Perimenopause and sleepy all the time

[CyclingQueen]

Hi fellow warriors! I'm seeing a private endocrinologist next week after suffering terrible day time sleepiness for 4 months. GPs have done bloods and can't find anything. I find them pretty useless so asked for a private referral. I'm 46, still have regular periods albeit slightly shorter duration and heavier. I've had a lot of stress the last few years and sleep was affected the few months before this came on but this sleepiness started around the time of my period in June this year. Perhaps coincidence or a combination of things but it gets even worse running up to my period too. I just want to sleep all the time, it's making me so down and anxious as I feel I'll be like this forever. I'm trying now to cut out sugar and see if it helps. I'm just wiped out. My body doesn't feel weak as such, just so sleepy. Blood sugar is fine but I'm sure the endo will test insulin. I'm not asking for people to give me a list of things it could be as this adds to anxiety, more if anyone suffered this with peri? I hear about fatigue all the time but think that is different to sleepiness. I feel like I could sleep all day if I could.

[CyclingQueen]

The GP did but whilst all in normal range I wonder if the endo will see more nuance in the results.

[Peanut31 in reply to CyclingQueen]

Hi

with reference thyroid results, always ask for the blood results including the ranges. You are entitled to them by law.

If you pop over to the thyroid forum once you have them, members can advise.

Just because the GP states normal, this means nothing.

I say this from my own experience.

You mentioned your periods have changed to being heavier, this could be symptoms of peri menopause. When your peri menopause (like myself) blood tests for this are irrelevant as your hormones fluctuate so much.

Best wishes

[CyclingQueen in reply to Peanut31]

Thank you. I have the results and will bring to the specialist. I've looked at the thyroid section and my results look fine with what they say but will show the endocrinologist. I agree that GPs don't always go any deeper than saying it's in normal range. I had my sex hormones tested almost a year apart and they were the same (freaky!) so doesn't look like much fluctuation. Who knows!

[CernCrystal]

Hey this happened to me and a number of women in my menopause group. We all have different journeys and different bodies but these are things that have helped:

you mention sugars - I cut complex carbs as I was practically falling asleep at times especially after eating. Dramatic difference but I still felt sleepy. I then chatted to others and take B12 drops under tongue (tried pills but didn't work) and eat liver for methyl folate. Amazing.

Suspect there was a change in stomach acid which affected gut health and my ability to absorb essential nutrients. Others take other minerals and vitamins too. The reference ranges at Dr's are too wide and the one size fits all approach definitely doesn't work for all. Hope this helps! BTW cutting complext carbs enabled me to lose weight as well! I still eat sugars!

[CyclingQueen in reply to CernCrystal]

Thanks for your reply. I thought it was simple carbs that were the issue like white bread, rice etc and complex were good as more filling, slower release etc like brown rice, wholegrain bread and so on. I've cut down on sugar hugely last few days and perhaps feel slightly less sleepy today. Will carry on. I want to avoid HRT if possible but equally this is no way to live.

I wish I liked liver! It's one food I cannot stand. B12 drops sound good - I have some tablets but don't seem to do much. My B12 results were mid range and I eat plenty of food rich in B12 but perhaps my levels are too low for me.

[CernCrystal]

Hi, have to admit that I'm on HRT and love it. Changed my life and helped with early arthritis but it is not for everyone. My B12 registered midrange but I needed much more. For me I need to be at top of ranges I've found. I had advice to try from a sleep specialist regarding the carbs because of my particular symptoms but everyone is different - with you it may be sugars. Also gluten is a no no for me. Hard to avoid at times! Best of luck with your journey!

[CyclingQueen in reply to CernCrystal]

So glad HRT has worked well for you! And that's interesting about the B12 upper range, could be my case too. Thanks and have a wonderful weekend!

[gabkad]

Did your GP do a full iron panel? Because you can have reasonably good hemoglobin but be anemic. Just based on what you wrote in regards to your periods being heavy.