Posted by F43 on August 02, 2007 at 06:32:17:In Reply to: Re: Have I ruled everything out? posted by lu on July 30, 2007 at 09:45:12:
Lu: Thank you so much for clarifying. There's no question that the Sudafed altered my sleep pattern for a long time afterwards, even though I know that it was out of my system shortly after stopping. I really felt I had altered my brain chemistry w/ the Sudafed, though I also think that brain chemistry is a great deal more complex than this, and the Sudafed might simply have been the tipping point during a prolonged period of stress. (One of the more paranoid ideas I entertained was that I'd given myself crystal meth brain with the Sudafed usage. All of the pharmacists I talked to discounted this hypothesis, though very kindly.)
The hormone/magnesium/zinc link is the one I'll be pursuing next week at an MD appointment. Thank you for reinforcing that. Long-term oral contraceptive use is well-known to cause both magesium and zinc deficiency. I too have supplemented with magneisum/calcium tablets have found they've done nothing for me. Meanwhile, I crave chocolate (a possible sign of magnesium deficiency), and have muscle tremors/spasms.
I tend to agree with you: I suspect the sleep disorder is some of both...the disruptions in my life setting the stage for insomnia, and a physiological trigger possibly tipping the boat over.
Thank you for your reassurance. Best wishes, Janet