I've always had a hard time going to sleep at night. I never drink coffee after the morning and never, ever drink anything with caffeine after 4 pm.
I was one of those who took Tylenol PM to help me sleep. Then I realized it wasn't wise to take tylenol when you were not in pain. After reading the back of the Tylenol PM box, I realized the sleep ingredient was the same thing as Benadryl. So I took Benadryl to make me sleep.
Then the oddest thing happened. After my surgery in 2011, Benadryl started doing the opposite to me. It made me stay awake. Obviously my body was screwed up!
During my early days of chemotherapy, I developed an anxiety thing. I had bonafide panic attacks. The first one was on an airplane that sat on the tarmac for 3 hours. I literally freaked out. My children were mortified and I was going crazy inside my skin. I felt like I was in a coffin. Closed in. Every seat on the plane was filled. Anyway. I have never felt so out of control in my life. The doctor prescribed me Lorazapam which is an anti-anxiety pill. I NEVER go in a plane without it, however, I have never had an attack like that again. (I am not on that awful chemo either.....)
So I got in the habit of taking an anti-anxiety pill every night to help me sleep. I realized I was "hooked" when I didn't have any when I was in Custer, SD last fall closing up our family's cabin. I really couldn't go to sleep. When I did sleep it was fitful.
The doctors didn't mind so I have a prescription for it.
Then a friend told me about a study where Melatonin helps with Leiomyosarcoma. That and my doctor has me take Magnesium. I figured out just in the last couple days that Melatonin coupled with Calm (a magnesium supplement powder you mix with water) made me go to sleep without the drugs. I cannot believe it. I actually went to sleep with supplements instead of a prescription!!! Yay!!
So if you need something to help you sleep and you want something that is good for you, take Melatonin and Magnesium. I promise, you'll sleep!
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