The $2 natural cure that ends the drain of “dream deprivation”
Her doctor said it was menopause, but Lori Ann King, 47, knew her fatigue was due to something more—and she didn’t give up until she identified the culprit and the easy fixes that restored her vitality
Guilty, that’s how I feel,” Lori Ann King muttered to herself after hanging up the phone. “I’d just called out sick from work again, simply saying I wasn’t feeling well when my boss asked how I felt. And while she was understanding, I was starting to think I was more crazy than ill. Is it all in my head? Who calls out sick for fatigue? I’ve never heard of menopause being this debilitating!
Tired 24/7
“For months, I lived in a zombie-like state. My work-hard/play-hard lifestyle screeched to a halt. I only had about an hour of energy each morning before I inevitably crashed—emotionally and physically. I tried going to bed earlier, sleeping later and taking lunch-hour naps, but nothing helped. There were nights I got 10 hours of sleep and still woke up drained, as if I could never catch up. What’s more, my husband told me I tossed, turned and mumbled in my sleep. I felt even worse knowing I was keeping him up.
“Through the veil of exhaustion, I lost my identity. I became less creative as a web developer and writer. I stopped attending morning church and evening events. And I cut way back on my favorite hobby of biking. It hurt when I missed riding in an annual race, but I didn’t even have the energy to stand on the sidelines as a volunteer, much less ride.
“As I withdrew from life, I felt isolated and unsupported. Maybe it was self-inflicted. I just didn’t know anyone else who was struggling with fatigue like this, so I kept my feelings to myself, trying not to complain. I honestly didn’t think my tiredness was a worthy excuse for canceling plans. While my friends looked at their calendars and wondered how to manage their time, I only wondered how to manage my limited energy.
“My doctor was dismissive, even unsympathetic. He seemed to think my symptoms were a ‘normal’ part of menopause, which came early for me when I had an unexpected hysterectomy while undergoing surgery for an ovarian cyst. ‘Nothing can be done until it eventually fixes itself,’ was his standard brush-off, and every conversation was a dead end. At a loss, and in desperate need of rest, I decided to take advantage of the prescription I’d been given for sleeping pills.
“The medicine was a double-edged sword: I finally got some sleep, which was a relief and I was grateful—but I actually felt worse in the morning. And I found I was needing to use more caffeine and sugary snacks to stay upright during the day.
“I’m ashamed to say my personality changed through all of this. I became cranky and prone to outbursts. Loved ones, be warned! I cursed at work. I snapped at a nurse. I’d reached a state of exasperation. One day I lashed out at my husband for not being there for me. He looked hurt and said, ‘You’re the one who’s pulled away from me. Where have you gone the past year?’
“That’s when I realized how much of my life had been devoured by my symptoms. My husband actually felt like he’d lost me to fatigue. So I made a vow: I’m too young to roll over and give up. I will find a way to come back.
No more zombie!
“I started doing research on sleep, and much of what I read led me to suspect I wasn’t getting enough REM, or rapid-eye movement, sleep—that’s the restorative sleep we need to function at our best. My frequent tossing, turning and mumbling in my sleep—plus the fact that I seldom remembered my dreams—indicated I was stuck in a shallow sleep state. After educating myself about sleep deficiencies, I consulted a doctor who confirmed my suspicions. Next, I saw an acupuncturist and massage therapist for advice on lifestyle changes that would help.
“For starters, I stopped taking my sleep meds and decided to cut back on caffeine. I learned that when the body is relaxed, it experiences deeper sleep and clearer thought, so I made the hour before bedtime sacred. I de-stressed at night with soothing baths and meditation, and I read books to unwind instead of looking at screens. Plus, I supplemented with magnesium, calcium and melatonin—all proven to naturally promote sound sleep.
“Within the first weeks, I noticed I was falling asleep faster and waking up less, which had a dramatic effect on my daytime energy. After a month, I felt more refreshed in the morning. I knew I was getting that magical REM sleep when I noticed that not only was I dreaming again but I was more energized throughout the afternoon and wasn’t reaching for caffeine and sugar as a pick-me up.
“Now I feel like myself again.
I’m smiling more and talking to people with enthusiasm. Plus, my creativity is back, giving me a sense of purpose. I even had the energy to write my first book, Come Back
Strong. And I’m back to riding my bike. I’m the best version of me!”