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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jerrympls on May 21, 2003, at 1:14:09
HI all-
What to do? For many months now I have been having "sleep anxiety-" which is made up of a period of feeling extremely lonely followed by anxiety and extreme dread before going to bed each night. I haven't dated in over 5 years due to my depression nore have I wanted to get involved with anyone in recent months. I usually like to be alone. And then there's this extreme feeling of dread/anxiety about going to sleep which boils down to: "Will I have nightmares? Will I be up all night? Will my heart race? How long will it take me to fall asleep?" etc.
I've also realized recently that job stress has had a huge influence in regard to my anxieties - however, I can't shake it - I can't console myself. I've been trying to work things out at work, but it's been difficult.
Anyway, I end up falling asleep with help from sleep medications - but end up going to bed very late (midnight - 1am) due to all this anticipatory anxiety. Long story short - by the end of the week I'm so terrible fatigued and severely exhausted that I sleep almost non-stop throughout the weekend.
Anyone with advice? experiences??
Thanks in advance...
Jerry
Posted by lostsailor on May 21, 2003, at 5:35:16
In reply to I get scared, lonely and dread going to bed, posted by jerrympls on May 21, 2003, at 1:14:09
Ever try ambian? It does not give me a full nights rest entirely, but doc says that He can "write an order" to the pharmacy and ins comp that I may need to go over the recomended dosage after reviewing the lit, talking to his colliges (partners--i cant seem to spell at this hour), and talking to the med rep. He says it seems safe and may help. the best thing about Ambian, aside from the cute comercials, is that you do not feel like a zombie when you wake up!!
For now I am able to take 20 mg if needed or mix 10 mg with visteral which is just perscription benadryal, but by writing having him write it as script my ins covers it vs it being an out of pocket expense.
There are a lot of "do it yourself" info pple on med babble, but make sure you check the combos with your doc or pharmacist as they can have interactions with your scipts. Personally, my doc has not really ever said ok to anything other than melatonin, but also admits he does not really know much out herbal mixes.
We can always talk about this with a glass of warm milk...lol
get back,
~tony
Posted by whiterabbit on May 21, 2003, at 10:07:03
In reply to scared, lonely and dread going to bed--jerry, posted by lostsailor on May 21, 2003, at 5:35:16
See if your doc will give you 25 mg tabs of Seroquel - it seems to be effective for a lot of people with anxiety and sleep problems.
-Gracie
Posted by lostsailor on May 21, 2003, at 10:24:20
In reply to Re: scared, lonely and dread going to bed--jerry, posted by whiterabbit on May 21, 2003, at 10:07:03
I keep some of that on hand to take prn @ night...I can cut a 100 as much as I want to, but doc for some odd reason, dose not seem to like the 25 mg pills...go figure...lmao=:)
~tony
Posted by jerrympls on May 21, 2003, at 19:35:48
In reply to Re: scared, lonely and dread going to bed--gracie, posted by lostsailor on May 21, 2003, at 10:24:20
I already take 300mg of Seroquel plus 20mg Ambien just for sleep. I'm also pretty sure that I may have sleep apnea (as it runs in our family).
Posted by Snoozy on May 22, 2003, at 2:00:59
In reply to I get scared, lonely and dread going to bed, posted by jerrympls on May 21, 2003, at 1:14:09
Hi Jerry -
I did go through a period in life where I had these feelings. Now it's the opposite though - I don't want to get out of bed, just pull the covers over my head.
I remember when I had this, there were all kinds of issues going on. My personal life was a disaster, I couldn't adjust to the new city I was in, trying different AD's. And the more I worried about sleeping, the worse the insomnia became. Many nights it would be midnight, and I'd be wide awake, and say to myself I can read for an hour or two, I'll still get 5-6 hours of sleep, I feel fine now, I'll be able to get by on that. When the alarm went off, it was quite a different story!
You may want to see if there are sleep meds that would work better for you, and maybe get the sleep apnea checked out.
The other thing I tried was good "sleep hygiene". (That phrase just seems odd to me). You know, stay out of the bedroom until you're ready to fall asleep - don't read or watch tv in bed. If you don't fall asleep within 30 minutes, get out of bed and go to another room. I find it helps to have some type of ritual shortly before bedtime - like watching Letterman or some other tv show every night.
Do you find that you have this same sleep anxiety on the weekends? Or are you just so overwhelmed by lack of sleep that it doesn't matter? Good luck, I hope you find something that helps.
