My Struggle with Sleep... - Sleep Disorders Message Board

That_Guy · 03-11-2009, 05:35 PM

I have been having trouble sleeping for a long time now. I have trouble getting to sleep at night, I will lay in bed for hours tossing and turning and when I finally do get to sleep it feels like I have to get up right away for work.

I went for a couple sleep tests last year, first one was in September. It was after this first test I was started on a CPAP machine. I had another test with the CPAP in November. According to the results, The CPAP seems to help with my sleep.

My problem, even though the test results say I am sleeping fine, I feel like i haven't slept for days. This is probably because I haven't the last few nights. Last night i went to bed at 10pm, which is my normal time for bed, i was still laying in bed awake at 3:30am. The night before that was 2:00 when i last remember seeing the clock. i have to get up for work at 6, so as you can see I am not getting much sleep at all.

Nothing has really changed for me since the CPAP, I had trouble getting to sleep before the machine and it has changed nothing for me. I have talked to my sleep doctor about this, he says to give CPAP a chance. I feel I have given it a chance and it is not working for me.

I've talked to my GP, he keeps telling me all the common things EG... No tv in bedroom, stay off computer before bed, Stay off phone, Have a hot shower or bath, more exercise...etc This is all stuff i have been trying for a long time, He dosen't seem to want to spend any time trying to help me.

I am running out of patience with this, I am a miserable person to be around. The more sleep I lose, thats one more person i will probably start a fight with over something stupid. I have no social life, as I am too tired to leave the house, I find myself drinking alot more so i can sleep. I just feel like every step i take is a step back.

AuntieLeela · 03-11-2009, 08:31 PM

Maybe you have a circadian rhythm disorder? The feeling of being jet lagged (even though you haven't traveled) is common with circadian problems. And they're often overlooked by doctors.

There's delayed sleep phase syndrome (DSPS), sometimes called "night owls" they tend to fall sleep late, after 2 am, and are late or very sleepy in the morning. Advanced sleep phase syndrome (ASPS), aka "larks" or morning people, tend to fall asleep and wake early and Non-24 sleep/wake syndrome, which I have, causes a free running sleep cycle, so I tend to wake up and go to sleep a bit later every day.

Light therapy, melatonin supplements and chronotherapy are the usual treatments.

While alcohol's initially a sedative, it's actually a stimulant and will wake you up - not help you sleep.