Women and Insomnia

[Paddygirl]

The more women our age that I talk to tell me that they, like me, have trouble sleeping. I thought this might be a good place to share our challenges and our successes with insomnia. Trouble falling asleep? Waking up at 2-3 am? found anything that helps?
Since this is a problem for so many of us at this age, I wonder if it is hormonal (or lack thereof). Thoughts?

[Blessed2BNTV]

Part of life’s changes and going thru changes.

Have you tried melatonin natural sleep aid?

When I wake I remember that I’m retired and don’t have to be sharp and can take a nap the next day!

[Madelaine Amee]

The more women our age that I talk to tell me that they, like me, have trouble sleeping. I thought this might be a good place to share our challenges and our successes with insomnia. Trouble falling asleep? Waking up at 2-3 am? found anything that helps?
Since this is a problem for so many of us at this age, I wonder if it is hormonal (or lack thereof). Thoughts?

I sleep like a baby in this cold weather, but don't sleep well in the summer when it is very hot, even with the AC. Nothing wakes my husband - nothing!

I should add that I have to be very careful what I watch on TV before going to bed. If I watch something that bothers me I do have a hard time sleeping.

[marianne237]

Insomnia....my middle name.

[Paddygirl]

Insomnia....my middle name.
Do you stay in bed or do you get up and do things?

[kaseydog]

i have tried both getting up & staying in bed & reading. tried melatonin too. nothing has worked so far.

[Roll With It]

Has anyone tried Valerian? It is an herbal remedy.

[asianthree]

Has anyone tried Valerian? It is an herbal remedy.

Comes in pill form or in a tea. For those with chronic insomnia most over the counter does not seem to work well.

My sleep patterns i inherent from Grandparents and parents, as I require very little sleep. We rem almost immediately for around 4 hours. Never feel tired. After 4ish hours of sleep off to the gym for couple of hours, then on to 10 hour shift, then relax with yoga or meditation class before heading home. My grandparents lived healthy lives until late 90s, and both my parents are very active at 87. Sleep clinics do not classify us as insomniac, just a solid rem sleeper

[graciegirl]

I sleep like a baby in this cold weather, but don't sleep well in the summer when it is very hot, even with the AC. Nothing wakes my husband - nothing!

I should add that I have to be very careful what I watch on TV before going to bed. If I watch something that bothers me I do have a hard time sleeping.

I agree. I like snuggling under blankets. And I try to watch HGTV at night before sleep.

[capecoralbill]

I sleep like a baby in this cold weather, but don't sleep well in the summer when it is very hot, even with the AC. .

I am chiming in as a male, cause i am a light sleeper, the above post mentions the cool weather. I don't think that's it. The sun comes up earlier in the summer. I feel lack of sleep is due to bright rooms. I put aluminum foil on my windows...pitch black room. Plus it keeps the aliens away. Bill

[EPutnam1863]

Since 1986 I have been taking Zolpidem (generic for Ambien). Since I am now 77 and have been taking it for so long that the doctors say there is no point in my quitting it. So I sleep happily. My sister, on the other hand, is unable to get this Rx: the Canadian health care system is really very strict about prescribing such meds. So she tried OTC one by one and none of those so-called herbal remedies help. I suspect she drinks enough to get drunk so she can fall asleep drunk.

[Paddygirl]

Has anyone tried Valerian? It is an herbal remedy.

I have tried Valerian and other herbs too. No luck.

[Paddygirl]

Since 1986 I have been taking Zolpidem (generic for Ambien). Since I am now 77 and have been taking it for so long that the doctors say there is no point in my quitting it. So I sleep happily. My sister, on the other hand, is unable to get this Rx: the Canadian health care system is really very strict about prescribing such meds. So she tried OTC one by one and none of those so-called herbal remedies help. I suspect she drinks enough to get drunk.

:laugh:

[EPutnam1863]

I should add that I have to be very careful what I watch on TV before going to bed. If I watch something that bothers me I do have a hard time sleeping.

Same thing for me when it comes to books.

[dotti105]

My PCP here in TV suggested that I try "Aletril". It is an over the counter sleep aid that contains:
1. Valerian
2. Melatonin
3. L Tryptophan (the chemical in Turkey that is credited with the mandatory Thanksgiving Day nap)

It has helped me decrease the amount of prescription sleep meds that I require. She told me that some of her patients have been able to get off of Ambien by using it. I have not had that much success thus far, but decreasing any Rx sleep meds is a plus as far as I am concerned.

