I can't sleep after stopping hormonal pills

[Laillah]

Hi all,

Endo 4 here. I was diagnosed last December, and it is everywhere: intestines, uterus, ovaries, including adhesions, and a cyst on my right ovary 4cm.

Immediately started with Vissane (dienogest) to stop my period, but unfortunately, that did nothing for me and since then I had 2 periods, of absolutely normal bleeding (maybe even more than usual).

About a week and a half specialist for endo told me to stop using this medicine, and a week ago I started having huge issues with my sleep.

I literally can't sleep during the night and have trouble falling asleep but the biggest issue is staying asleep during the night. From 2 am to 6 am I wake 5-6 times, sometimes wondering do I even truly fall asleep.

I started using melatonin, and valerian pills for sleeping (that usually helped), and this night was even worse!

I can't function, I am again fighting with depression and I just feel like I can't anymore..

Do any of you have this experience, and if so how you solved it?

Thank you

[PaintToughTed]

Gosh you poor thing! it may be physical and responses to the medication etc. can’t speak to that, but prob worth speaking to your GP just in case there’s contraindications or other meds you could try instead. Might be they can prescribe something to either help sleep or can at least know that you’re struggling in case need referring to a sleep clinic in future.

The only advice i can give is when sleep and depression set in i get militant about trying to do what i can to give my brain and body best chance. So regular exercise (even if just walking), eating well, minimising screen time before bed, reducing caffeine to zero same with alcohol, meditating, listening to sleep stories on apps like calm (if they help), also, setting a regular wake up time (lots of research now showing it’s just as important as setting a regular going to bed time). And finally trying to remember sometimes lying in bed awake is frustrating, but you’re still resting your body, and it’s okay. Sometimes focusing on not being able to sleep just make the whole cycle even worse.

Once again so sorry to hear what you’re going through!

[Laillah in reply to PaintToughTed]

Thank you, these words mean a lot! ❤️

In the morning I called my gyno to get an appointment to discuss another medication, but she can't see me until March 2nd!! So frustrated!

Thank you for writing these tips, it is nice to see them all in one place. I tried with sleep stories and they help me fall asleep for the 1st time, but later they start annoying me

Since being diagnosed, I made a lot of healthy habits, such as practically removing caffeine (drinking 1/2 cup daily of mushroom coffee instead of regular), doing a bit of yoga, reducing meat, and adding some recommended supplements. It is so damn hard, but I am trying..

Planning to start with serrapeptase, and even ordered bio-identical progesterone cream as it was recommended a lot in a book that I was reading.

I might be absolutely wrong, but I suspect I have very low progesterone as when you use hormone replacement I read that your body stops producing progesterone on your own, and when I stopped with pills this started to happen. And one of the symptoms of low progesterone is trouble sleeping.

[MyStar86 in reply to Laillah]

low progesterone definitely stops you sleeping I had to have a radical hysterectomy with everything removed last year and the insomnia from low progesterone is horrible so I totally understand. Once I got the progesterone level right I was back to normal sleep wise without the insonia so I hope your gyne can help as you need progesterone to fight the endometriosis. Have you tried a combined pill? I went tthough lots in the past but found femedette really helped and it’s low oestrogen so no need to worry. We all react differently to the different types of progesterone but the one in this suits me really well. Good luck x

[purpleblondie]

Hi Laillah,

Magnesium is great for sleep and mental help. I find transdermal magnesium the best. I've read it's the best way to get the full benefit of it. Plus it great for any sore/tense muscles or joints when applied directly. I usually rub magnesium gel into my shoulders and neck about an hour before going to sleep and it helps me to relax and sleep well.

I also put a drop or 2 of high quality lavender oil on my pillows and do some deep breathing.

When I have a bad night, if I can't get back to sleep I take 4mg melatonin which I find great.

Hope this helps. All the best