sleeplessness
Question:
Hi, MIchelle, Ev and Jo-Ann, and welcome to alt.support.menopause (where I expect the traffic will start picking up now that the holidays are winding down). It’s not at all unusual to go through a phase of sleeplessness during the transition to menopause. Many of us who’ve been posting here for a while have experienced that sort of thing, often (but not always) related to night sweats, the night-time version of hot flashes. Personally, I had about six months two summers ago when, while able to fall asleep just fine, I found myself waking nightly at around 3-4 a.m., wide awake and absolutely unable to go back to sleep. None of the over-the-counter sleep aids or supplements did a thing for me, other than give me a bit of a hangover in the morning, and I eventually found that the best thing I could do was either lie there quietly with my eyes closed (hey, if you’re not sleeping, at least you’re resting) or – more often – get up and do some quiet, restful activity – reading, for instance, or listening to quiet music. Like many women, I work full time, and the fatigue that resulted from the sleeplessness was pretty rough. I’m lucky enough to have a job that can be done from home, so I worked out a deal with my boss to telecommute each Wednesday. That way I could catch a few hours of morning sleep (I tended to get pretty drowsy around 6-7 a.m.) in the middle of the week, which helped a lot. The sleeplessness vanished as mysteriously as it had arrived, and I’ve slept well ever since. Interestingly, though, it seems as if that experience reset my personal clock – I used to need eight hours of sleep a night, but I get by just fine now with six. Go figure. You can find our collected tips for getting through the sleepless time at: http://www.oxford.net/~tishy/insomnia.html along with some interesting musings on different ways one might choose to view this sleepless time. (Personally, while I found it fatiguing, I also came to value those late-night hours as a rare time for quiet musing and private introspection.) Best wishes, Pat Kight kig…@peak.org (posting from google because my usual news account seems to have died over the holidays)
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Pat Kight wrote in message … >Hi, MIchelle, Ev and Jo-Ann, and welcome to alt.support.menopause >(where I expect the traffic will start picking up now that the >holidays are winding down). >It’s not at all unusual to go through a phase of sleeplessness during >the transition to menopause. Many of us who’ve been posting here for a >while have experienced that sort of thing, often (but not always) >related to night sweats, the night-time version of hot flashes. >Personally, I had about six months two summers ago when, while able to >fall asleep just fine, I found myself waking nightly at around 3-4 >a.m., wide awake and absolutely unable to go back to sleep. >None of the over-the-counter sleep aids or supplements did a thing for >me, other than give me a bit of a hangover in the morning, and I >eventually found that the best thing I could do was either lie there >quietly with my eyes closed (hey, if you’re not sleeping, at least >you’re resting) or – more often – get up and do some quiet, restful >activity – reading, for instance, or listening to quiet music. >Like many women, I work full time, and the fatigue that resulted from >the sleeplessness was pretty rough. I’m lucky enough to have a job >that can be done from home, so I worked out a deal with my boss to >telecommute each Wednesday. That way I could catch a few hours of >morning sleep (I tended to get pretty drowsy around 6-7 a.m.) in the >middle of the week, which helped a lot. >The sleeplessness vanished as mysteriously as it had arrived, and I’ve >slept well ever since. Interestingly, though, it seems as if that >experience reset my personal clock – I used to need eight hours of >sleep a night, but I get by just fine now with six. Go figure. >You can find our collected tips for getting through the sleepless time >at: >http://www.oxford.net/~tishy/insomnia.html >along with some interesting musings on different ways one might choose >to view this sleepless time. (Personally, while I found it fatiguing, >I also came to value those late-night hours as a rare time for quiet >musing and private introspection.) >Best wishes, >Pat Kight >kig…@peak.org >(posting from google because my usual news account seems to have died >over the holidays)
