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Sleep deprived and miserable!

by Tracy
(United States )

Hello, I have struggled with sleep issues for over 15 years. I can get to sleep fine, but I often wake up in the middle of the night and can't get back to sleep. The sleep I do get really isn't restorative sleep. I have lived these last 15 years of my life exhausted and some days barely functioning, and often feel like I have the flu when I don't. I've lived like this for so long and have just learned to push through, but I'm at the end of my rope. I'm tired of pushing through. No one knows how utterly awful I feel all the time just by looking at me. I am seemingly healthy, normal weight (never had weight issues), not on any meds except my supplements (5000i.u D3/K2, omega fish oil, whole food multi vitamin, magnesium glycinate, L-theanine). I have long suspected hormones. I am 54 and it's been over a year since my last period. My doctor (certified midwife nurse practitioner who is considered the "hormone expert" in the practice) has me on 50mg. bioidentical progesterone cream currently. I've taken it for many years, but mostly around 35mg, but it has not helped my sleep in the least. My last blood test from 5 months ago was a progesterone level of 1.5 ng/ml and total estrogen at 39 pg/ml. I've learned a lot reading on this website and am wondering now if I need more progesterone. Please help. Thank you!

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Nov 18, 2024
 Sleep deprived and miserable!
by: Joy

Hello Tracy

I am so sorry to hear that you are feeling dreadful. It appears that you have been battling with sleep for a long time. Usually waking up in the middle of the night indicates that your cortisol level is high and your adrenals are stressed. Progesterone, being a calming hormone, will help with this. It suppresses excess cortisol, not only that but it's a potent anxiolytic so lessens the stress response. This gives the adrenals a break from having to produce the stress hormones. Consider trying the following Adrenal Fatigue Cocktail, it has helped so many:

* 125ml Orange Juice or *Grapefruit Juice, you are looking for vitamin C
* 1/4 teaspoon Celtic Sea Salt or pink Himalayan
* 1/4 teaspoon Cream of Tartar

Mix the above at the start of the day with enough liquid for two (2) applications, i.e., 8oz/125ml of orange juice. Drink it mid-morning and mid-afternoon. In addition, any time you are feeling particularly anxious, it would be advisable to prepare another mixture and take it.

You are in Menopause which brings on many challenges. Unfortunately, you have not been advised on how to use progesterone correctly. So many make this mistake. Anything less than 100mg per day will aggravate your estrogen receptors. This will make you feel dreadful, not what any woman needs. Between 100-200mg per day is recommended using a good organic progesterone cream such as Natpro. Progesterone does help with mild insomnia if used correctly. Please read How to use Progesterone Cream.

Your suspicions are correct as you are suffering from Estrogen Dominance. Your progesterone: estrogen ratio is 38:1 it should be around 600:1 before one feels more 'normal'. See the Hormone Testing page. You definitely need a lot more estrogen.

I am so pleased that you are taking Vitamin D3 and the cofactors. A D3 deficiency reduces the benefits of progesterone.

Please let us know how you get on.

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