Why am I facing Mono-like symptoms when my regular sleep is even slightly disturbed?
I would like to ask Dr. Dean Adell a question. My problem originated about three years ago, and about 4 months after recovering fully from Mono. At that time, I intentionally stayed up late two nights in a row. A few days later I began to feel Mono-like symptoms returning. Scared by this I focused on my sleep for several weeks straight and the symptoms died down. Now, for the last 3 years, I am affected greatly by any loss of sleep. If I get to bed even an hour late, or struggle at some time during the night with sleep, I will wake up in the morning with symptoms that can stay with me for a week or two. The symptoms include: fatigue, shaky hands, throat tightness and soreness, slight pain in my chest, unexplainable anxiety, and irratability. In order to avoid these symptoms it is necessary that I get to bed very close to my regular time and get a good night sleep. This would be frustrating enough, but on top of this is the fact that I have been struggling with the ability to sleep all the way through the night (this is what led to my Mono to begin with). I either struggle to fall asleep or if I do fall asleep, I am up three hours later. Ambien pretty much solves this problem but I would rather not be taking it the rest of my life. In fact, I would get off the Ambien for good and just deal with the sleep issue myself if it weren't for the dreadful symptoms that I must face when not getting the sleep that I need. I am far more concerned about the symptoms and the condition causing them than I am the sleep problem, but would greatly appreciate answers to both. This has really put a damper on life for me over the last 3 years. By the way, other doctors keep looking down the depression road. While I understand why they do this, you should know that my life is actually pretty good now, and far less stressful than it has been throughout most of my life. Thanks, Matt Swagerty / EM: matt@financialplaybook.com
I don't think the doctor responds to questions on the site - his show merely has a relationship with the site, so I hope you'll entertain some questions-suggestions from me.
Do you spend time engaged in sleep hygiene prior to getting into bed - by that i mean - do you wind down, do things to encourage sleepiness like take a warm shower, drink herbal tea or another low calorie warm beverage, begin to turn down the lights, avoid caffeine for 6-8 hours before sleep, exercise in the am, avoid heavy meals at least 4 hours before bedtime, play soft music, avoid doing work in bed, turn off the TV well before bedtime - some of the above?
The mono may have indeed primed you for some differences in your sleep patterns but I'd also offer that many of us just assume sleep (through the night) will come easily - when in fact, as we age and as life changes, it may not be so easy to fall asleep or to stay asleep. With regards to ambien - doctors do prefer to use it for short term use so I would see if creating a 'bedtime plan" helps you to achieve deeper lasting sleep. Sleep studies might also shed some light on what is going on and finally, though life is "going well" - there can still be endogenous depression, on a chemical level, so I would rule that out as a contributing cause to the sleep issues.
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