[Bipolarchic14]

I am able to sleep fine 8 to 12 hrs. I had a sleep study done. No real issues. I started forcing myself to sleep less (8-9 )thinking I was oversleeping. I went to work for 30 min today and basically said forget this and went back home. Though I have some sadness, I am not overly sad. I do get some suicidal urges but anyone who knows me knows this is common for me. How do you know if the fatigue and aches are related to a depressive episode or something unrelated to bp.

[JustJace2u]

Thinking of you.

[Wild Coyote]

I am also trying to sort this out today.

I usually know my patterns and can discern. However, I am not clear about which came first today -- the chicken or the egg?

I immediately become concerned my med may not be working well.
It's likely something else in my case. I cannot override it.

I hope you feel better pronto.


WC

[gina_re]

I've been having this problem too. But I had an epiphany....I've been sleeping on the same mattress for way too long. I probably need to change my bed for a more restful sleep. So I would like to try that out to confirm my suspicions. But I don't have the money right now to test my theory.

[Bipolarchic14]

I go to my therapist tomorrow but she won't take me seriously. This will make me feel more discouraged than I already feel.

[Wild Coyote]

Can you tell your therapist you don't feel validated by her?
It's important you feel listened to, validated. Once you tell her, she has a chance to repair the lack of validation, which is critical to working together.


WC

[HALLIEBETH87]

Hey have you had your thyroid level checked?

[Bipolarchic14]

Originally Posted by gina_re

I've been having this problem too. But I had an epiphany....I've been sleeping on the same mattress for way too long. I probably need to change my bed for a more restful sleep. So I would like to try that out to confirm my suspicions. But I don't have the money right now to test my theory.

If it makes you feel any better I have a comfortable bed and I still feel like crap! I consider my bed to be an enabler.

I just left a message for p-doc asking for help. Last time she asked what time of day it starts and I could not answer so she did not do anything. Well this time I am prepared.

[Bipolarchic14]

Originally Posted by HALLIEBETH87

Hey have you had your thyroid level checked?

Yes I have and sleep study.

[Bipolarchic14]

Originally Posted by Wild Coyote

Can you tell your therapist you don't feel validated by her?
It's important you feel listened to, validated. Once you tell her, she has a chance to repair the lack of validation, which is critical to working together.


WC

She has been trying to help. I have mentioned this before. Her response was she did not realize how bad it was.

[gina_re]

Originally Posted by Bipolarchic14

If it makes you feel any better I have a comfortable bed and I still feel like crap! I consider my bed to be an enabler.

I just left a message for p-doc asking for help. Last time she asked what time of day it starts and I could not answer so she did not do anything. Well this time I am prepared.

These past two weeks have been bad. I'm barely getting half the work done than I usually do. And because I'm always so tired, my concentration is pretty much nonexistent which is why I'm having trouble working. I see a new pdoc next Thursday. We'll see if she can help a sista out!

[Bipolarchic14]

Originally Posted by gina_re

These past two weeks have been bad. I'm barely getting half the work done than I usually do. And because I'm always so tired, my concentration is pretty much nonexistent which is why I'm having trouble working. I see a new pdoc next Thursday. We'll see if she can help a sista out!

Sorry to hear that Gina. My pdoc just got back to me. We are going to try reducing my latuda

[Fuzzybear]

Idk... She doesn't sound like she's being very helpful. . I can empathise, I stayed too long with a therapist who was often invalidating and disrespectful But he was nice to begin with

He tried to repair things but in fact was damaging Not many therapists are this bad..

We did end on respectful terms... But the trust had been shattered

Originally Posted by Bipolarchic14

She has been trying to help. I have mentioned this before. Her response was she did not realize how bad it was.

[scatterbrained04]

I'm also tired all the time. Not sure what is causing it.

[p00dlez]

I feel your pain. I don't ever sleep more than a couple hours at one stretch. My sleep is so fragmented that I am tired a lot. I do have hypothyroidism but I take meds for that. I have been blaming it on menopause and the crazy hormones that go with that but I am not sure what it is. I do hot flash and wake up too hot then kick off the covers only to get too cold an hour later. Menopause will drive you batty lol.

