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I cured my insomnia without prescription drugs
For the past few years I have gotten terrible sleep every night. Around 9 or 10pm I would get the Jimmy Legs, and it would be downhill from there. It would be really hard to fall asleep, and then I would wake up many times and not be able to fall asleep again. Even when I was asleep it wasn't very deep or restful.
So I finally went to the doctor and she gave me tips like not watching TV in the evening, reading books, drinking warm milk, and so on. But she closed with the offer of a prescription for Ambien. Sigh, I was disappointed that her advice really boiled down to 'take drugs' and I declined.
Hallelujah!
I no longer remember which magazine I found the advice that worked, but it was something silly and definitely not a scientific journal or medical magazine. It was a single sentence in a sidebar that recommended taking a Magnesium supplement before bedtime. At that point I was willing to try anything, especially when I saw that a bottle of it was $3 at Target!
I felt stupid, and kind of like I'd gotten the wool pulled over my eyes, but that night I took a magnesium pill. I fell asleep. I slept all night. I woke up refreshed.
The hell?
It must have been a coincidence, or psychosomatic, right? No! It has been working for months and months now — and recently I discovered that Dr. Google recommends adding calcium to the mix as well, and in a 2-1 ratio with the magnesium.
I tell you people, this has SAVED MY LIFE. I can SLEEP AT NIGHT. I can function again. (And with bones this strong, I'll be in my 90s crushing cities like Godzilla.)
So here's my sleep recipe: 1000mg Calcium and 500mg Magnesium about an hour before I want to be asleep. That's it. Disclaimer: I'm not a doctor, I suppose following this advice might kill you or just not work at all. Please talk to a real doctor before trying this.
But seriously, for me it's like magic.
—
(Here's the exact calcium magnesium supplement I take. It is a huge horse pill, but they're easy to break in half if you need to. Or you can look around for other options.)
this info is gonna help a LOT OF people save a lot of money and time — awesome. thanks for sharing!
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Well I hope so, but who knows — maybe it only works for me! Fingers crossed…
Years ago my doctor recommended taking two calcium at bedtime and said it would help me sleep, and it did work! Then I got out of the habit of doing it, so thanks for the reminder! Didn't know about magnesium but I'll try it. These days I sleep well sometimes, and other times, no. way. can. I. fall. asleep. Hate it when that happens.
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I might try that. I need the calcium anyway.
One of the suggestions your doctor gave you: not watching tv before bed? That's the only way I can fall asleep.
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I'm so glad you found an answer to your problem. Are you able to watch tv and stuff at night now too? I'm lucky that I started taking cal/mag several years ago. But did you know there are entire books out there devoted to the merits/necessity of taking magnesium? It's amazing. Vitamin D is a big one too, they're linking vitamin d deficiency now to several health problems, including MS!
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I'm definitely going to research this. Thanks Erika!
I have stopped (gasp) watching TV late at night and I try not to get on the computer…famous last words. I have trouble staying asleep, especially if one of the girls or our dogs (#@^#@%&@) wakes me up.
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Thanks for this tip! I'm gonna have to give this a try. I have such a hard time falling asleep most nights and this might be just the help I need.
Kris, I can definitely watch tv in bed — I can't tell you the number of times I've fallen dead asleep for the last 15 minutes of a show!
For me it's the fucking cat who wakes me up. He has a full food bowl, a full water dish… I don't understand cats.
I'm going to send this to my Mom, who is desperate for a sleep solution. Thanks!
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Erika, I wish you'd asked me - I've taken cal mag for at least, oh, twelve years now and if I slack off, I know it by the way I sleep. It also REALLY helps with the leg cramps that I get and the general achey leg feeling.
I'm glad it's working!
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I have had insomnia for as long as I can remember. I'll have to try that.
Does it work for children too? Cause I'd sleep fine if they'd freakin' let me!
Totally kidding. I wouldn't give them this…I'll stick to crushing up some "S*mply Sl**p" in their night time beverage. :0)
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AMomTwoBoys, did you know that the gummy vitamin people make a calcium supplement for kids? I'm just saying…
Soaking in a warm bath with a cup of epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) right before bed helps too!
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Georgetta, Ooh, that sounds heavenly — and smart too ;)
THat's it ! Going to Target tomorrow anyway. Have just added magnesium to the list. I am a long suffering insomniac who resorts to sleep aids when I get desperate. Life has gotten stressful again and when stressed I cannot sleep. I am going to try what you suggested because I am exhausted at this point. Also passing this along to a friend. Thanks for sharing the info!
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I have two boys and am totally with amomoftwoboys (above); it seems like one boy or the other is always waking me in the middle of the night.
Glad this is working for you! A friend of mine took Ambien for a while and it turns out she was having sleepwalking/eating/talking episodes that she didn't recall. Creepy! And dangerous!
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I get the jimmy legs too, usually if I've unwittingly had caffeine sometime after 2 p.m. I'm so trying this.
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I take this during the day after breakfast- maybe that is why I am tired during the day. I have had insomnia too, so I'll have to try switching this to night.
One note, make sure you do take the calcium w/ the magnesium in it. Calcium at that high of mg, can be constipating to some people- that is why the Mg. is usually already added to it. But in case someone just has the calcium, you can add the Mg. to it, if you have problems.
I stumbled upon your site from somewhere, and I am SO GLAD I did. I have trouble sleep at night too (it's currently 1:13 a.m. here.) I've been needing to add a calcium supplement to my diet anyway as there is a strong family history of osteoporosis, so I am definitely going to try the Calcium & Magnesium you suggested! THANK YOU! I'll stop back by soon and let you know how it worked for me.
Tan, I really hope it works for you. I can't wait to hear back ;)
Does it come in spray form for kids?
"Hey, go to bed."
*psssst*
Busy Mom, more like "Hey, look over there!!!" *pssst*
I think you have a marketable idea. I'd buy it.
I'm half asleep at the computer in the middle of the day because I can't get a single good night's sleep. I will be trying your remedy…thanks!!
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[...] informative blog. Natural treatments for specific conditions such as bladder infections, insomnia and Pancreatitis are offered, while Madeleine Begun Kane reminds us that laughter is sometimes the [...]
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My life in California with my husband Craig and our sons Henry (6.5), Ed (6), and Charlie (3.75).
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