Hirri
Member
- Joined
- Oct 14, 2020
- Messages
- 109
Hello,
Sorry for long post
I have a bad insomnia which seems to be related to changing seasons (always worse when fall comes and it's getting darker), however, some episodes happen in summer to. I cannot fall asleep until 2-3 am, I feel my pulse racing and I can hear every tiny sound around which makes me even more anxious and annoyed. This especially worsens during PMS (all year long), but during cold season not only during PMS. Some things about me and what I've tried;
- 37 female
-used to be very low body fat %, but gained to what was considered normal during last 2 years (reduced running, increased eating), now BMI around 20 (used to be 17.5)
-I run but I watch my heart rate and never exceed aerobic stage, 3-4 times per week, 6 miles per time, I also walk everyday, especially now with remote work, and 1-2 times per week pilates
-eat lots of carbs, during episodes oh this insomnia in fact I crave for sugar, but even when everything is fine, I eat lots of it in all different forms
-Generally eat around 2800 calories per day, lately during insomnia days eat so much more because it helps to feel less stressed and get through the day
-dont drink coffee, dont drink alcohol
-Used to be on birth control pill for 15 years but went off of it 2 years ago. However, insomnia episodes were present then as well (maybe now a bit more often but I am aging)
-take vitamin D in the morning (only from September as had tested and was very low levels after summer even), magnesium, vitamin C, A and E, zinc and selenium
-last time I checked, my free tiroxine levels were quite low (11.5) and I was told to go to endocrinologist to get further tests but then pandemic happened and I never went. Will go next week but not sure which tests should I ask for?
-I have very bad PMS and in general feel my body affected by the fluctuating hormones during monthly basis A LOT, just other things don't bother me that much as insomnia.
-found some correlations that when it's hard to sleep I have very fast bowel movement and the opposite when I sleep better, I get constipated which also fluctuates on a monthly basis all the time.
-All the sleep hygiene of course I tried and always keep in mind: no screens before bed, cold room, always going to be and waking up same time, ear plugs for sounds etc
-melatonin 1mg 1 hour before bed sometimes helps amazingly, but sometimes not at all.
-I keep sleep diary and during last year the only month I had amazing sleep was after 1 week vacation in Alps this July (lots of hiking). It was the only time in years were I remembered what it feels like to actually have no control over urge to sleep which is amazing to me.
-last year I took 5-htp+melatonin and it really helped too (for a while), but then I quit as I learned how bad it can be.
Any tips what could this be? Perimenopause? Hormonal disbalance after years on birth control pill? Seasonal Affective Disorder? Too much running? Diet? All of it Where to look for start to fix this?
THANKS SO MUCH WHO READ ALL OF THIS
Sorry for long post
I have a bad insomnia which seems to be related to changing seasons (always worse when fall comes and it's getting darker), however, some episodes happen in summer to. I cannot fall asleep until 2-3 am, I feel my pulse racing and I can hear every tiny sound around which makes me even more anxious and annoyed. This especially worsens during PMS (all year long), but during cold season not only during PMS. Some things about me and what I've tried;
- 37 female
-used to be very low body fat %, but gained to what was considered normal during last 2 years (reduced running, increased eating), now BMI around 20 (used to be 17.5)
-I run but I watch my heart rate and never exceed aerobic stage, 3-4 times per week, 6 miles per time, I also walk everyday, especially now with remote work, and 1-2 times per week pilates
-eat lots of carbs, during episodes oh this insomnia in fact I crave for sugar, but even when everything is fine, I eat lots of it in all different forms
-Generally eat around 2800 calories per day, lately during insomnia days eat so much more because it helps to feel less stressed and get through the day
-dont drink coffee, dont drink alcohol
-Used to be on birth control pill for 15 years but went off of it 2 years ago. However, insomnia episodes were present then as well (maybe now a bit more often but I am aging)
-take vitamin D in the morning (only from September as had tested and was very low levels after summer even), magnesium, vitamin C, A and E, zinc and selenium
-last time I checked, my free tiroxine levels were quite low (11.5) and I was told to go to endocrinologist to get further tests but then pandemic happened and I never went. Will go next week but not sure which tests should I ask for?
-I have very bad PMS and in general feel my body affected by the fluctuating hormones during monthly basis A LOT, just other things don't bother me that much as insomnia.
-found some correlations that when it's hard to sleep I have very fast bowel movement and the opposite when I sleep better, I get constipated which also fluctuates on a monthly basis all the time.
-All the sleep hygiene of course I tried and always keep in mind: no screens before bed, cold room, always going to be and waking up same time, ear plugs for sounds etc
-melatonin 1mg 1 hour before bed sometimes helps amazingly, but sometimes not at all.
-I keep sleep diary and during last year the only month I had amazing sleep was after 1 week vacation in Alps this July (lots of hiking). It was the only time in years were I remembered what it feels like to actually have no control over urge to sleep which is amazing to me.
-last year I took 5-htp+melatonin and it really helped too (for a while), but then I quit as I learned how bad it can be.
Any tips what could this be? Perimenopause? Hormonal disbalance after years on birth control pill? Seasonal Affective Disorder? Too much running? Diet? All of it Where to look for start to fix this?
THANKS SO MUCH WHO READ ALL OF THIS