Night Sweats and Insomnia

[Jauny]

Hi. I'm 67 and started the menopause around 50. Most of my symptoms have settled down but I suffer badly from insomnia and still have phases of hot sweats (both in the day and night) . Even when I don't have sweats I have what I can only describe as hormone surges at night (this is what it feels like anyway) and these contributes massively to my insomnia. I know that starting HRT this late in the day is not advisable as it can lead to memory issues and as there is a history of dementia in the family, I don't want to go down this route anyway. Does any one have any ideas of other types of remedies that might work this late on in the menopause?

[wobblybee Administrator]

🤔 You ‘started menopause around 50’..

Either ..you started Perimenopause then, or that was around the time of your last period 🤔

Whichever it was..you’d be better speaking to your GP for peace of mind, to check symptoms aren’t related to something else.

[Jauny in reply to wobblybee]

Last period around 50. Have been to the GP recently and he was happily going to prescribe HRT until I pointed out that its not advisable to start after 65. He didnt express any concern that I was still experiencing hot flushes at 67.

[wobblybee Administrator in reply to Jauny]

🤔 Sometimes…GPs opinions can surprise you, it can pay to do research yourself.

It must be exhausting to still cope with these symptoms..there are bound to be others coping with similar and don’t want to rely on HRT.

🤔Scroll down this link to…..Non Hormone Medicines

nhs.uk/conditions/menopause...

[Jauny in reply to wobblybee]

Thank you. Interestingly it mentions gabapentin which is also prescribed for RLS which I have too ..could kill 2 birds with one stone!!

[Lara1244 in reply to Jauny]

I’m not convinced that’s true - I’ve recently started on HRT aged 64 as I had a lengthy list of post menopausal symptoms which came about after a total hysterectomy at age 59. I was late to menopause- - 56/57 years old. When ovaries were removed is when everything kicked in. NICE advises that women can be on hrt for life if it improves quality of life.

Lara x

[Jauny in reply to Lara1244]

I believe that the advice is that you can be on it for life as long as you start before 65 , it's certainly what it says in the small print of the HRT I was prescribed.

[marcyh]

I wish I had answers but at 80 I'm stll struggling. It helps me to be very careful not to get too hot, day or night. We have an air purifier going every night in our bedroom. It circulares cool air and keeps it moving. It also prevents snoring for my husband. I also have a fan going sometimes. It's also important that our bedding is breathable. No duvets at our house, no synthetics. I'm also wearing only cottons whenever possible.

My doc has tried all the meds for hot flashes and insomnia. Stay far away from Imovane/zopiclone. It's addictive. However a micro-dose of Melatonin helps me sleep for the nights when sleep is absent. I order 300 mcg online. Can't get it at a pharmacy. 3 mg did not work for me and I was told I was taking too much.

HRT is the only relief but I can't have it because of cancer. (blood cancer and +++ estrogen positive breast cancer). I'm not sure about the dementia risk from HRT but there sure is when we can't sleep!

The best remedy for my really bad hot flashes is a "magic bag" (oats) that I keep in the freezer. I drape it around the back of my neck until the worse is over.

Berst wishes!

[Jauny in reply to marcyh]

Thank you for your support.

[PixieElv]

Hello

My night sweats were debilitating too. I tried HRT and it did not work for me (various reasons, I don’t want to go into). In my desperation I tried a herbal supplement and it really helped my night sweats. It really surprised me as I thought it wouldn’t do anything but I was so desperate that I tried it anyway. 😂

A friend has tried it since and she has also had some good results. I’ll DM you the brand, as I am not sure I am allowed to post it in here?

Best wishes

[Saju21 in reply to PixieElv]

Pixieelf I would love to know your recommendation too please - sleep is my main problem and hrt wasn’t helping so I have come off them.

[Jauny in reply to PixieElv]

Ooh, sounds interesting. I'd love to try that.I think it's ok to name brands on here

[Yodayodz]

my mums friend did it all by healthy eating and by getting all her stuff from Holland and Barrett not sure what she got but did it that way don’t know if u got it but I get aches in my face chest jaw knees but I’m on gel and tablets don’t really think it’s doing much but I have some nights of insomnia and heat from the inside out it’s awful but that’s what us poor women have to deal with 😢🤣

[Jauny in reply to Yodayodz]

My sleeping is getting worse and worse. I only get 20 mins or so at a time and end up getting up sometimes 5 or 6 times a night. Adding it all together I reckon I'm only getting 3-4 hrs in total and no proper runs of deep sleep.

[Yodayodz in reply to Jauny]

Yeah I do still get up 3.4 times a night don’t think I can remember a night I slept through did u get the aches and pains like I said or is that just me

[Jauny in reply to Yodayodz]

I have restless leg syndrome too so I get what I call twitchy legs but not really pain. That must be dreadful!

[Yodayodz in reply to Jauny]

Oh it is I have started getting weird leg things where I have to sit there and stretch my legs at night then my body just wants to move then I get really really hot but I had heart attack at Xmas so that’s not helping atm trying to get strong and healthy again 😢

[Jauny in reply to Yodayodz]

That all sounds very familiar though I don't have a heart problem (yet...as far as I know)

[PixieElv]

i got it off Amazon

This is it

[PixieElv in reply to PixieElv]

this

Better photo

[PixieElv in reply to PixieElv]

of bottle

Back

[PixieElv in reply to PixieElv]

It stopped the ‘drenched sheets’ moments overnight.

I still get warm/hot but no crazy soaked sheets anymore.

[Jauny in reply to PixieElv]

Thanks!

[CornishChick]

I have chronic insomnia. First generation antihistamine helps me massively, I can send you the link of where I obtain mine if you want to PM me.

I’d also definitely take magnesium at bedtime. I have a silk eye mask which I highly recommend, cheap off Amazon. All the best!

[Jauny in reply to CornishChick]

Thanks for the reply. Being a bit techno stupid, I can't see how to PM you??