Menopausal can`t sleep any ideas?

Question

I am 51 stopped taking hormones after 2 years because of the serious risks,age,smoking,blood clots etc.i feel much better off of them except i can`t sleep i have nite sweats alot but i need some suggestions on sleepingAny over the counter products?Help

Answer 1

First I will address the sleeping issue. If you are not sleeping well, your body is now under stress. This stress builds up in your mind and body. One good way to relieve some of this stress is to find a Nationally Certified Massage Therapist and make an appointment for a nice relaxing Traditional Swedish Massage. If you do this, ask for her/him to use a lotion that contains lavendar. (I prefer lotion rather than oils or creams because they don't leave you feeling "greasy") It is a very light scent and is very relaxing for the mind and body. (part of a lttle aromatherapy)

Your next step is to go down to your local Wal-Mart store and check out a product called Estoven. It has some vitamins & minerals in it but will not conflict with any multi-vitamin that you may be taking because all the vitamins in this product are water soliuble. Which means that whatever your body doesn't need it will expel on its own. Estoven contains all natural ingredients and herbs. I, myself, use it and it has helped tremendously. I am peri-menopausal, and have been for almost 4 - 5 years now. (the process begins early in our family & seems to last forever) They have Estoven Plus for those in the height of menopause. It also cantains Soy, which has been found in research to lessen the effects of some of the symptoms of menopause, (including hot falshes & night sweats). It also contains an all natural herbal blend to help with sleep. (anything natural is not addictive) You can check out info on Estoven @ www.estroven.com or by calling 1-877-ESTROVEN.

Next let's got to the Health & Beauty or Baby Department. It may sound funny but it is helpful. Get yourself a bottle of (1 each) Johnson & Johnson Baby Wash & lotion containing Lavendar & Chamomille. (the bottle is ususlly lavendar in color) These both have qualties for soothing & relaxing you mind & body. Use this when you bathe or shower. It doesn't have to be everyday. (a little more aromatherapy)

Next let's travel to the food section and buy some Silk. It is a Soy MIlk. I prefer the Vanilla. Use it on your breakfast cereal or drink it with your breakfast. (I have tried it in my coffee, I wouldn't recomend this. YUCK! I like my creamer.)This is adding more Soy protein into your diet. Now let's find the isle where there is tea. Celestial Seasonings Sleepy TIme Tea is your best bet here. It is also made of all natural herbs. This contains Chamomille, which is calming. Drink this before bedtime.

You may also want to slowly (to avoid headaches) cut down on our caffeine intake if you consume a lot of products conataining this during the day. Tea has far less caffeine than coffee. I drink de-caf. Green Tea has great antioxidants in it also. Another thought to help with overall health. So does dark chocolate, but don't overindulge. LOL I LOVE dark chocolate!

If you do seek out a Certified Massage Therapist, make sure that you drink plenty of water before & after your massage as your body will release built up toxins out of your muscles. If you don't do this you could have Flu like symptoms such as aching and soreness of the muscles. You should drink water everyday anyway to help flush your system and it is something that your body needs and actually craves.

As for Night sweats. Someone suggested a fan aimed on her and not her husband. I haven't really experienced this yet, (and am NOT looking forward to it). The Estoven & extra Soy in your diet should help with this. And heck a fan wouldn't hurt as it gives you a nice breeze and some white noise to lull you off to sleep. :)

My sister stopped taking synthetic hormones & replaced it with Effexsor and it was no help to her at all, but she also had chronic pain.

A nice walk is also a good form of exercise which in turn releases "feel good" endorphines into your system giving you and overall feeling of balance and well being. Exercise is also recommended for bone density.

Meditation is also relaxing and will put you into a nice peaceful sleep if done when you lie down at bedtime. Doing some meditation in the afternoon will give you extra energy and help balance out your day.

Please make sure that the Massage Therapist that you choose, (if you go in this direction), is Nationally Certified. I can't stress this enough. This means that they have been trained well enough to pass the National Exam and know what they are doing. Trust me, the test is NOT easy! You can't even begin to imagine all that one must know to pass this test. And PLEASE be totally honest with your Therapist of all known illnesses and current meds and everything. It is all confidential. This helps them with the best treatment method for you. Even if it is just for relaxation.

Sorry this is a little long, but I only speak what I know, trust and believe.

Hope this helps!
Elvn

Answer 2

Hi there,
My answer to this "I'm hoping that I don't sound like a commercial" (because it's not) is a tea ..it's called Kleritea it's sold on Dr. Natura.com, It is the best sleep aid I found. It helps me sleep naturally without using pills that I have found to be addictive.

Since menopause I have an awful problem with getting sleepy. Once I drink this tea my eye lids get surprisingly heavy and I really get sleepy...and it doesn't take a long time either.

I also heard that drinking warm milk also helps, but I'm not a milk person. So that wasn't an answer for me.

Another thing you shouldn't do any housework right before bedtime. It can stick in your mind and sometimes make you feel anxious.

Try reading a good book, and try to relax your mind.

Drinking a cup of that celestial tea. Some people believe in that.

