not sleeping for years

By pamnbob97 Thursday, February 05, 2009

- A
- A
- A

the question is what else can i do to fall a sleep ? i was dianognosed with sleep apnea about a year ago . but talking with my wife and my family doctor , we came to the conclusion that i had a form of sleep apnea for atleast since i was 15 ( i'am 39 now ) . i have tried staying awake for hours and hours and just finally crash . i have went to the sleep center last year and got the machine and is at # 19 right now . for a while did help me sleep but after a while just did not do the job . and i have tried most of the over the counter meds ( some i could not with my regular meds ) and really did not do the job but helped a little bit . the doctor gave me a script for ambian and after a while trazodone and that does not work either . well i little history of me so to understand a bit better . i'm 39 , had a sleeping problem for going on 25 years , been over weight for well .. all my life . the jobs that i had were demanding . i worked in the automotive business , selling delivery . and i went truck driving over the road for a bit . i'am the only one left in my family . mom and dad are both dead .i have a wife that is so helpful and understanding . i got injured with my last job and been disabled ever since . and i had the weight loss surgery last year in april , just before the surgery i was at 340 now i'am around 250 , but having alot of problems still with the surgery . right before that i was taking 13 different pills a day plus lantus insulin 2x a day plus regular insulin coverage shots thru out the day . after the surgery went down to 3 pills a day and one insulin shot a day . plus i have depression and just about to the bipolar ordeal . and really never talked about it in the open like this and my doctor and wife thought it might be a good idea . so here i'am . and hopefully i will find some ways to get some answers and/or help with this problem .

Comments (7) | Add comment

Anonymous

2/12/09 10:07am

Maybe you need the air pressure on your cpap machine adjusted, since you have lost weight...which would require another overnight sleep study. Maybe the soft palate tissue in your mouth is more relaxed since you lost the weight and lazer surgery is in order. God bless you, keep searching and praying, get second and third opinions if necessary.

Vicki Fulmer

2/12/09 2:31pm

I can relate to a lot of your issues. I also have tried many sleep meds. Ambien is the only one that works fairly well. Over the counter I had some luck with Sleep MD but still took hours to fall to sleep. I started the CPAP 6 weeks ago. The only thing that works for me is light reading in bed until I feel very drowsy, then I put my mask on and continue reading until my eyes are starting to close and then I flip off my light and usually I fall to sleep right away. Of course the whole process is usually hours but I am finally usually getting to sleep between 12 and 2. But then it breaks the whole process when I have to get up to go to the bathroom around 5. If I'm drowsy enough I will go back to sleep, if not I take the mask off and sleep on my side. The last few weeks I have gotten 6-8 hours of sleep a night. Much better than 3-5 I was getting. I take 10 mg Ambien at night and 100 mg of Zoloft AM for headaches/depression.

pamnbob97

2/12/09 7:26pm

hi vicki and anominous .

well after reading the one comment , i did get on the phone to get a appointment for a new sleep study , honestly did not think that would be a problem . but now after you pointing that out and just thinking about it , it does make sense and that is the same thing the doctor said also . i really hope it works .

vicki , i have had my cpap machine for over a year now and still getting used to it . good luck with your sleeping . i did try ambien and that pill actually kept me from sleeping . right now i'am in the process of going off zoloft and getting on abilify or cymbalta . because i have been on zoloft for years and getting immune to it . doctor states that might be another part of my sleeping problem , but i doubt it .

but thank you both very very much for you help and will keep you up to date on the problem . god bless all

Sue

2/14/09 4:04pm

Dear Bob,

Keep in mind that the antidepressants may be causing your insomnia also. Try to see if there is one that might not interfere with sleep as much. Best of luck in solving your dilemma.

Anonymous

3/ 3/09 9:23pm

My body "adjusts" to different sleep meds very quickly. My doc has given me different combos to use. Ambien plus something (it varies - like Trazodone or Elavil) works best - but I only use Ambien 2 nights in a row. Then I switch to Restoril plus something for 1 night - then i am back to the Ambien combo. Maybe rotating out sleep meds might work better for you too.

Word of caution: sleeping too sedated is not good for sleep apnea folks. Working closely with your doc is the only way to go with this.

Best of luck - I am not where you are exactly - but close enough to have a lot of empathy!

gac91786

7/19/09 6:33pm

I am in the act of moving after 9 year residency. I am doing all of the packing myself but not pressuring myself to get it done. Temperature is in the 100's so I have to stop and set under the air con for a period which I do... My daughter thinks I'm stressed because of the move.

Took a stress test and it indicated no problem. Problem is I am only slleping 4 hours per night and can't get back to sleep. Unable to take naps which I have done for quite some time. I'm a pack a day smoker. Do not drink except for a beer now and then.

Planning to take sleeping pill as of tonight.

I have always slept quite well at least 8 hours.

Just turned 79 years of age. Passing my physicals with flying colors.

I'm widowed and retired...

Have I given you enough info to analyze my problem?

George Campos

geoupland@yahoo.com

909-579-0297