Ever since my twins were born (almost five years ago), my periods have been really heavy. I can deal with that, but over the last few years I've noticed that the week before my period, I don't sleep. I can fall asleep normally but then wake up after three or four hours and nothing I do will put me back to sleep. It's like I'm no longer tired. But of course I'm exhausted the next day.
Does anyone else deal with this, and have you figured out a way to get more sleep? I assume this is hormonal but don't know how to counteract the hormones. I already eat a mostly healthy plant based diet (plus meat maybe four times a month), I've eliminated dairy, I take melatonin at night, B12 and a multi vitamin daily. Any other suggestions?
Thank you! I'm sick of being tired!!
Try GLA. It is an Omega-6 and helps to balance bodily functions. It can help women with hormonal issues. I can't put a link here, but I think this could help you. If you take omega 3's, add this in and that may even help them to work better.
Doesn't it make you crazy? Isn't it enough that we have to get our period once a month, carry babies, go through labor & delivery, deal with stretched out bodies - but now when we really sleep we have this time each month when sleeps eludes us?
It happens to me - it didn't used to until I got older. I'd say it started sometime in my mid-40s and now in my early 50's it's standard operating procedure - about one week each month.
I find that being very physically active during the day helps since I'm not only worn out and emotionally tired, but am physically exhausted. For me yard work, gardening, long fast-paced walks (up and down big hills around here) or time on the treadmill will tire me out. You can't do it too close to bed time - but mid day or early evening. It helps a lot.
Also - if your periods have been abnormally heavy since your twins' birth be sure to tell your doctor at your next visit. I had uterine hyperplasia (which means a thickening of the uterine wall) and with a 3 month course of hormone medication it got cleared out and went back to normal. Not sure how old you are but peri-menopause can start early for some women. My good friend was done by age 40! I'm 53 and still as regular as can be. Go figure!
Have you tried the extended release melatonin? My son only takes the regular stuff because once hes out hes out but I have seen it at a few stores.
It is likely related to hormonal changes that have occurred since childbearing, especially if you have sleeping issues the week before starting your period. However, it may also be a low level of magnesium in your body. Most multivitamins have almost no magnesium. Please do an internet search to find a list of foods high in magnesium or consider taking a low dose of magnesium citrate (it has better absorption than magnesium oxide). Taking just a small amount of mg citrate in form of a capsule helps me sleep the week before my period starts. I only developed this pattern of insomnia after having my 3rd child in my late thirties.
I suspect hormones too. I went through this with all my post-pregnancies. I read a helpful book that outlines different diets and supplements based on symptoms you're having. It helped lots. I've been sleeping like a baby since following one suggested regime.
see:
http://www.amazon.com/Fertility-Cycles-Nutrition-4th-Edit...
Have you check out the women to women Web site? They are holistic doctors who deal almost exclusively with women's issues. I bet they could help you get your hormones back on track. I get a monthly newsletter from them that is chock full of all sorts of useful information, especially about the thyroid, the adrenals, and perimenopause/menopause. They have dedicated coaches who will help you through a program, if you elect to do one.
I was having issues with heavy bleeding (had a NovaSure Ablation done) and with severe PMS. Changing my diet to organic, cutting out foods I was allergic/intolerant to helped, and I also added MacaRoot to my diet. I take it as a supplement, 2 pills in the morning, and 1 pill with lunch and dinner. I have found that it's helped quite a bit with my PMS and, I suspect, perimenopause.
Good luck!
What time of the day do you take the B12 and multi-vitamin?
If you take it later in the afternoon, it might interfering with your sleep cycle.
Having said that, I'll let you know that I recently started having the same issues. The week before my period I start having issues sleeping. I fall asleep fine, but wake up anywhere from 2-430am and am wide awake!
It's probably hormones but I have no idea how to combat it. Good luck!
This is typical liver dumping time in Chinese medicine (1-3 am, give or take). The liver degrades hormones and can get backed up at that time. Try herbs that can relieve the liver... dandelion tincture (7 drops 3x's / day), milk thistle drops, or other liver combo formulas at herb store. An acupuncturist would be able to help too. I'm an L.Ac., and I've gone thru this as well personally, and the herbs help.
