LMA, maybe you should embrace your bitchy side occasionally?

I know what you mean. I prefer being a thoughful person, rather than thoughtless.

Hopes for your rest.

Now you have me worrying about your stomach! It never ends! Be careful. Try enteric-coated aspirin if you insist. Once problem start, they're hard to get rid of... I speak from experience.

Actually, my digestive system is the one part of me that thrives on neglect.

Genetics, you know: mom has a cast-iron stomach too.

There are odd benefits, such as being able to eat a sandwich while looking at forensics shows, complete with pix of dead bodies.

But I'm not a big aspirin fan. Ulcers = no more spicy food. So I'm still likely to be cautious.

Is this the result of giving up the sleeping pills?

I'm still tapering, taking less than full doses. But, yes--it's the result of deciding that I want Ambien/triazolam to be for emergencies only, rather than a steady thing.

At this moment I have 1 mg of melatonin and another 3mg time-release melatonin tab in my belly. I've been struggling with insomnia since I returned from my trip, and now I'll be sawing logs hard within a half-hour or so.

Great stuff, natural and not habit-forming, plus a slew of positive side effects. I mentioned L-tryptophan previously, but I've decided it is overkill for my particular situation. Melatonin for me is a more measured response.

What do you think about this new Rx Lunesta? Supposedly non-habit forming, approved for long-term use, what have you.

ps, LMA - Certainly, this is a Big Enough thing. There's always someone somewhere worse off - and better off, of course. Sometimes I think the "comparative suffering" thing falls in the same rut as human perfectability. I'm no more fond of that concept than you are.

Ie.: You deserve to get this under control, and to be a truly calm and happy person with only minimal rings under your eyes.

Thank you. I've heard mixed reviews on Lunesta: apparently it's easier on the body than Ambien (or at least it's not as strong a drug, FWIW). For some people it appears to work really well, but the side effect of "bad taste in the mouth" is intolerable for others. There are some who simply can't enjoy food at all when they're on it. Supposedly, taking it with a full glass of water, never splitting the pill up, and using mints throughout the day help.

BTW, I thought tryptophan was illegal now . . .?

"Can't enjoy food at all when they're on it?!?"

AAAUUUGGGGHHHH!!!!!

I had NO idea.

Cross that one off my list, I would.

Well, if the gameplan were to keep taking pills, I might look into it--after all, some people don't experience that "icky taste in the mouth" thing. But I'm hoping that with a little exercise, sunlight, and tenacity I can get free of tranqulizers entirely.

Half doses are too abrupt, though: I just bought a pill splitter/crusher, so I can be my own compounding pharmacist.

I have a friend who's considering going cold turkey, but I get cranky on less than six hours of sleep, and I want to make the transition as easy as I can.