Beauty

[SandGirl]

I have been to my Dr 3 times in the last 8 months and even a Endocrinologist - I am currently set up to see a Sleep Specialist but they cannot get me in till DECEMBER!!!! I might be DEAD and resting quite well by then!

Anyways - I'm 42 and about 8 months ago this all came on, I could not sleep - prior to that day I slept like a baby my whole entire life, NEVER EVER had an issue even while stressed, I even slept like a baby through a divorce!!!

I've tried Magnesium, Calm, Liquid Melatonin, Valerian, Lemon Balm, Andrew Lessmans Sleep product, Hylands Calm Forte, 5HTP, Unisom and I have a prescription my Dr gave me for Lunesta BUT I am stubburn and don't want to have to rely on a sleep aid (prescription) to help me sleep. I just want to sleep on my own again, I feel so broken.

I work FT and I seriously have to go to work and go home, I can't and don't do anything else "fun", I just don't have the energy but I have to go to work, who can afford to lose their job??

Anyways - anyone else have this issue? I am feeling horrid these days and feeling like it's aging me (I am sure it is since I am not getting proper rest)

What has helped you GET TO SLEEP or stay asleep?

I keep a regular sleep sched. - I always have

No Caffeine after 8am

Sleep sound machine with ocean wave & lavender oil in my room

No TV or Internet an hour+ before TV

I take relaxing baths with Lavender salts a couple hours before bed

I have read so much on it that I feel I have tried it all. Just want to know for those that TRIED IT ALL, WHat finally worked for you?? Please share THANK YOU

[Katluvr58]

Have they checked your hormones? It sounds a lot like peri-menopause or menopause. There was a post on here just recently about insomnia. I am in meno and for the last few years I have not slept very well at all. I actually get my best sleep between 6:00 AM and 10:00 AM, otherwise I am up and down all night and that is with OTC sleep aids.

[SandGirl]

On 8/7/2014 Katluvr58 said:

Have they checked your hormones? It sounds a lot like peri-menopause or menopause. There was a post on here just recently about insomnia. I am in meno and for the last few years I have not slept very well at all. I actually get my best sleep between 6:00 AM and 10:00 AM, otherwise I am up and down all night and that is with OTC sleep aids.

They did full up blood work 3 times over the last year and the Endocrinologist did as well and my Dr. told me everything including hormones are "in range", I still think I am Peri-Menopause and did start taking a product from Enzynamic Therapy called "peri-menopause" AM/PM, I am on my 2nd week and so far no GOOD results but no bad either so I guess I will keep taking.

I am at work at 5:30am so I go to bed at 8pm and I'm up by 3:30 but just like you, on the weekends if I DO sleep - it's always after 6am!!! I sleep best between 6-10am too but I NEVER get a chance to sleep then.

Honestly I am lucky to get 1-2 hours of sleep and that is after laying in bed for 4-5 hours

[tends2dogs]

You posted about this several months ago. I suggested topical Progest cream which is found at health food stores. Did you ever try this? I really think it would help you. I have a couple of friends in their 40's who suffered the same complaint as you. They began using Progest and were sleeping through the night right away. If they did need to get up to use the bathroom, they were able to fall back to sleep with no problem......just don't turn on the light because it interrupts the sleep rhythm of the body.

It is worth a try!

[SandGirl]

On 8/7/2014 tends2dogs said:

You posted about this several months ago. I suggested topical Progest cream which is found at health food stores. Did you ever try this? I really think it would help you. I have a couple of friends in their 40's who suffered the same complaint as you. They began using Progest and were sleeping through the night right away. If they did need to get up to use the bathroom, they were able to fall back to sleep with no problem......just don't turn on the light because it interrupts the sleep rhythm of the body.

It is worth a try!

YUP!! I did get it and have been using it - I use 40mg (the dose it suggested) each night about 30min before bed. I told my Dr I was using it and she said my levels show I do not need it but said it shouldn't hurt, she just did not advise I use it. I am still using it because it does help with breast tenderness and such. BUT so far it has done nothing for my sleep issue!! Thanks for recommending it to me

AND I NEVER turn on the lights and try to be in the darkness an hour prior to bed and I also try and get direct sunlight to my eyes each day (I read about all this of course, I've been reading all I can since all I want is my sleep back ;( )

[Katluvr58]

On 8/7/2014 Sandgirl said:

On 8/7/2014 Katluvr58 said:

Have they checked your hormones? It sounds a lot like peri-menopause or menopause. There was a post on here just recently about insomnia. I am in meno and for the last few years I have not slept very well at all. I actually get my best sleep between 6:00 AM and 10:00 AM, otherwise I am up and down all night and that is with OTC sleep aids.

They did full up blood work 3 times over the last year and the Endocrinologist did as well and my Dr. told me everything including hormones are "in range", I still think I am Peri-Menopause and did start taking a product from Enzynamic Therapy called "peri-menopause" AM/PM, I am on my 2nd week and so far no GOOD results but no bad either so I guess I will keep taking.

I am at work at 5:30am so I go to bed at 8pm and I'm up by 3:30 but just like you, on the weekends if I DO sleep - it's always after 6am!!! I sleep best between 6-10am too but I NEVER get a chance to sleep then.

Honestly I am lucky to get 1-2 hours of sleep and that is after laying in bed for 4-5 hours

I know you prefer a more natural way of sleeping but I have found that the Nyquil Liquid ZZZ works better than most products. It seems to work quickly since it is a liquid. I have also heard that Benadryl works as well. Sometimes I watch TV which knocks me out for an hour or two. We had a power outage last week so no lights, computer or TV. I was humming Que Sera Sera in my head for hours, lol.

[tends2dogs]

Isn't Nyquil Liquid ZZZ just a liquid form of Benadryl with high fructose corn syrup?

[SandGirl]

I know you prefer a more natural way of sleeping but I have found that the Nyquil Liquid ZZZ works better than most products. It seems to work quickly since it is a liquid. I have also heard that Benadryl works as well. Sometimes I watch TV which knocks me out for an hour or two. We had a power outage last week so no lights, computer or TV. I was humming Que Sera Sera in my head for hours, lol.

That's funny - Que Sera Sera!!! I have tried Nyquil, I was sick with the Flu (haven't had the Flu in a decade) about 3 weeks ago and hubby got me Nyquil from teh store, I took two doses (cause the first dose did nothing) and I STILL could not sleep, I haven't tried Zzz Quil, I swear I have over 15 sleep aids from the drug store and natural market and so far none of them seem to do the trick. When doing some reading it's like I am what they call "Wired but Tired" My brain is wired up and the rest of me is sooooo tired!

[bluejeansluvr]

Sounds like you have tried everything and it's good you are working with a doctor. I would seriously try the Lunesta, if you are desperate for sleep. If the doctor prescribed it, it must be ok for you to try.

I use melatonin tablets, they work best for me. You can buy the higher dose Melatonin in the 5mg., but those make me groggy the next day. I use the 3mg. In the past I've used Benadryl, the ZZZZQuil tablets not liquid. I have a sound machine in my bedroom. I also use a sleep mask. I really think that( for me anyway) it shuts out all light and helps me sleep. I use the Bucky eye masks. They are very comfortable and they rarely come off during the night. Sometimes I also will play a cd of relaxing zen music until I fall asleep, turned down very low. That even knocks DH out.

[sidsmom]

Aww, Kitten...so sorry to hear you're still battling this. When you said your hormones are in check, I'm assuming thyroid as well? My thyroid levels became low for the first time ever this yr...I was always tired, but not sleepy...got me on thyroid Meds and it's getting better. Could the thyroid have been overlooked?