[LiveThroughThis]

I have Sleep Apnea and use a machine nightly, which helps my sleep 10 fold. However, during my period, I am almost an insomniac, and I can't fall asleep until the late morning, wherein I sleep until the evening. I'm aware my hormones play a huge component in this (I am seeing a new gyno soon to see if he can help me determine if my hormones are imbalanced).

My sleep dr advised me not to nap during the day if I can help it. I don't usually nap at all, but for three days of the month, my sleep goes completely whacky.....like it has its own Bipolar,

Today is my worst day of it, with body aches all over, and I've not slept since late last night. I have tried to sleep but had random things going on preventing it. I decided to try to stay up and get to sleep later tonight. Initially I got a lot of anxiety about this--the thoughts started ("What if this is bad? I shouldn't go so long without sleeping even though I slept til 9:00 last night. Is this considered mania? No, because I don't have increased energy. It's probably just my period, and maybe the Sleep Apnea too.). I've gone through these thoughts a lot today. And I finally decided, you know what? It's okay to be exhausted and try to stay awake to get my sleep cycles back in check. I'm not purposely avoiding sleep.

It's just a difficult feeling for me to be this tired because it takes me back to my awful sleep, pre-sleep apnea-diagnosis....and I just kind of get scared (will I stop breathing in my sleep? I'm wearing my sleep mask; I won't die in my sleep.), etc.

Anyway....I'm not hypomanic about it; I'm too tired and achy to be, But...I think this is a good choice I've made, and I made it on my own. It feels kind of good. Kind of.

((((Live)))) I can relate in that not being able to sleep properly contributes to my feelings of anxiety. In fact, I definitely can feel the difference after a (rare and very much needed) good night's sleep. I truly hope your new gdoc can help you sort things out re hormones. (Out of balance hormones can definitely affect sleep).

I had never heard of it before, but my T gave me a list of things to do prior to bedtime as well as some tips on how to decorate and make up up the bedroom for an optimal sleep environment. Do you have something like that, too? I would be happy to send it to you if you think it will help

I wish you the best and please keep us posted....let us know how you are doing

[LucyG]

Before I finally hit menopause, my insomnia was particularly awful during my period and when I ovulated. Being that I have high cortisol levels at night anyway, I don't know if that interacted with the raging hormones to make it even worse. I went through this for a number of years.

[LiveThroughThis]

Originally Posted by Rose Panachée

((((Live))))

I had never heard of it before, but my T gave me a list of things to do prior to bedtime as well as some tips on how to decorate and make up up the bedroom for an optimal sleep environment. Do you have something like that, too? I would be happy to send it to you if you think it will help

I wish you the best and please keep us posted....let us know how you are doing

Yes, I would like to see what ideas your T gave you. That'd be great!

I looked at the date I wrote the OP; it was the day of the panic attack that sent me to the ER (in another thread I made). Ugh. My period is just about over, but I hit down down depression after the ER visit. It didn't last--none of it does! .

I saw my T today. I dunno what's going on, but the past two times I've seen her she's not been helpful. I know she's trying, but I haven't left feeling better. I guess I'll update on the panic attack thread. Thanks everyone!

[lusie]

Ya its common for lots of women, Due to this lots of women get affected by insomnia problem. And I want to say that what you decide that not purposely avoiding sleep is better option for you.

[hamster-bamster]

I do not menstruate because I am on Mirena (30% of Mirena IUD users do not menstruate) but I can just tell you that as a general medicine for insomnia, the best thing is medicinal cannabis if it is available in your state. In my experience, it is better than all benzos combined, Zyprexa at any dose, Amitriptyline (although it is still good), and Trazodone. I take very little so I do not experience any psychedelic effects from it - I just have a good night's sleep and am restored enough by next morning to be able to swim for 60 minutes and bike for 70 minutes before having my first cup of coffee at work.

So it is definitely a kick-*** medicine without any side effects and it is legally available to you (I do not want to recommend anything illegal, for obvious reasons), it is definitely worth trying.

Back when I had my period, two things were generally helpful just to feel my best, not to feel any cramps, to feel well, etc. - sex and cardiovascular exercise. Both, most likely, via increasing blood flow to the pelvis. Do not know if that would help insomnia, but at least it would not hurt to try. And the worst thing that caused cramping was prolonged sitting. When I was hiking, e.g., on my feet all day long, I had no cramping whatsoever. So sitting is really pernicious. As it is well established that prolonged sitting is overall detrimental to health and longevity, I would not be surprised if days spent sitting lead to sleepless nights. So maybe get on your feet more?