Hello!
Although I'm not over 50 yet, still have a long ways to go. But I'd like to post on behalf of my mother. She's in her early 60s, and have been getting hot flashes from Menopause. It keeps her awake at night, every night. And she doesn't like taking naps, even when she tried, she can't really fall asleep either.
At one point, our GP prescribed some hormonal medication for her, but she refuses to use it. She's more into the natural remedies. She says chamomile tea helps a little, and she's been drinking that a couple of hours before bed, but I think it's a psychological aid. Even with drinking the tea, I still hear my dad say she can't sleep at night.
I'm really worried about her energy levels, with the lack of sleep, they walk a lot everyday, so exercising is not helping with sleep.
Does anyone have any other solutions? I will be very much appreciated for some ideas to help my mum. Please and thank you~
@Jaeteuk
i am not sure if it will work but my mom(51) usually hugs my teddy( nearly 6ft) to sleep when she is not unable to sleep.
That sounds so comforting. My mum gets hot flashes, so I think hugging a stuffy will make her feel hotter..
If the teddy is really cold.maybe she will??
She doesn't hug anything, she keeps a towel at her bedside to wipe off the sweat.. sometimes, she needs a shower right in the morning, because she had been sweating all night, she felt sticky upon waking.
@Barltik2065
@Jaeteuk
I think hugging a weighted stuffed animal can actually help. I've heard and read about this myself. One such brands is Hugz by Lexi Hensler. These stuffed animals can be heated too. Check it out by clicking here. I hope it helps. Take care.
@Jaeteuk
Hello Jaeteuk. I totally get what is happening to your mom. I am 71, and I still suffer from sleep issues. I would like to tell you that the older we get, the less sleep the body requires, according to the latest reports. Since your mom is sort of like me, I would suggest Melatonin all natural in different mg. Even a warm glass of milk before she lays down, might help.
Thank you for you response. I've told her to try taking Melatonin too, and explained that it's not like a prescription medication, that it's just a hormone that even our own body excretes. But, she still refuses to take it. I think it's the hot flashes that keep her awake most of the night or wakes her up a few times in the middle of night, making it feel like she didn't sleep at all with the disturbed sleep. Do these hot flashes ever go away?
@WorkingitThrough2
@Jaeteuk
To answer that........🤔.....I still get them occasionally. They also say soy milk is good. I hate the taste of it😂 I hope your mom feels better and gets some relief from those nasty hot flashes.
It is awfully sweet of you to be so concerned about your mother. That is so great in times such as these. Keep up the good work👏🏽
@Jaeteuk I've dealt with similar issues. A doctor recommended using an over-the-counter bee pollen remedy, and it helped a lot. I've also tried estrogen, but that didn't work as well for me. The symptoms usually subside after a few years, and now I'm sleeping much better without any kind of treatment.
I'll get my mum to try the bee-pollen remedy. That sounds like something she'll do. Thank you!~
@ArinDee
If she is getting hot under the "chest or bottom areas" as well. I recommend her using cornstarch to keep from heat friction.. itll keep her cooler also. Ive had nasty tears in my skin from being to hot and sweating. My mom never experienced any symptoms of menopause.. yay me for getting them all! 💖 Thats so refreshing to see someone care for thier family like this and research
She feels hot usually in her upper body, waist and above. Sometimes, I think that it could be her hot flushes that disturbs her sleep, or she has too much on her mind (thoughts thinking why she can't fall asleep even when she's tired out during the day). Corn starch?
My mum, she wears t-shirts or sleeveless tops whenever she goes out. Even during the winter months, she will always have a t-shirt or sleeveless top as the inner layer. She gets them during the day too, and I often see her wiping sweat during a meal from her forehead and neck area. It's been several years already. I just wish that she could get a good night's rest, every night.
I know how it feels to not a good night's rest (I have insomnia), so that is all I wish for my mum at the moment. She doesn't really take naps during the day either, but every morning, she'll complain about the lack of sleep she got the night before and how she keeps getting disturbed in her sleep because of the hot flushes.
@Impancake
This struggle is very hard mentally and physically, i understand. My mom still struggle to sleep and complain of lack of sleep. Probably because of pain as well. She's 65 and just started get hot flash type rashes under her chest.. and under belly, thighs. I take cornstarch and put on her skin to absorb moisture and heat some. This will not clump on skin and is natural. You might find this in baking section of store or something then similar. But some other forms do clump on skin. I get hot flashes then suddenly cold disturbing my sleep. Mom went thru menopause at 38 and i started at 33 🤔
Oh wow, menopause starting at 33! My mum's 62 now and her hot flushes has been going on at least for the past 6 years. I think I'll get my mum to try the bee-pollen remedy mentioned earlier in the post, I don't think she'll want to have cornstarch on her body and have the bed all messy. Thank you for the suggestion though, maybe it could be something I try when the time comes.
