Sleep (or lack of it)

Hi Lou,

I'm only having a bit of menopausal symptoms myself (thanks chemo) but I'm a seasoned insomniac - my heart goes out to you.

Keep pestering your GP! Don't give up until they talk to you

For hot flushes there are a few things GPs can prescribe. Have a look here at the SSRI section:
https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/prescribed.php

A few people here have mentioned venlafaxine for hot flushes... might be worth searching for it on the forum.

I know you're not keen on more meds but there are options... and honestly having a better night's sleep is so important. You don't have to take them forever.

Good luck!

I asked my gp for help as I Carnt sleep. He said no too addictive.  I have tried nytol etc.  No caffeine. No screens. And I’m still up and down every night   Any recommendations xxx please 

I haven't found anything foolproof for help with sleep over the years... it's all been little bits and pieces here and there.

Pills don't help me much (either herbal or prescribed). They're either ineffective, have too many side effects or can't be used long term.

The best approach I have is:

- being as accepting as possible that I won't often get a good night's sleep. Takes the pressure off me and helps me feel less stressed about it all. Easier said than done though!

- no matter what time I go to bed or how much sleep I get, I get up at the same time every day (this is part of the Selsick method)

Some NHS trusts/areas give prescriptions to apps like Sleepio or Pzizz. I haven't tried these as my area doesn't offer it. Worth asking your GP.

I'm the same. My sleep has been rubbish since I found lump. Its either waking every few hours or it takes me till well past midnight to drop off and then am awake by 4 or 5. I feel exhausted. I don't really do afternoon napping. I'm on tamoxifen and there's so many over the counter stuff you can't take. I spoke to my gp and she reluctantly gave me 10 sleeping pills. Got psyched up to take one last night as was very tired and it did nothing. So now I have to speak to them again to check if I can double dose or give me something stronger (zopiclone). Back to square one. Luckily not suffering from hot flushes too much just seem to get warm but just so tired.

Keep going...one day at a time x

I was told by my surgeon that often the dr will prescribe antidepressants which also help with the hot flushes - as I seem to wake up, then have a hot flush.

At the moment when I wake up I listen to a boring podcast, one headphone in, set a timer and I usually fall asleep within 10 minutes but the wake up again.

Goodness knows how I'm going to cope when I go back to work. Thirty 6 & 7 year olds fulltime will be interesting - I have chemo and radiotherapy to do yet. 

I’m ok sleeping as long as I don’t need the toilet, I’ve been like it a couple of years now but haven’t gone completely through menopause yet, I get up then hot flush time and then can’t go back to sleep, last night it was every 2 hours, then 7 o’clock in the morning I’m out like a light it’s weird. Have you tried an Epsom salts bath, don’t know whether that would help, it’s very good as it relaxes you. You would have to be completely healed after surgery though and water can’t be too hot due to lymph node removal. 
xx

I don't really like baths - I've lived in my house for 6 years and never used the bath. Just not my thing. Plus I have a tendency to suffer from thrush so try and avoid perfume or additional things like that.

Yes I struggle with sleep too although I have to admit last night I got a great nights sleep but! Generally it’s appalling and apparently a very common side effect of the chemo and the forced menopause. I asked my gp for sleeping tablets but he said no as I’m on chemo until Christmas then double mastectomy and he said if we start down that road now I’ll be an addict by the end too. He recommended sominex which didn’t really work for me but I understand works for others. I like you have tried everything ever recommended. I was advised by the chemo nurse to nap in the afternoon if I could as long as I don’t sleep for longer than 2 hours and am awake by 5pm. I was scared to do it in case I didn’t even get those precious few hours at night but I have done that a few times and it didn’t affect the night sleep x

Last night was the worst night ever. Fell asleep at 10,30pm  woke up at 12.30am and was then awake until 4am. Fell back asleep and then awake at 5.30am.

Going to have to nap later.