRT and/or bioidentical hormones wouldn't be the thing for me.

Then I've been reading all over the place that progesterone cream can be very helpful. So I'm thinking to give that a try ???

Then other days I wonder if I'm just being stubborn about not wanting to go on the BCP ???

As you can tell, I'm driving myself crazy!!!

And for me, what makes it the worst, are the days that I'm just too tired from lack of sleep to get a work out in.....

I really need to "do" something about this, I'm just not sure what at this point...

Terri

 

[netsnotes16]

Terri you are not alone with the sleep problem. I am also having hot flashes. I will be glad when MEAN O PAUSE is over with!

 

[sancho]

What's your reason for not wanting to be on the BCP? I was on it for years and had no problems. It's really not a big deal if you don't have any side effects.

I'm only 40 but I have insomnia and hot flashes sometimes (not sure if it is peri-menopause). I've found Ambien to be great if I have at least 6 hours to sleep after I take it. If I have less than 6 hours left to sleep, I'll take half a Xanex to get me back to sleep in the middle of the night. I know a lot of people don't like to use medication for this, I was afraid at first, but it really has been great for me. I'm careful with how often I do it.

 

[Sunshine1528]

Well I'm 51 and not quite sure where I am in the peri/menopausal cycle but sure need to find out soon !

I've been on BCP for many years and have very irradical sleep patterns so BCP's didn't help me with that.

I am currently reading 'The Wisdom of Menopause' by Christiane Northrup, MD and am finding many things to try, further research and testing that I think I may need to undergo. Not only am I sleepless half the time, but have many other issues such as lack of motivation, slight depression, moodiness, weight gain, etc.

Sometimes I will take a couple of melatonin pills about an hour before bedtime and most of those times I can get a good night's sleep. It helps especially in the winter months when I lack sunlight which I am so accustomed to (live in CA).

Hope you find an answer soon - and don't forget sometimes a visit to your doctor could be a good thing!

 

[bundschuh]

Hot flashes = low estrogen

Progesterone might help once you get enough estrogen

Ask your doctor to test your estrogen, progesterone, FSG and Sex Hormone Binding Globulin.

For there she/he can decided what hormones you might need.

Ask for bioidentical estrogen, and then add bioidentical progesterone for at least 10 days per month.

What blood type are you? If you are A, drop the red meat/white meat and milk immediately. If you are an O, drop the wheat and milk. This can contribute to sleepness nights as well.

Try 5 HTP or Tryptophan a couple of hours before you want to go to sleep. (My husband uses them and it fights his insomnia, if I take 500 mg of either, I sleep like the dead and have a hard time waking up in the am).

The Pill has "chemicalized" hormones, once the estrogen dumps into your system the Sex Hormone Binding Globulin generally binds up all the estrogen and progesterone.

 

[janiejoey]

If you have a uterus, (obvious you do) then you need to take both estrogen and progesterone together. I think you can have complications if you don't. Check into these hormone therapy treatments and make sure you do it right. There are confusing and conflicting info out there, so talk with your doc on what is right for you. If he says birth control pills, then do that. Try it out, and if you don't like it then there are other alternatives.

Janie

 

[Amy Steppe]

I really am at my wit's end here....

I'm 49 years old, been working out for over 30 years now. But this perimenopause stuff is really kicking my a$$!

I'm still having a period though it's basically every 5-6 weeks and only lasts like 2 days at most. But the insomnia is what's killing me. I do all the "right stuff", eat right, don't drink caffeine, etc.

My gyn told me he thought I should go on birth control pills to alleviate some of these perimenopause symptoms (hot flashes, insomnia, mood swings, etc.). He explained that since I still have my period, that HRT and/or bioidentical hormones wouldn't be the thing for me.

Then I've been reading all over the place that progesterone cream can be very helpful. So I'm thinking to give that a try ???

Then other days I wonder if I'm just being stubborn about not wanting to go on the BCP ???

As you can tell, I'm driving myself crazy!!!

And for me, what makes it the worst, are the days that I'm just too tired from lack of sleep to get a work out in.....

I really need to "do" something about this, I'm just not sure what at this point...

Terri

I did the HRT for five years and then stopped because my symptoms were over.

Long Live Menopause! Gotta love it!

 

[SueNJ]

I take melatonin and ZMA (zinc + magnesium) about 30 minutes before bed. Sleep like a baby (well, except for the need to get up to pee at least once...). I'm also on a very low dose of Prempro for hot flashes, because they used to wake me up several times during the night.