Being referred to a new specialist for my sleep problems frustrated me. I wanted my primary care physician to wave her magic wand and cure me. She's never been able to pull this off in the past, but my expectations of miracles have not ceased.I went to the sleep specialist today and expected him to wave his magic wand to take my tired feelings away. They had me fill out a million page survey. A nurse asked me all the same questions after forcing my fat ass on a scale (I know I need to lose weight, must we reinforce my shame by making me step on the fricking scale. Take my word for it lady -- if I were lying about my weight the number I gave you wouldn't have been so high). I then sat and waited forever to see Dr. Sleep Man.
After a million years, Dr. Sleep came in and asked the exact same questions as the nurse who asked the exact same questions as were on the form I took the time to fill out prior to the visit. She took notes, he took notes. I wanted to strangle anyone in sight -- why must the medical profession make this so fricking difficult? READ MY DAMN ANSWERS ON YOUR DAMN FORMS YOU STUPID PEOPLE, DON'T ASK THE SAME DAMN QUESTIONS OVER AND OVER.
So Dr. Sleep ponders the answers. He decides I must go for a sleep study. I might have sleep apnea like my Dad, I might have restless leg syndrome (RLS), or I might just have trouble sleeping because I'm in chronic pain. (I pick #3, so does hubby -- he says he sees me wince in my sleep).
Gee whiz Doc -- you sure gave me a whole lot of nothing! Does he give me a prescription to help me sleep? NOPE. I used to be on a mild antidepressant to help me sleep until it gave me side effects. I have not slept well since going off it 18 months ago. I'm pretty fricking tired and grumpy right now. I told Dr. Sleep this and he postulated that it may RLS since this previous prescription wouldn't have helped with sleep apnea.
I go for a sleep study on 10/4 and then I must wait 3 weeks for my follow up appointment to review the results. I have to keep a sleep log. I can't exercise after 3 pm (hello, when the hell can I work out then???). Don't drink alcohol. Think about losing a few pounds. Sorry you are tired -- be careful driving.
I need to learn to expect less. My medical crap is never easy to diagnose so I'm an idiot to expect solutions from a doctor appointment. I just wish I wasn't so tired. My house looks like hell and so do I. I just lack the energy after the work day to do the things I want (like cooking healthier meals and exercising more). How the hell will I survive 3 classes this fall? UGH.
4 comments:
I have sleep probs too. I've had years of feeling so tired I could hardly stay awake during the day. I went to a number of doctors. They'd all say, "Your not fat so it can't be your thyroid." I finally got a new doctor and gave them abunch of stuff I'd found on the web about thyroid stuff and told them THESE ARE MY SYMPTOMS. I had a blood test done... What do ya know? It's an inactive thyroid! (I was having migraines 4-7 times a week. When you have them, you don't eat. When you don't eat, you don't gain weight. But the doctors never put THAT together even tho I told them about the migraines!)
THe lack of sleep makes losing weight next to impossible. I know how that is. And the point of the story I just told you is that yes, doctors can be so clueless. I hope you get the sleep you need soon.
Oh and I was on something a few years ago. LOVED IT. Either Trazadone or Zonagran. Lack of sleep is a big trigger for my migraines. So they gave me one of those meds to prevent migraines and the other to help me sleep. And wow, did I sleep! It was awesome.
Good luck!
I used to take Trazadone -- good stuff for sleeping! I ended up having hormone side effects.... It will be interesting to see what the real deal is on my sleep. I'm just tired of being tired :-)
hey! there's a book called "Tired of being Tired". they should have called it, "Tired of going to the doctor..." and having them tell you "you have kids, of course you're tired.!"
no really. I've read your blog for a while now. you are busy.! you are always busy. there is no down time. there is always just more to put on your plate. I'm not saying your doing anything wrong, i'm just thinking chronic fatigue is in there somewhere. when you get chronic fatigue, it's very hard to sleep or rest. which is the only thing that's going to make it better. cronic fatigue is a cycle that is very hard to break. but thank god it can be done and there's a lot of info on it these days. back in the 80's it was just the mysterious yuppie disease.
wednesday girl -- you are likely correct (as usual :). I'll check it out -- glad to see you back! I've missed your stories!!!
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