I'm still trying to figure out several PD issues that I think are related to the estrogen patch I started about a year ago, and I intend to post about that eventually, but I wanted to give a quick update because my severe insomnia seems to be resolved.
The last time I tried sleeping without THC was in mid-November 2023. I was wide awake and tossing and turning from 10 p.m. until about 2 a.m. when I realized I'd forgotten my THC edible (I took it out but left it sitting on the counter because I was distracted by something). With edibles, I've been able to fall asleep within about an hour and sleep for 7-8 hours, but without them, it takes me 4-5 hours to fall asleep, and I only sleep 3-4 hours. I'm never able to nap. Prior to my PD diagnosis, I'd never had sleep problems.
My husband was hospitalized in mid-March. I stayed with him overnight and didn't take edibles because I wanted to be alert in case he needed anything. I figured I would just tough it out without sleep for a couple of nights. To my surprise, I was able to sleep quite well on the couch in his room. I woke up many times because he needed something and because of nurses and loud monitors, but got back to sleep quickly each time. I was shocked, but I thought maybe it was just a fluke caused by exhaustion and stress.
Once we were back home, I waited until the weekend and then tried sleeping without THC. I fell asleep quickly and slept for almost 8 hours. I've done that every night now for over a month. Last night I slept 9 hours. Even if I wake up to use the restroom, I get right back to sleep. I feel like I have a new lease on life because I have so much more energy. During this month without THC, I've had one episode of RBD (yelling in my sleep).
There are only three things that I've done differently since the last time I tried sleeping without THC in November:
1. I did Dr. Mischley's high-dose DHA protocol for dyskinesia, which decreased my dyskinesia by about 50%. I did 2 months on the high-dose oil (started Dec. 15), and then continued taking 1 serving of the same oil 1-2x/week. I intend to switch to some lower dose capsules but never made up my mind which ones to buy, so I just continued with a less-frequent dose of the oil. I did notice that I was falling asleep faster (while still using THC) after starting the DHA.
2. I've been taking a higher dose of vitamin K complex; however, I had only taken it twice prior to the hospital stay and didn't take it the day we went to the hospital or the next day. K can supposedly help with sleep (I'm taking it for osteoporosis).
3. I've been taking 500 mg GABA with 2 mg B6 at bedtime, but I had only taken it inconsistently a few times prior to the hospital stay and didn't take it while we were there.
I also take vitamin C, vitamin D3, ubiquinol, magnesium malate, threonate, glycinate, and citrate (I rotate the threonate and malate randomly). I took B1 HCL 1 gram/day for 4 1/2 years but can't tolerate it since being on the estrogen patch. I'm currently only taking about 3.125 mg/week. I occasionally take other supplements (zinc, trace minerals, B12) but haven't been doing those consistently at all.
I've tried melatonin, but small doses (2-5 mg) didn't seem to do anything, and large doses ((20 mg) seemed to make me even more restless, so I gave up on it. Because of its potential benefits, I've considered adding it back in at the lower dose, but now I'm afraid to alter anything since I'm currently sleeping so well.
If I don't respond much or quickly to comments, it's because I'm dealing with a lot of health stuff within my family right now. Sorry!
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