Coping With Menopause

For 14 years I have suffered from what I call “insomnia”. It started with the onset of early menopause (peri-menopause). This “natural” condition appeared to cause other medical problems which started at about the same time: insomnia, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure gastric reflux, hot flashes, migrains, mood swings and weight gain. For years I sought treatment for these conditions and have found relief for some of them with medication. But the insomnia has been persistant.

I’ve sought the help of reputable Sleep Disorder Centers in my area (usually sponsored by a major hospital or university). Unfortunately most of them focus primarily on sleep apnea. While none of these facilities has “hooked-me-up” to wires and monitors to measure anything, they decided I didn’t qualify for their sleep studies because the written profile I presented in advance did not indicate I had apnea. It has been difficult to find a reputable sleep disorder center which would study me using a multi-disciplinary approach: ie, analysis of the relationship between my endocrine (hormonal), and neuro-chemical systems. I’ve recently been referred to a university Sleep Disorder Center and hope that this time the “experts” will look beyond apnea and determine a diagnosis and treatment for my condition.