Menopausal Sleep Deprivation and Mood?

[cc101]

I have been living with a host of menopausal symptoms for over two years now (hot flashes, sweats, chronic insomnia, mood swings, migraines, exhaustion, you name it) and I feel the lack of sleep is severely affecting my overall mood at this point and causing great tension between myself and my family. I cannot seem to get my estrogen leveled out (try everything natural, no interest in drugs or hormones) and nothing seems to work right now. I take a small dose of Xanax or Lunesta to try to get some sleep, but the amount is so spotty (with flashes waking me through the night) that I just know I have worn myself down to a complete and utter emotional mess from all this menopause stuff.

I'm 46, run 10 miles daily, vegan, no not drink or smoke or drink any coffee or tea - I watch my sugar and my white flour intake - what else can I do to get decent sleep or at least do something so I'm not so miserable and moody?

[cc101]

Thanks for all the input. Its just a daily juggling act, trying to stay sane with all the symptoms and feeling like being among the living too - no one person has the "it" answer for anyone because our hormonal makeup is as individual as a finger print... even doctors or compounding pharmacists can't create the right "hormone cocktail" 99% of the time, leaving women not only feeling as bad if not worse (side affects from HRT and BHRT can be very serious) but also without question, 1000% at higher risk for cancer - who wants to choose maybe feeling better today to die sooner - not me.

So I as most are left wonder why on earth so much money has been spent to come up with the mass of antidepressants and erectile dysfunction medications, but not one remedy for menopause that won' kill us.

[sfly]

Just as a simple reminder, Keeping activity low before bedtime,not getting involved with upsetting tv,conversations,and phone calls can help with some of the mental aspect of sleeping. As for the raging hormones I haven't any ready suggestions besides the ones here.
Good luck! If I see any new suggestions I will post them.

[cc101]

Yep, until the hormones level out I am stuck with feeling like garbage most of the time. Have an appt with NP on Thursday and plan to request test for thyroid and adrenals too.

[peggy64]

Oh can I relate on that one! I wake at least every 2 hours, in a panic state. It is awful. I do this all night long, and am so exhausted.

I started BHRT 4 months ago, and I am feeling better mentally. I was feeling like a big ole wet rag, just put me somewhere, and there I was. It was as if I were brain damaged.  

The only thing that has saved my sanity is praying through the night, and quoting scriptures. No sleeping pill helped me with this.

I have also had thyroid and adrenal problems. Have you had yours checked to make sure they aren't contributing to your problem? That is my new mission...."have you had your thyroid checked?"

Tried those herbs...didn't work for me. A NP told me nothing would really help me until my hormones were straightened out. So far, that has proven true>

[PerimenoWorried]

I hear you on that one.  I've also had the same problem.  The one thing that I can tell you is that eventually, it does ease up a bit.  Right now, I'm out of whack and am COLD all of time after having had a couple of years of being constanly flinging off clothing and sticking my head in the freezer! LOL  Don't know what is up with me and am going to have an endometrial biopsy due to a thickened uterine lining so, possibly an estrogen dominance that's causing me to go in the opposite direction?

I also hear you about not wanting to take meds or hormones.  It's not preferable is it?

I bought myself a remote control fan that I keep by my side of the bed at night.  I had the remote and always kept the fan going.  When the flushes upped their intensity, I upped the fan's speed LOL.  This had my hubby wanting to wear his winter coat to bed and pile on 3 blankets but, hey....he could cover up, I couldn't uncover more than nearly nude! ROFL!!!

I've heard that Black Cohosh is good for hot flushes as is calcium, magnesium, B complex and D.  There are all kinds of vitamin/herbal preparations out there in healthfood stores.  Try a few of them and see what happens.  In the meantime, perhaps, just trying to keep yourself as cool as possible during sleeping times with a fan, light clothing, light sheets etc..  And, some people have tried KavaKava as a natural relaxant before bed.  Some have used Benedryl or even Gravol here and there just to get some sleep.  

Hope this helps some.