I saw my doctor about my sleep issues!

 I'm writing this post Wednesday afternoon and I woke up at 12:30 this morning so I'm in zombie mode. Apologies if this blog post is disjointed or there are lots of typos!

I finally saw my PCP about my sleep issues. I made the appointment awhile ago, but apparently unless you have an emergency, there's at least a month of waiting time at my doctor's office before seeing your PCP.p Hill area has a suggestion, let me know!)

<<<<Short background: I went to my PCP back in 2015 to get help with my sleep problems. She suggested 25 mg of diphenhydramine and a small dosage of melatonin. I did that for several months but I started to become immune to the diphenhydramine. I also ended up getting diarrhea for two months straight. I stopped taking melatonin and within two weeks my GI issues were gone. Related to the melatonin? Who can say for sure...>>>>

Now it's over two years later and I feel like over the past year and a half, my sleep issues have really escalated. 

• My main trouble is falling back asleep after waking up. It is not uncommon for me to wake up at midnight or 1am and never fall back asleep. 

• This can happen on a weekday or a weekend. It is not associated with work stress. In fact, I rarely think about work when I'm laying in bed in the middle of the night.

• My sleep troubles used to plague me 1-2 times per month. Now it's at least three times a week.

• THIS. IS. SERIOUSLY. AFFECTING. MY. LIFE.

Before I went to the doctor, my SIL recommended I ask for a short term and a long term solution to my sleeping issues. I need to get to the root of my problem. My SIL also suggested a deficiency in magnesium could be contributing. Her family takes magnesium supplements. She sent me some info about it so I am going to read about it... as soon as I get some sleep!

My biggest fear was going to the doctor and having her tell me to have a cup of tea before bed, read a book, and put on a sound machine. I think if that was her suggestion I would have just started bawling.

Luckily, she listened to everything I had to say, asked good questions, and suggested I try out the prescription drug called Trazodone.

She assured me it was not an addictive drug like Ambien. I wasn't going to sleep eat, nor would I murder anyone in my sleep. (Of course I asked that.)

Trazodone is actually for depression and anxiety, but it's off label use is for insomnia. It's one of the most widely prescribed drugs for insomnia.

Of course I researched the pill and found good things and bad things about it. I am not getting my hopes up that it will be a long term solution but I am hopeful it will at least help me short term. I have a physical scheduled at the end of December, so my PCP and I will touch base with how the prescription is working for me.

I hate taking medicine and I never thought I would want a prescription for sleep medication. But I am at the end of my rope. I need something. This lack of sleep is affecting my life, my happiness, my work, and my relationships. I really, really, hope Trazodone helps me.

Have you ever taken a prescription sleep medication?

Are you familiar with magnesium or magnesium 
deficiencies?