All my life, I was able to curtail most of my sleeplessness but getting something to eat, and still am unable to sleep if I don’t eat after dinner. (I may be somewhat hypoglycemic — DUCK!! INCOMING from medical professionals who’ve known me in the past and insisted my syncope and gestational diabetes were psychiatric 
, and don’t know that my recently found birth mother and her brother are diabetic). But I use this with my kids too– "Can’t sleep? Try eating something." It seems to help them too. Anyhow, food for thought. Sue
Response:
Laura, Adelle Davis had some "healthy" cookies that called for sunflower seeds and other things — they were dark and not crispy. Do you remember these? I’ve searched through the books I have and can’t seem to come up with it. It’s been about 25 years or so since I last made them! –Jane "Laura Blanchard" <lblanch…@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20020102081433.05609.00004109@mb-fo.aol.com… – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Cathy says: > >No, but I *think* I read it the other way around. To make sure you’re > >getting vit. D & magnesium w/ the calcium. But who knows, I may be way > >off… > About a million years ago Adelle Davis said you had to take the two in balance > — a 2:1 calcium/magnesium ratio. I seem to recall a new ratio being announced > and reported here — 1:1. > Regards, > Laura Blanchard > lblanch…@aol.com > http://menopause.tripod.com (Land o’Links) > http://members.aol.com/lblanch000/
Response:
>From: "Martian" jane_weaver…@coldmailSPAMKILL.com >Date: 1/2/02 9:19 AM Pacific Standard Time >Adelle Davis had some "healthy" cookies that called for sunflower seeds and >other things — they were dark and not crispy. Do you remember these? I’ve >searched through the books I have and can’t seem to come up with it. It’s >been about 25 years or so since I last made them!
Jane,email me. I have all three of her books. Sharon..who believes in Better Living through Eccentricity
Response:
Jane says: >Adelle Davis had some "healthy" cookies that called for sunflower seeds and >other things — they were dark and not crispy. Do you remember these?
Vaguely, but I can’t recall where the recipe comes from. If I had to bet, I’d try "Let’s Cook It Right." Otherwise, I’d experiment with whole grains, seeds, unsulfured blackstrap molasses, noninstant powdered milk, dried fruits, and maybe a little (gag, retch) brewer’s yeast. Oh, yeah, and eggs. Regards, Laura Blanchard lblanch…@aol.com http://menopause.tripod.com (Land o’Links) http://members.aol.com/lblanch000/
Response:
>From: lblanch…@aol.com (Laura Blanchard) >Date: 1/3/02 5:33 AM Pacific Standard Time >Jane says: >>Adelle Davis had some "healthy" cookies that called for sunflower seeds and >>other things — they were dark and not crispy. Do you remember these? >Vaguely, but I can’t recall where the recipe comes from. If I had to bet, I’d >try "Let’s Cook It Right." Otherwise, I’d experiment with whole grains, >seeds, >unsulfured blackstrap molasses, noninstant powdered milk, dried fruits, and >maybe a little (gag, retch) brewer’s yeast. Oh, yeah, and eggs.
I emailed her. I *think* page 496 is what she wants. Sharon..who believes in Better Living through Eccentricity
Response:
Cathy says: >No, but I *think* I read it the other way around. To make sure you’re >getting vit. D & magnesium w/ the calcium. But who knows, I may be way >off…
About a million years ago Adelle Davis said you had to take the two in balance — a 2:1 calcium/magnesium ratio. I seem to recall a new ratio being announced and reported here — 1:1. Regards, Laura Blanchard lblanch…@aol.com http://menopause.tripod.com (Land o’Links) http://members.aol.com/lblanch000/
Response:
If you are taking magnesium, you should also take calcium and vice versa. It is also recomended that you take vit. D in addition. It depends on what you are taking these supplements for as to which comes first. sue – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Cathy Friedmann wrote: > No, but I *think* I read it the other way around. To make sure you’re > getting vit. D & magnesium w/ the calcium. But who knows, I may be way > off… > Cathy > — > "Staccato signals of constant information…" > ("The Boy in the Bubble") Paul Simon > Martian <jane_weaver…@coldmailSPAMKILL.com> wrote in message > news:73nY7.42931$fo.12935163@news1.rdc1.md.home.com… > > I’ve read that magnesium should only be taken if you are also > supplementing > > calcium. Anyone else read this? > > –Jane > > "Vita" <autumncro…@yahoo.com> wrote in message > > news:25kY7.473$Pe5.122832@news1.iquest.net… > > > Hello: > > > I have found that Primrose Oil Capsules, Flaxseed