[Brucester]

For the first time in 54 years I can't sleep. Normally I have always fallen asleep within 10 minutes and never had problems. My bedroom is mostly white, night shades, both a fan and noise machine. Building is quiet after 10 as is the neighborhood and traffic. For the past month I've been trying Melatonin 5 and 10mg and Benedryl. The former never works but the later is always effective. The later possibly can cause Dementia in folks over 65.... That's a bummer, I have to find something new. Unisome? A month ago I was in Connecticut for a week, did some walks mostly on the beach, did I get bit by a tick? I checked by never found even one. Lyme Disease and sleeplessness!? This has to be it. I had a blood draw this week, waiting for results.

[Mike Collins]

Here is one study to review. https://academic.oup.com/sleep/article/41/5/zsy035/4857241

[Anne Elk]

If you don't have other Lyme disease symptoms, I wouldn't think of it first as a cause of insomnia. I find that if I'm wound up with "mental conversation" and over-ruminating in general, I can't sleep. I also find that if I exercise enough, I have no trouble passing out immediately on retiring.

[Brucester]

I have a cavity and need a new crown. I'm sure that effects sleep quality to a degree. Unisom works good but it like others is not for consistant use. Thanks Mike Collins, that's a good read! Annie Elk, when I'm not laboring at work I work on ivy vines. I don't really notice it helping at bedtime. But I do notice being sleepy like now during the day.

[Brucester]

I tested negative for Lyme Disease. Still not sleeping much even while useing Benedryl. Appointment for the crown replacement Friday.

[Sculpin]

Have you changed your eating habits? I have no interest in sweets during the day but crave them before bed. Everyone told me that was bad for me, so I quit. But I started having lots of problems falling asleep, so I started up again and now I sleep fine. My friend says the glycemic crash after I digest the sweets is probably knocking me out.

[Brucester]

My diet is in the middle. Fairly good. Last night it took my mind quite a while to shut down. I may have to get to bed two+ hours before to get 8 hours of sleep. What a pain! Sadly I have to wake up at 3:30 am, leave by 4:30 am to get parking at the jobsite. I wake from good sleep to do this. Parking in downtown Seattle can be a real problem as many well know. There's a lack there of.

[cdestroyer]

https://www.montanarightnow.com/lifestyles/health/deer-are-spreading-lyme-ticks-in-suburban-backyards/article_3afddabd-e753-5775-99e2-dfabb8378cd0.html

[kiliki]

There's terrific podcast for understanding sleep, and why it can be so hard to sleep. https://www.alieward.com/ologies/somnology Or, I bet your library has the book by the neurologist/sleep specialist they talk with--Dr. W. Chris Winter's The Sleep Solution. So much fascinating stuff in both.