Cooler Nights, Menopause, and Insomnia

Let me start by saying that I normally keep the temperature in my bedroom just a smidge above something suitable for a penguin habitat. Still, with cooler temperatures arriving with the changing season I hoped I would find it easier to handle the hot flashes and night sweats that come along with menopause. Well, I was wrong. In fact, I would say it is harder at times. Instead of finding it easier to sleep, menopause worsens my insomnia and I am tossing and turning, throwing the covers off and then scrambling to cover back up when it passes.

Being hot is no fun at all, but the sudden chill after it ends is downright painful.

Menopause made my insomnia worse

Why are we tormented by menopause? Is there a reason for this insanity? I cannot think of any good reason why we should be tortured by the awful things we endure during this time of life. We deal with feeling like we are being baked in an oven somewhere around 1,000 degrees. That’s just the start of it all.

The tossing and turning at night is much worse than my previous experience with insomnia. I truly believed that I wouldn’t notice a difference, but I was so very wrong. Between the anxiety and night sweats, I often feel like I haven’t slept in days. Menopause worsens my insomnia.

Cooler temps don't help my night sweats

When the nights cooled down, I was able to turn the air conditioning down a bit. Eventually, I was able to turn it off completely. I was hoping I would sleep better with a temperature slightly below what my air conditioner could give me.

I was not exaggerating as much as assumed when I said I kept it suitable for a penguin. Now my bedroom really is suited for a penguin, and I thought the cooler temperature would make it easier to deal with the night sweats and allow me to get more sleep. I was wrong.

Chills caused by night sweats are painful

I absolutely can kick off the covers and get almost instant relief when I have a night sweat. It is a very good feeling to have such an instant cool down when you feel like you’re lying beneath the broiler. I can even go right back to sleep since the relief is so immediate.

The problem is once the hot flash passes, I suddenly find myself freezing as the cold air takes full effect. Being cold is painful for me, so I am wide awake when I feel all of the cold and not cool air.

The chills hurt, and then I must wait for the pain to ease before I can go back to sleep. Usually, by that time, I am wide awake.

Need for a heated blanket for pain relief

Unfortunately, colder temperatures also mean I hurt to my core. I have multiple issues that make the cold painful. Since it is that time of year, I find myself needing the warmth of a heated blanket to soothe the aches and pains throughout my body.

The heated blanket agitates the night sweats while soothing the aches caused by the cold all at the same time. It’s a ridiculous situation that makes absolutely no sense and keeps me awake at night. I don’t think I will ever go another night without waking up every hour.

Have you dealt with menopause and insomnia? How did you cope with night sweats? I would love to hear about your experience.