Posted by noa on May 22, 2003, at 2:35:05
In reply to Re: scared, lonely and dread going to bed, posted by jerrympls on May 21, 2003, at 19:35:48
Sleep apnea?? Definitely get that taken care of. I have sleep apnea. I'd probably be dead if I hadn't gotten my cpap.
I self-diagnosed because I knew I snored--had always snored--but started having signs--like waking up suddenly to a dream about animals growling. Then, it was waking up in sudden panic, but no idea why. Then the horrible horrible really horrible acid reflux that would totally choke me and I'd see my life flashing before my eyes and think, "Ok, this time is really it, I seem to be checking out here." (PS--I later learned after getting my cpap that I wasn't really going to die from this choking--what was happening was that in an automatic self-preservation reflex, my vocal chords were clamping shut to prevent the acid from damaging them, and that they also automatically release after about 30 seconds.) Finally, it was the nightmares of being under water and unable to get to the surface to breathe (and other similar nightmares) that clenched it. I did some library and internet research and then went to my primary care doc and got a sleep test.
Talk about panic! Sleep apnea causes panicky nightmares and sudden wakenings gasping for air in total panic. No wonder you are afraid to sleep.
Also, it made my depression so much worse. And I was sleepy all the time. I was so deprived of deep sleep and REM sleep. My pdoc at the time told me that with enough REM deprivation, people can become psychotic---really what it is is that REM happens during waking hours since it can't happen during sleep.
So many things got better once I started cpap treatment--normal sleep, so not sleep all the time (including being sleepy while driving, which is of course, dangerous), need to sleep at every available minute--gone. Frequent colds and respiratory infections--gone. Acid reflux--gone. Frequent headaches--gone. Depression--better. Need to get up an pee 6-8 times per night--reduced to once per night. Inability to get up in the morning--much better (improved even more with light box treatment). Morning headaches upon wakening--gone. Panicky nightmares--gone. My memory got better--and I felt more with it, cognitively.
I recommend the sleep forums at http://www.sleepnet.com/apnea112/apnea112.html. Good luck!
Posted by jerrympls on May 22, 2003, at 20:58:52
In reply to Re: scared, lonely and dread going to bed » jerrympls, posted by noa on May 22, 2003, at 2:35:05
> Sleep apnea?? Definitely get that taken care of. I have sleep apnea. I'd probably be dead if I hadn't gotten my cpap.
>
> I self-diagnosed because I knew I snored--had always snored--but started having signs--like waking up suddenly to a dream about animals growling. Then, it was waking up in sudden panic, but no idea why. Then the horrible horrible really horrible acid reflux that would totally choke me and I'd see my life flashing before my eyes and think, "Ok, this time is really it, I seem to be checking out here." (PS--I later learned after getting my cpap that I wasn't really going to die from this choking--what was happening was that in an automatic self-preservation reflex, my vocal chords were clamping shut to prevent the acid from damaging them, and that they also automatically release after about 30 seconds.).....NOA- I could have written that very same paragraph (above). I wake up 2-3 times every night CHOKING on acid that seems to shoot up my esophagus. Not only that, but I've gotten it in my lungs - which is - THEE most horrific, intense pain I have ever experienced. I have to down half a bottle of Mylanta and make myself cough it all up to clear it from my lungs. I couldn't figure out why my voice has been so hoarse until I read your post and put it all together. I even take a proton-pump inhibitor (Aciphex) twice a day to stop the acid - but it hasn't been working. I'm VERY worried about erosion of the lining of my esophagus which could lead to cancer - my grandmother suffered for many years with the same thing.
I also found out recently (after having my sister spend a couple nights at my place recouping after surgery) that I snore and snore VERY LOUDLY. I had NO IDEA that I snored.
Also - I wake up gasping many times a night, wake up many times to urinate and no matter how long I sleep I NEVER - EVER feel "refreshed." It's horrible.
I'm SO glad to hear that after having your sleep apnea treated that so much has gotten better. I need to get a sleep test done and soon. If not - I'm going to burn myself out completely.
Anyway, THANK YOU to everyone who has given advice and shared experiences - it helps SO much! Keep 'em coming and I'll keep you all update!
Thanks!!
Jerry
Posted by noa on May 22, 2003, at 23:04:12
In reply to Re: scared, lonely and dread going to bed » noa, posted by jerrympls on May 22, 2003, at 20:58:52
J--glad to help. Get that taken care of and I bet you will feel a lot better. Maybe not everything will be resolved but it is likely to make a big difference. Good luck!
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