Glad to hear you got some good sleep, hot buttered toast sounds like the way to go! I take the magnesium and calcium as a tablet, I have to stop after a few days because of it's effect below lol.

Yes, I tried mirtazapine on two occasions and it did make me very relaxed, I think it would have really helped me in the early days with the anxiety, but I hear the sleep qualities eventually wears off and then you have to wean yourself off it so having never taking any medicine before I chickened out of it. I coped by walking and lost 13lbs which I'm putting back on. I would wean off the mirtazapine very slowly a bit at a time.

Interesting you hit the back of your head while I hit the front and yet we both have sleep issues. Funny thing is after I wake at 4 or 5am I eventually start to have weird dreams but afterwards never know whether I've been asleep or awake! I just want to see some progress with the sleep now as I feel I've reached a impasse.

Belated happy birthday :-)

too soon for statistical significance, but last two nights i've:
1. had whole wheat toast w/ almond butter & jam at 9pm
2. taken melatonin the first time i wake up at 1am

the combo seems to be helping me fall right back to sleep when i wake up at 3am instead of being up for an hour or two.

knocking on wood! and thanks for the advice

I had the same issue of not sleeping and dreaming was causing me pain. I live close to mayo clinic and was seeing the brain and trauma unit. They started me on amitriptylin increasing by 25MG. I now take 100MG an hour before bed and sleep through the night.

This has been the greatest help to me so far. I just joined the forum tonight and will write more about mayo's treatment program.

Writing more about mayo's program would be great for a lot of people on the board. BTW, the packers didn't rule last Monday night. Sorry, I couldn't resist!! This from a long suffering jets fan.