Drowsy days and sleepless nights

A week and a half after getting back from Australia I was still having trouble sleeping. I had been getting about an hour a night and nodding off at work (more than usual from the stupid anti-histamine I always have to take). I tried hot milk, hot toddy's, taking walks, working out, staying up until I was more exhausted than I am on only one hour's sleep. I was ready to scream and just barely functioning. I was afraid to drive. I finally called my physician. For me that is always a last resport. I hate prescriptions and treating symptoms. I would rather find the cause and treat that. I kept thinking about the following song.

"Now I lay me down not to sleep.
I just get tangled in the sheets.
I swim in sweat three inches deep.
I just lay back and claim defeat...
Lids down, I count sheep. I count heartbeats.
The only thing that counts is that I won't sleep...
My mind is racing, filled with lists
of things to do and things I've done.
Another sleepless night's begun..."

Who Needs Sleep? Song By Barenaked Ladies

The day before I was due to see my doc I mentioned the sleeping problems since returning from Australia to my chiropractor. She recommended Melatonin and Valerian Root. They sold a combination capsule with those two compounds in them plus Pasiflora. That did the trick and after a couple of nights taking those I caught up on my sleep and was able to adjust to the time change.

I have had friends with insomnia before and sympathized with them but could never really understand just how horrible it is not to be able to sleep. On the upside I did manage to clean my whole house and steam all my carpets during those sleepless nights. I can just think of better ways to do it. There is nothing quite as bad as trying to go to sleep when you just can't.

I had no problems with sleep on the trip over but coming back was an entirely different story.