Sleep Aid

I was like zero hrs of sleep and moved up to 2-3. Now I get about 5-6 . But I can't sleep past 5:30 for whatever ungodly reason. At my worst liquid children's benedryl was a godsend but that wasn't a great long term solution.

I got a minimum of 3-4 with the benedryl but nothing more. Someone in a previous thread suggested turmeric.

The only other thing that broke my severe insomnia was a chiropractic adjustment, I'm not sure why.

I gag at night too, and usually dry heave all morning. I found, I touch the very top of my throat under my chin, I can induce gagging. I got scoped at ENT and everything was normal. I think I have the majority of my lyme issues in that area. It could also be bartonella.

I know my adrenals and maybe thyroid is out of whack. I did a 24 hour cortisol test almost a year ago and my total cortisol was way high. So my endocrinologist did a blood test to check my pituitary, said it was fine. Then I did a low dose cortisol suppression test - i took a low dose of cortisone at night, and in the morning had a blood test - my response was normal - my cortisol was suppressed.
I have had TSH, Free T3, Free T4 checked. my TSH is on the very low end of normal - which indicates borderline hyperthyroid...but the endo said my T3 and T4 would be high if I was hyper. I am going to ask my doc to have my Thyroid antibodies tested next...and see what's going on there. I'm concerned that this lump in my throat is connected...I mean really - the thyroid is in that area. The E/N/T appointment wait time will be just under two months....yikes.
So, I'm thinking all this may be related to my sleep problems...prior to a year ago...I slept like a baby...napped in the middle of the day...I was a professional sleeper ...lol... So, this is so frustrating for me. And, I have sudden onset "sleep apnea" - tried the CPAP, still woke up every two hours. I'm not satisfied with the diagnosis of sleep apnea - my husband says it's not your usual sleep apnea sounds - I am literally gagging - and it sounds like there is phlegm in the bottom of my throat...
I don't have a LL doc...but i am going to a very open minded ND in a couple weeks...hopefully she'll have some ideas.

I really feel that if I could sleep properly, i would feel better all over - how can your body heal when you're not getting the deep sleep??

You poor thing - that sounds annoying and a little scary. My TSH has always been on the border of low - even when I test after taking my thyroid med so I suspect something is still not functioning correctly. I read somewhere online that all the tests that those "in the know" (and trust me, most MDs are not knowledgable about it and only consider TSH and cannot logically tell you why) are using are still not testing the right thing. I'll see if I can dig it up - I've studied thyroid for a long time and was intrigued.

I'm wondering if you might have some sinus drainage - I have a perpetual sinus infection with congestion and drainage -- but usually only at night. It affects my breathing.

You're right - you will not heal or have a desirable quality of life if you cannot sleep normally. Insomnia will be the bane of my existence. I have finally achieved success with 5 straight hours MOST nights but every 3rd or 4th night I'm up all night. Not sure why but I'll take the increase sleep when I can get it.

This was an interesting discussion about sleep problems and possible solutions:

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=30&m=3062019

-p

I have used Genuine Healths Sleep +. I find it works very well and has consistently helped me to sleep and I can stay asleep on it well too! There are little time released pellets inside a capsule, so they all dissolve very slowly, but it works well to keep you well asleep through the night! I haven't even had to ever take more than 2!

I am not even sure I should be taking anything.
My husband uses melatonin and it works quite well for him. I am reluctant to use anything - I am having difficulty accepting that I have sleep issues. I guess I just want to know why I am all of a sudden waking up every couple of hours choking on something in my throat. And have this lump in my throat during the day. But I guess the smart thing to do would be to use something while I await a diagnosis. The problem is would melatonin keep me asleep even if im gagging on something? And also is it safe to sleep thru it? Dont know what I should do.

PS, This is so weird, but once I started pummeling my ex-bf with my fists, bc he was trying to wake me up. Another time, after getting off a massage table, I just fell over, since I was falling asleep.

Margaret

I looked up the list of exposures, too and same here - no aluminum cookware, rarely drink canned pop, no vaccinations, no welding, etc. etc.

But, I, too may get a metals test after I'm finished my Lyme testing.

Is the hair analysis the best way to test for metals?

Interesting - and I agree, I think multiple source tests are best. I had only a fecal test previously so I will do a little better than that next time.

And I agree about food sources. I strongly suspect that I have been able to detox fairly easily because of my food snobbiness. ;) about 10 yrs ago (at age 35) I started to get very focused on organic and non-processed foods in order to support fertility. (I'm now 45, still no children so that's another sad story I won't go into!) But I am eternally grateful that I had that focus (distraction?) back then because I would be so much sicker by now if I hadn't. Alternatively, my symptoms might have been masked to some extent, too.

But in addition to WHOLE, fresh, organic food (which is sometimes--but not always a little more expensive and local farm markets are a fantastic affordable alternative and almost as good as growing your own veggies!) the new concern is GMO foods. I don't care about the controversy - it makes perfect sense that for immuno-compromised and GI-challenged people like me, we cannot tolerate what many normal people can. I am on a very strict diet anyway so no grains for me (which is the prime GMO foods - especially corn and soy) but I try hard to eat GMO-free.

-p

Ha! Doesn't it? For a time I was bounding out of my bed at 2 or 3am with the energy of a 12 yr old... so frustrating - until I realized I could put in a good 2 hours of work or research and then fall back to sleep like a baby!

I have read shocking info on GMO foods. Basically, none of the wheat product that is in processed food - is actually wheat. The whole grain itself has been stripped of so many nutrients to begin with, and then the processing of it to make it whiter, fluffier, denser, more environmentally-resistant and easy to process, etc... has left absolutely nothing that resembles a grain our body knows how to digest.

Perhaps most disturbing is that soy and corn are two of the most heavily (billions...) subsidized businesses. The long-term effects of foodless food flooding this planet are terrifying.

-p