@Impancake
I have insomnia as well.. what works for me is after an attack or during.. i actually sleep outside my home in a safe area. Its somehow soothing
@Jaeteuk
Has your mother tried listening to meditation music or sleeping pills like Ambien, or a natural pill like melatonin?
She usually listens to sermons before bed, drinks a cup of chamomile tea an hour before.. I do try to ask her to take Melatonin, although it's something our own body makes as well, she's still not willing to take any "pill" for sleep.
@faithfulComputer4141
@Jaeteuk
The only thing that worked for me was the HRT. But I hear that black cohosh helps. I have tried melatonin and natural sleep sprays things like this. I had a friend who went to yoga and that really helped her. She also took alot of naps to cope. We are all unique and trying different options to find the best one for you is usually the best way.
Menopause can be a real challenge but you caring and searching for a way to help your mom is the best support . I am sure she appreciates all you do for her. Try a natural path Dr they usually know the best natural ways to help if thats her chosen path. She sounds like that might work best for her as she doesn't want the HRT .
I wish you and your mom the best .....
ABB
Thank you, @amiableBlackberry92
I'll have to do some research to see if there are any natural path Doctors around my area. My mum's really conscious about what she eats, then considers other things going on in her body and does her own research to see if the two clash. She doesn't like seeing doctors unless it's really bother her, or she's really worried that something bad will happen. Most times, when we want her to see our GP for something, it's often my dad and I making the appointment for her. She won't do it herself and for whatever reason that she needs prescriptions, unless it's like an antibiotic, she won't even go to the pharmacy. She believes all pills we take will be harmful to our bodies down the road. So, at her age now, she doesn't want to take any more prescription pills.
I know the hot flushes really affect her sleep. She often complains about how tired she feels during the day, and talks about how she couldn't fall asleep until 3 or 4am. She walks daily with my dad outside, 10,000 steps. I actually sometimes worry that she's overexerting herself. Because with the lack of sleep, her energy levels aren't as at par, and to walk for that amount of steps every day, it might be too much for her body to handle.
Thank you, ABB.
I was forced into menopause early and suddenly from
cancer treatment. The hot flashes are terrible. And sleep is interrupted from the hormone changes too. Here’s some things that helped me.
- make sure all her bedding is cotton or bamboo. This includes the mattress pad underneath the sheets. Bamboo sheets stay cool better than anything else.
- amazon has Japanese cooling blankets that are amazing.
- give her a little hand held battery operating fan to keep near her bed
- cotton pajamas
- cooling pillows with gel you can find on Amazon too
- i literally slept with ice packs on the bed sometimes
- melatonin helps but be careful not to take it for more than a couple of weeks straight
Thank you, @Birdie0309
I'll definitely check out those cooling blankets on Amazon. Bamboo sheets, I never thought of that one. My mum is already using cotton sheets, she even sleeps in those silky pajamas to stay cooler.
We have some melatonin left, but I don't think she'll actually take them. She doesn't believe in those kinds of things.
Thank you again for your tips, really appreciate it!~
@Jaeteuk
Its never easy to see your parent in stress especially your mother. Having an honest conversation with her might help in this regard. Also, I suggest you get a consult from Gynecologist, instead of a General Physician or Practitioner since they are more specialized in management of symptoms associated with menopause or other gynecological issues. If she understands more about what she is going through then she can make a healthy and better decision. Its not an easy time for any woman going through these changes so its good that you are trying to help your mother in this way.
Another thing which might help is getting her gifts and complimenting her ( this works in my mother's case most of the time ), eating healthy, sleeping better, drink plenty of water and exercise can help with the many issues. Most of the time, lack of awareness is primary cause for stress and frustration.
I hope it helps you!
My mother reads a lot about health topics online, information from doctors. I'll ask her if she wants to see my Gynecologist to talk about menopause. But if she only suggests medication, my mum will refuse prescribing it.
I sat down with her over coffee in a Cafe last week, and we talked about many things including her hot flushes. And I tell her the same things over and over again. When I told her about the bee pollen method, she went on saying because it's an active substance, she's afraid that she'll react to it. Worries about the cysts in her gallbladder that might be affected.
We have some Korean Red Ginseng drinks at home, after asking some Korean colleagues and doing some research myself, studies have shown that it helps ease hot flushes. I've told her to drink it, and she hasn't for some reason. It's not even considered as medicine, just a root, although it does taste a bit strong like the Chinese medicine. The volume in a pouch is like only several sips and she could flush water down afterwards.
We all eat healthy foods, she does walk outside whenever the weather permits, as for sleep, need to ease the hot flushes problem first in order to sleep better, without the disturbances.
Thank you for your response!
@Jaeteuk I remember my mother drinking soy milk and saying it helped. Maybe your mother can try this too.
We used to drink soy milk too. But my mum did some research and found it that it can't be drank for long periods of time, as it may affect hormonal changes. So, we've switched to almond milk. I'll suggest it to her again and see what she thinks, thanks.