I know I have the typical age/hormone related sleep problems, but I also as a RN, I worked 12 hr night shifts for 30 yrs. Soooo.....I may never be able to have a normal sleep pattern.

If i could go to bed at 3 am and get up a 10 am, I would be just fine. Unfortunately, my husband doesn't really like that schedule. Normal sleep is a constant challenge for me.

[HollyAnn]

I have 2 methods I use to fall asleep. 1. Focus only on breathing (using a "mindful meditation" method which is to visualize inhaling air, circulating and calmly exhaling again and again) This is actually hard to do and requires practice, but once you can control it, it works every time. My 2nd method is to listen to my "sleep" music playlist of 6-7 songs on my phone's Spotify app. The music is relaxing, and hearing the same old songs lulls me into happy sleep.

[rexxfan]

For what its worth, the host of a podcast I listen to has done some research into improving sleep. You can read about it at GRC's | Healthy Sleep Formula (https://www.grc.com/health/sleep/healthy_sleep_formula.htm). I've not tried it myself as I don't have this issue. The fellow is a real technical guy, but is NOT a doctor.

[Villagevip]

I take a shot of tequila (or two) before beddy bye... But then, I dream of Native American war dancing, drumming, all night long.

[tophcfa]

Try the Indica strain of medical marajuana, you will sleep like a baby and wake up with memories of happy dreams.

[aninjamom]

I was taking TylenolPM occasionally to catch up on sleep, then my daughter pointed out that the sleep aid part is just benadryl. So I will take one of those for two or three nights in a row if I'd had trouble sleeping, it seems to help me get back to sleep when I do wake up, and breaks the "wake up at 4" habit for a few days. But I don't use it all the time, and I have always naturally woken up at 5:30 or 6. Falling asleep on the couch before I get to bed might have something to do with it!

[saltedegg]

Reading a good book puts me right back to sleep.

[NotGolfer]

The supplement L-thianine (sp) as well as CBD oil/tincture (use before bedtime).

[Sgroemm]

I remember a report on the news linking benadryl, tylenol PM and a few other drugs commonly used for sleep to dementia.

Popular drugs for colds, allergies, sleep linked to dementia - CBS News (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/popular-drugs-for-colds-allergies-linked-to-dementia/)

[ColdNoMore]

To the OP - A suggestion would be to do a sleep study...to rule out sleep apnea.

While sleep apnea symptoms are not necessarily not being able to fall asleep initially, it can result in falling asleep for a very short period...then not being able to get back to sleep.

And then of course, is the fact that women suffer more from insomnia...than us guys.

I attribute part of that, totally unscientific of course (:D), to guys being able to compartmentalize 'our simplistic few thoughts at one time' (:1rotfl:)...and not run a continuous loop movie reel of everything going on in our lives.

Here's a good article...on suggested remedies.

Why Women Are Twice As Likely To Have Insomnia Than Men (https://healthblog.uofmhealth.org/health-management/3-reasons-women-are-more-likely-to-have-insomnia)

Women are twice as likely to have insomnia — the inability to fall asleep and stay asleep — as men. Much of this has to do with hormones, but some of it has to do with the ebbs and flows of a woman’s life. Here are three common causes.

On the other hand, if you have experienced insomnia three nights a week for three months or more, you have chronic insomnia and should seek the help of a health care provider, such as your physician or a sleep medicine specialist.


Good luck in finding help. :thumbup:

[graciegirl]

I remember a report on the news linking benadryl, tylenol PM and a few other drugs commonly used for sleep to dementia.

Popular drugs for colds, allergies, sleep linked to dementia - CBS News (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/popular-drugs-for-colds-allergies-linked-to-dementia/)

I read that too. I think that the alternative products may hold risk not yet found. I wear earphones and watch TV...something like House Hunters or The Best Food I Ever Ate....but then THAT makes me hungry.

My husband is a saint and is used to be watching television on mute.

[Nucky]

No matter what one episode of All In The Family or Golden Girls and I'm out. My wife struggled for a while after we moved here. Limiting the coffee after 5 PM and 10 jigawatts of Melatonin did the trick. The Melatonin takes a little while to work but ultimately it does. She now sleeps like a baby. ZZZZzzzzzzzz.