But that Kleritea is my favorite.

Oh by the way I don't work for Dr. Natura, I just love the products. They work for me. Good luck.

Answer 3

You can also try sage tea. You will find a lot of information in Susun Weed's book - NEW Menopausal Years the Wise Woman Way:
Alternative Approaches for Women 30 - 90

Answer 4

Try some Melatonin. it is in 'SleepSense' I have found the one from this web site better than the ones at the drugstore although they are the same strength but these a tiny little pills. they are not addictive and do help sleep. where as the ones from the drugstore do work, they are bigger.

Answer 5

You may want to try Estrovent. That is what my OB/GYN recommends, as she is adamant about women not taking hormones. I experienced my sister going thru the hot flashes and she was a basket case. I just kept telling her to grin and bear it, as they only last for a few minutes. Hope this helps some.

Answer 6

I too don't take the meds.....scared - but I have found exercising and vitamin E works great for ME. Also, some of the herbal teas, I think "sleepy-time" by Celestial Seasonings
(I am at work so can;t check my kitchen :o).....) is a good one and they have a variety of teas - chamomile is another one I like - hope this helps....

Answer 7

Try the Natural Cures, it helps.

Treatment: Although menopause cannot be avoided, it can be postponed for as long as 10 to 15 years and it can be made a smooth affair when it comes, with a proper nutritional programme, special supplements and the right mental attitude. When a woman is affected by the menopausal change to any marked extent, it is a sure sign that her body is in a toxic condition and in need of a thorough cleansing. For this purpose, she should undergo a course of natural health building treatment. Diet is of utmost importance in such a scheme of treatment. In fact the problems at menopause are often much more severe than that at puberty largely because the diet has been deficient for many years prior to its onset, in many nutrients such as protein, calcium, magnesium, vitamins D, E, and pantothenic acid. The diet should be made up from three basic food groups, namely (i) seeds, nuts, and grains (ii) vegetables and (iii) fruits. The emphasis should be on vitamin E-rich raw and sprouted seeds and nuts, unpasteurised high quality milk and homemade cottage cheese and an abundance of raw, organically grown fruits and vegetables. Plenty of freshly made juices of fruits and vegetables in season should also be included in this diet.

All processed, refined and denatured foods, such as white sugar, white flour and all articles made with them, should be completely eliminated. Take special supplements such as vitamins C, B6 and pantothenic acid, which have a specific property of stimulating the body’s own production of estrogen or enhancing the effect of the existing estrogen. During menopause, the lack of ovarian hormones can result in a severe calcium deficiency. For this reason, a larger than usual intake of calcium may help greatly. Vitamins D and F are also essential for assimilation of calcium. Any woman having difficulty at this time should supplement her daily diet with 1,000 units of natural vitamin D, 5000 milligrams of magnesium and two grams of calcium daily, which can be supplied by one quart of milk. During the menopause, the need for vitamin E soars 10 to 50 times over that previously required. Hot flashes, night sweats, and other symptoms of menopause often disappear when 50 to 100 units of vitamin E are taken daily. The symptoms recur quickly if the vitamin is discontinued.

Of late, it has become popular to take estrogen to prevent or postpone menopausal symptoms. Although hormone therapy is apparently successful and will, in many cases, help the patient to feel and act younger, it cannot be recommended in all cases because of its carcinogenic effect. If, however, estrogen therapy is undertaken, it should never be administered at the same time as vitamin E therapy. Ingestion of estrogen and vitamin E should be separated by several hours. Beet juice has been found very useful in menopausal disorders. It should be taken in small quantities of 60 to 90 ml at a time thrice a day. It has proved much more permanently helpful than the degenerative effects of drugs or synthetic hormones. Carrot seeds have also been found valuable in menopausal tension. A teaspoonful of the seeds should be boiled in a glassful of cow’s milk for about 10 minutes and taken daily as a medicine in this condition.

Plenty of outdoor exercise, such as walking, jogging, swimming, horse riding, or cycling, is imperative to postpone menopause. Other helpful measures in this direction are avoiding mental and emotional stress and worries, especially worry about growing old, sufficient sleep, and relaxation and following all general rules of maintaining a high level of health. The healthier a woman is, the fewer menopausal symptoms she will experience.

The menopause can be made a pleasant affair by building bodily health and a sane mental outlook. From puberty to menopause, a woman has been somewhat of a slave to her female glands. At specified intervals she was inconvenienced by her menstrual periods. She bore children, enduring the pain and discomfort of pregnancy. Menopause relieves her of this bondage to her femininity. She can now experience some of the happiest days of a woman’s life. A whole new life is given to her, if she is wise enough to prepare for it and accept it as such.

Hope this helps you out, Good Luck

Answer 8

Well, my mom is going through this too..., she takes Tylenol PM, Advil PM and pilds that are sold without prescription but cause sleepiness, I mean, medicine that aren't "dangerous".

Take care

Answer 9

go to the doctor get a prescription for ambien cr it is time release itmworks wonders.

Answer 10

smoke some marijuana...some indica