Either I can't go to sleep or I wake up and that's it for me. It would be fine if I were a lady of leisure who could nap on and off all day at my whim. However I have to get up and be places at certain times.

I've tried every trick I have ever successfully used to get to sleep to no avail.

I haven't looked into any kind of treatment. Any suggestions? I won't take sleeping aids.

__________________
The political system is broke and it's a joke.

Don't have any ideas. but wanted to tell you I am suffering with it, too. I also have a very loud heart beat at night that keeps me awake. Drives me crazy!

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"When you're drowning, you don't say 'I would be incredibly pleased if someone would have the foresight to notice me drowning and come and help me,' you just scream."

John Lennon

A friend just told me she takes Melatonin & it works very well. I'm picking some up ASAP. My hearts every once in a while has a short period of beating very hard & fast. I also attribute that to my "affliction".

__________________
The political system is broke and it's a joke.

I can't help on the perimentopausal part, yet (I know it's coming soon!!), but I was going to suggest the melatonin as well. My son has serious insomnia and his Dr. recommended it vs a sleep aid. He's been taking it about 2 years now and has had great results with it.

Thanks Breaggae! No sleep last night. I'm thankful I only work a few hours today. I'll leave home at 8 and get back by 3ish. It's going to be a long day!

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

^^ What?????

I am going thru the same thing, have been for about 6 years now. I'll have to check into the melatonin...I could use some help in the sleeping dept. Thanks for that tip ladies!

__________________

Friends are like butt cheeks.
Crap might separate them,
But they always come back together.

Six years?!

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If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition, and then admit that we just don't want to do it.

- Stephen Colbert.

Yep...my doc told me I could go thru it for up to 10 before the real thing hits.

__________________

Friends are like butt cheeks.
Crap might separate them,
But they always come back together.

Noooooooo!

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If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition, and then admit that we just don't want to do it.

- Stephen Colbert.

Janenga I feel for you! You need more than Melatonin you need some major happy pills lol!

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The political system is broke and it's a joke.

I've been in peri for 8 years! Just when I think it's over I get my period! I sleep with a fan blowing on me all year. A couple years ago I couldn't take the constant hot flashes and started taking prempro. I really didn't want to take hormones but I HAD to! I take the lowest dose every other day and it has been fantastic for the flashes and has helped my sleeping somewhat. Melatonin and black cohash and other herbals never worked for me. As I always say, getting old sucks!!

I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one who has been going through this for a long time. I'm 48 and this has been going on for the last two years. I was having VERY heavy bleeding...almost so bad that I couldn't leave the house. I put up with that for too long...I finally went to the gyn and she put me on birth control. I don't like taking any kind of pill, so I was only on it from January-April. Then the same problem came back. It's only that bad for about one day so I can put up with it. What is horrible are the night sweats. I've tried everything and nothing helps. I wake up drenched...it's like I just got out of the shower. Heat just radiates off of the sheets like I'm lying on the beach in 90 degree weather. I've finally called the gyn and I have an appointment the beginning of January. I'm afraid to take hormones, but at this point I don't know what options I have. The night sweats wake me up...then I go down on the computer...and grab a big piece of cake, pie, or whatever we have in the house that's sweet. I never even liked sweets that much until this all came about. I'm way overweight, tired because I don't sleep right, and just miserable to sum it up. My friend told me to try soy...I didn't. I'm going to try this melatonin and see how it works. Any other suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks... ~Lisa

Lisa, that's exactly how I was. The night sweats were unbearable and the daytime wasn't much better. Believe me, I was always one not to take any kind meds but prempro has been a wonder drug for me. Like I said, I take lowest dose every other day. I took it every day until it kicked in then started the every other day. The only time I flash is a little at night the week before I get my period-that's how I can tell it's coming!! Good luck to you in Jan.

Just a suggestion, but did you all know that use of artificial sweeteners like Splenda, and aspartame have been linked to sleep problems?

I know I love to have an occasional Fresca here and there, but I try to keep it to a few a week. I try to eat low-carb, so artificial sweeteners are in a lot of the things that are supposed to be okay for me to have, but I really try to limit them.

There is much anecdotal evidence that consuming too many can have an "exciting" sort of effect on the brain. If you do a web search for this subject, you may find something relating to your situation.

I guess if you are willing to give up diet soda, etc, to test it, you could at least rule it out.

I'll see what the gyn has to say about the prempro...It sounds great...I don't get any hot flashes or sweats during the day, but I do get very hot at times...Which is why I love when it gets cold outside...I hate diet soda so at least I don't have to worry about Splenda...I drink La Croix, but I got sick of it...I bought two different waters but hated the taste...Stupid me for not checking the ingredients until later...I just bought some organic water in Kroger so we'll see if that tastes any better...Sorry I'm getting off topic...Any recommendations for flavored water would be much appreciated...Thanks...

squeeze some lemon, lime or orange into water

I agree with staying away from splenda! I can't eat/drink that stuff, every time I do it get this horrible frog in my throat that last for hours and hours! Finally figured out what was causing it...UGH! All that stuff(artificial additives) is terrible for you and a lot of ways.

I have trouble sleeping also. Not so much the night sweats just my mind thinking of stuff. If I can make it past 3 or 4am that is all I am going to get. If I wake before 2 a good chance I will get back to sleep in a few hours. I was told that melatonin isn't good over time. I take a PM pain reliver. Just cut one caplet in half. (You can do it with your hands.) It has Benadryl in it. It gets me to sleep fast and beyond the dreaded 3 or 4 am wake up. I don't want to become dependent on it so I only take one half when I can sleep a little late. I don't feel tired during the day. I take a full caplet when I don't have to get up early. I slept 8 hours a few weeks back. First time in years. What a difference how I feel when I get sleep.

I have been using the Melatonin for two nights. I sleep wonderfully with waking up only to use the restroom and NO trouble going back to sleep. I took 3 mg. I slept for 8 hrs one night and 9 the next with no problem waking up in the morning.

__________________
The political system is broke and it's a joke.

Omg I drive dh nuts with my hot flashes. Some nights I whip the covers off me so fast they come off him too. I have to sleep with at least 1 of my feet out from the covers to help 'regulate' my temp (sometimes it's both feet, sometimes it's half of my body!). My doc had put me on a sleep aid a couple of years ago, but that didnt help and I'm not much of a pill popper either. So I deal with it, but I hate that I am dragging a$$ by noon.

I have a doc appt in March for my yearly invasion, so I'm going to ask about something to help me with this. And yeah Anna, I'd LOVE some happy pills!

__________________

Friends are like butt cheeks.
Crap might separate them,
But they always come back together.

My mom is 70 and she still has hot flashes.

popcorny, thanks for helping me see the light at the end of the tunnel!

ask about low dose vivelle dot- it is an estrogen patch it helped me

I've never heard of that, will have to ask. Thanks!

__________________

Friends are like butt cheeks.
Crap might separate them,
But they always come back together.

In order for the Dr to give you estrogen only you have to be POST menopausal. That's why I take prempro, I still get my period a few times a year.