Oil Capsule Oil and > > > Magnesium Tablets help me. > > > RuthJ <rcjac…@pacbell.net> wrote in message > > > news:3C30FC81.39E8@pacbell.net… > > > > Michele wrote: > > > > > Hi there . > > > > > I’m 38 years old, and was diagnosed with rectal cancer in November > > > > > 2000. After surgery, I had chemo and radiation as treatment. The > > > > > radiation onc. told me it was likely I’d go into menopause, since > the > > > > > radiation would hit my ovaries. Treatment began in March 2001, and > on > > > > > March 15th I had my last menstrual period. > > > > > The last time I saw my medical onc. (October 2001), she said that, > > > > > while I hadn’t had a period, I might still not be menopausal. I > > > > > haven’t had any hot flashes. She said that generally women have to > go > > > > > a year without periods before they’re considered menopausal. (we > were > > > > > discussing HRT). She’s arranged for me to have some bloodwork in > > > > > February which might shed some light on the issue. I wasn’t too > > > > > concerned, since if I am menopausal, it didn’t seem to be > bothersome. > > > > > Anyway- the last 6 weeks or so I’ve had problems with sleeplessness. > > > > > I’ll wake up two or three hours after I’ve gone to sleep, totally > wide > > > > > awake. Won’t go back to sleep for two or three hours (I’ve tried > > > > > reading, taking a bath, changing beds, masturbating <g>, anything to > > > > > get me back to sleep). > > > > > I’d figured the sleeplessness might be due to stress at work, but > now > > > > > I’m wondering if it’s a sign of menopause. If it is, will HRT > relieve > > > > > it? > > > > > Thanks in advance for any responses, > > > > > Michele > > > > Hi Michele and welcome to a.s.m. Sorry about your cancer but it > sounds > > > > as if you have recovered well. I have apparently intermittently > > > > suffered from sleep disorders all my life (I don’t recall doing so as > a > > > > child, adolescent or young adult, but I remember my Mother telling me > > > > "if you can’t sleep then just rest and your body will get the benefit > of > > > > rest." About 4 years ago (I am 55) I *suddenly* started having quite > > > > severe insomnia, after gradually recovering from a bout of it which > > > > began about 9 years before that. I do several things which, in > > > > combination, seem to help. First, I do have prescription sleeping > pills > > > > but try to use them only once a week (they can be dangerous, > addictive, > > > > and have side effects). Right now I take them Sunday night. Second, > I > > > > take calcium and magnesium before going to bed. Third, I have a > variety > > > > of homeopathic remedies, which I like because the dosages are so small > > > > either they work or not, but can’t hurt you. I like "Insomnia Relief" > > > > by Natra-Bio, "Calms Forte" by Hylands, and "Restless Sleep" by > Boiron > > > > (I have no commercial connection to any of these products, which I get > > > > at my local health food store). Initially I tried getting up and > > > > reading or going on the internet but that seemed to make things worse. > > > > If all else fails, I do as my Mother said, just rest, and recently I > > > > find I often do get back to sleep. Having a cooperative cat helps > also > > > > (she is kind of wild, but for some reason seems to want to sleep, or > at > > > > least rest, through the night). Hope some of this helps. RuthJ
Response:
Martian wrote: > "Cathy Friedmann" <c…@adelphia.net> wrote in message > news:a0sut5$mp6if$1@ID-103542.news.dfncis.de… > > No, but I *think* I read it the other way around. To make sure you’re > > getting vit. D & magnesium w/ the calcium. But who knows, I may be way > > off… > Fog knows no bounds, so please don’t assume that I’m *not* way off!!! > That’s one reason I was asking, was because I couldn’t remember > specifically — I know they are part of several body systems where they both > are needed for the chemistry to work!!!
My favorite supplement/nutrient reference, The Natural Pharmacist (http://www.tnp.com) comes through again, with thorough listings not only for plain magnesium, but with a slew of other references to magnesium compounds. Among other things, they say: "Magnesium is an essential nutrient, meaning that your body needs it for healthy functioning. It is found in significant quantities throughout the body and used for numerous purposes, including muscle relaxation, blood clotting, and the manufacture of ATP (adenosine triphosphate, the body’s main energy molecule). "It has been called "nature’s calcium channel
