Dr wants sleep study done for sleep apnea

[SammyeGail]

Well, its 5:25AM and I have not been able to fall asleep tonight. Last night I slept 2 hours, yesterday afternoon/evening I slept about 2 hours.

I am seeing a specialist about my chronic fatigue, so far have my thyroid now in check, found I have an adrenal gland disorder, deficients in some vitamins.

I had the MRI done, I was having daily seizures but that was due to the adrenal gland disorder. I met with the doctor about a sleep study, DH came with me, we all talked it over and the doctor felt I didn't have sleep apnea.

My problem is that my mind just spins when I try to sleep at night. I literally cannot stop obsessively thinking and thinking. What I didn't do that day, what I should have done, I'll think about things from 10-15 years ago.

I have tried some sleep aids with adverse side effects or they don't work. The best has been seroquel 25mg, the some times side effects being nightmares and the inability to wake up, thats about 75% of the time. I will also take a xanax to help with the anxiety.

But now my schedule has flip-flopped. I should have been able to go to sleep last night but I just couldn't. I know I will be dead tired by 9AM and the boys are out on spring break. DH went into work at 4:30 and figures he will have to take 1/2 day vacation.

Has anyone had this kind of problem? I hate this obsessive thinking and wish I could turn it off! Its crazy and doesn't make any sense! I've always done this but never this severe. There has been alot of stuff going on in my life over the past 2 years, alot of stress and depression.

Should I schedule a sleep study? I will have to be gone 24 hours. It gives me tremendous anxiety to be in a different place, being hooked up to monitors, being videoed (lol) for that long and being away from home and my boys.

Yesterday the specialist was kind of irked I didn't go thru with the sleep study, but I honestly don't know if my health problems are causing all this depression or all this depression is causing my health problems.

[smiles33]

I am sorry to hear of your sleep and health issues. How exhausting! I'm up at 3 am to pump and thought I'd mention that DH has sleep issues that Ambien didn't always help. He did a sleep study too, but to no avail. Like you, he is wide awake from thinking too much. He literally says he can't shut his brain down. I think that's why the sleep study wasn't as helpful for him, as he didn't have some physical problem. If anything, it was noisy, super cold (so the electrodes don't fall enough), and uncomfortable at the sleep study center so he didn't even sleep enough for them to monitor/measure/diagnose anything. If you do end up going, be prepared to be disappointed.

In terms of what works: DH has been trying to exercise more (apparently that helps distract him/physically tire his body), talk to me rather than try to ignore things that are bothering him, and watch random TV (lighthearted stuff) before bed. Doesn't always work, though. Sometimes he's up for 3-4 hours in the middle o the night if het gets accidentally woken up, so once he's asleep I don't wake him (which means I do all the midnight feedings, check on our older DD when she has nightmares, etc).

Good luck finding a solution that works for you!

[egoldber]

Honestly, this sounds a lot like anxiety. The mind racing and being unable to shut off is very classic.

http://www.adaa.org/

[mommylamb]

Honestly, this sounds a lot like anxiety. The mind racing and being unable to shut off is very classic.

http://www.adaa.org/

That's exactly what I was going to say. It sounds like anxiety is messing with your circadian rhythm.

ETA: I'm so glad you finally made it to a doctor and have some answers about the seizures. I know that was a long time in coming. You're tackling the problems one step at a time and that's great.

[wendibird22]

You may have already done this, but what about side effects of any of the medications you may be taking for thyroid, adrenal glands, chronic fatigue?

I agree, sounds like anxiety is keeping you awake.

[carolinamama]

I think you said that you are taking hydrocortisone, right? That is known to mess up your sleep and can cause you to feel anxious and out of sorts. Sometimes taking the doses at different times can help, but sometimes not. Hope things get better for you soon. Lots of hugs for you.

[SammyeGail]

You may have already done this, but what about side effects of any of the medications you may be taking for thyroid, adrenal glands, chronic fatigue?

I agree, sounds like anxiety is keeping you awake.

Believe me, I've checked, I take topamax in the PM for migraine prevention, its side effect is fatigue, I take requip for RLS, I've heard of others being knocked out by it. Doesn't phase me. I actually have a resistance to medications.

I opened the link to adaa.com and as the screens went thru one said 'I spend so much time counting...' OMG, I count so much. A therapist told me once it was a coping mechanism.

My thing right now is if I get a word(s) stuck in my head, I have to type them out with my fingers. Just air type. I know it sounds nuts.

I started having panic attacks when I was in 4th grade. I have been to so much therapy its pitiful.

Because of my illness I am afraid to drive very far, we live in a small town so a therapist is 45 minutes away. Went to my local dr. and found out there was one here in town my dr. loved so I scheduled an appt with her, its in about 3 weeks.

Right now, with things in my life, this is the most depressed I have ever been. I have anxiety all the time, I get anxiety about getting anxiety/panic attacks!

DH and I are having alot of issues and I just don't see a resolution. Today I'm feeling positive about us, but he's been really nice to me for about a week. Then he looses it and is a total jerk for the next week, takes all his frustrations out on me. Its just an awful cycle.

Thanks for the link to ADAA!!