Leading up to finishing work I was working late every night and worrying about having every little thing tied up (yes, just to be able to go off sick!!!). I wasn't sleeping and if I did I had incessant chatter in my head about everything I needed to do. Literally I was in a state of living to work.
After my operation, I was sleeping all hours of the day and night, whenever I wanted. And that was okay, because I could. I needed to sleep, to rest, to replenish, to heal.
Next came the horrendous hot sweats, particularly extreme at night. My sleep became so disturbed, I was having hardly any sleep at all. When I did sleep, it was fitful, disturbed by the throwing on and off of covers.
I saw the GP as planned to discuss starting my HRT (you have to have a break between hysterectomy and starting HRT). Unlike many women, I wasn't having the 'other' associated symptoms of menopause, which was good because what I was experiencing was bloody awful!!
After discussing and considering with the GP I decided that HRT, at this moment in time is not for me. I am a runner - weight bearing exercise strengthens bones as does HRT protecting against osteoporosis, I'm 47 this month - if I was early 40's this would NOT be a good choice, I'm not having mood swings, I'm not moody or over emotional (never have been), I'm still keen to you know what (first time in a couple of years pain free - yay!!) and am not having problems with dryness........sorry..........
So, I started medication that tackles the hot sweats only. It's worked - amazingly. I was having 30 - 40 hot sweats a day and am down to 6 - 10 after 3 weeks. Amazeballs. Sadly sleep continues to evade me. This week I reached desperation point, I could not cope any more. I could feel, as bedtime was approaching' anxiety kicking in, just awful. Here are some/all of the things I have tried;
- Not resting/sleeping in the day - in the morning I have felt that 'oooohhhhh, I feel like I could have the nicest sleep NOW' but have resisted
- Going to bed and getting up at the same time
- Temperature control in the bedroom
- Bedtime routine - you know the one; warm bath, not too hot, nice warm drink - chamomile tea or Pukka Night Time Tea (don't do milk), gradual wind down....
- Eating a banana
- No screens from an hour before bed - the screens emit blue light which can affect circadian rhythm (your body clock)
- No charging items up in the bedroom, turning all electrical items off (apart from hubby's phone) as the tiny flashes of light were disturbing me
- Increased exercise
- Headspace Meditation
- Deep Breathing
- Bach Rescue Remedy to calm me down. Yes! It's that bad!
- Pukka Night Time natural remedy capsules
- I then went and bought a Lumie Body Clock which helps your circadian rhythm by simulating a dusk (time to go to sleep) and dawnbreak
As you can see. I've really tackled it, I need to, I am due back to work next week.
So, yesterday I went to see my GP again, who's brilliant. She listened and advised a very short term measure of half a sleeping tablet a night, to help my routine and take away some of the anxiety. I have also been given another weeks sick note. I have a job where I need to be on the ball, with no room for mistakes.
I could not wait to go to bed last night and pop that pill I tell ya! I did my 'routine' popped half a tablet, read my book and could feel myself slowly drifting..........................next thing it was 4am and even then I went straight back to sleep until 6.30am.
Today I feel so rested. It's unbelievable. Well, it's not, cos, you know 'drug induced sleep' but, I need it. If it is going to help in my return to a normal routine, meaning I go back to work rested then it has to be. I will be taking them for 4 nights then seeing what happens without them. Cross your fingers for me - please!
Here is the face of me. One nights sleep. Seven and a half hours. Yay! Admittedly I have mascara on!