Its been a little worse since my pdoc upped the dosage of the tegretol but I really needed him to do that since I am having symptoms again that need to go away.

I probably do need a new mattress. That thing has NEVER been comfortable. From day one its been HARD and I hate it but right now I have so many irons in the fire I don't see myself being able to splurge on a new mattress. Who knows maybe I will go manic and buy one LOL just kidding.

[LucyG]

Check the side-effects of your meds as fatigue, depression and anxiety are common side-effects of pysch meds. Let's just say 'been there, done that' so I know from experience how they can make you feel.

[ComfortablyNumb5]

I have a hard time with sleep. I either get too much or none at all. That's not manic either. Just stress or too much caffeine. I've had trouble with sleep since I was a kid. As far as depression goes, I ask myself if there's a reason for it first. A lot of times it's something situational stressing me out but if it's NOT then i contact pdoc for a med switch or adjustment. The way my life is going right NOW, holy crap anyone would feel like I do and sleep little! I'm surprised that I'm actually NOT depressed right now lol. But stress is definitely the word I would use. Its important we can differentiate between a med problem or situational. Maybe some people are unable to tell but all my docs and T say I'm very "self aware". Is that a bad thing?? I've just been around that track a few times and know my **** by now lol.

[~Christina]

If your sleeping 8 - 12 hours and functional and you don't Have to decrease then why not just sleep what you body is wanting to do .

[Bipolarchic14]

Originally Posted by ~Christina

If your sleeping 8 - 12 hours and functional and you don't Have to decrease then why not just sleep what you body is wanting to do .

If I slept as much as my body wanted to would be more like 15 or 16 hours. And even the 12 hours isn't practical I work full-time so during the week I can't even do that. I don't want to ignore the symptoms I want to make them better I don't want to sleep half my life.

Even when I'm up I feel myself falling back asleep it's not a way to live

[Bipolarchic14]

Originally Posted by RxQueen875

I have a hard time with sleep. I either get too much or none at all. That's not manic either. Just stress or too much caffeine. I've had trouble with sleep since I was a kid. As far as depression goes, I ask myself if there's a reason for it first. A lot of times it's something situational stressing me out but if it's NOT then i contact pdoc for a med switch or adjustment. The way my life is going right NOW, holy crap anyone would feel like I do and sleep little! I'm surprised that I'm actually NOT depressed right now lol. But stress is definitely the word I would use. Its important we can differentiate between a med problem or situational. Maybe some people are unable to tell but all my docs and T say I'm very "self aware". Is that a bad thing?? I've just been around that track a few times and know my **** by now lol.

I am sorry you're going through a hard time.

[Bipolarchic14]

For anyone else who is having this problem and is reading this, my therapist suggested exercising in the morning before I go to work. So I'm going to try this and I will let people know how it is working out for me

[mindwrench]

I too struggle with fatigue. I cant go to sleep when I go to bed, and if I stay in bed trying my back starts hurting and I have to get back up. When I do manage to fall asleep I'll wake back up after a few hours, or my back will hurt too bad from being in bed. Last night (early this morning) my fatigue was so bad I was holding my breathe, and trying not to cry. I had went manic a few nights earlier and sleep was escaping me. I took as much sedatives as I could find, that I thought I could safely take?? And laid in bed trying to relax. I woke up a few hours later feeling a little better, but my fatigue is building again.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

When I'm not sure and the fatigue is really wearing on me I get labs done. I have hypothyroid and a history of really low Vit. D levels so those 2 could be off again and my family doctor always checks everything else too. Usually we go into it with my saying it's just in case and I don't necessarily expect anything but don't want to miss anything. He's completely understanding about that and has never had any problem checking things out. Every so often it will be my thyroid and a med adjustment will help; usually we find out I'm depressed.

[Bipolarchic14]

Originally Posted by BeyondtheRainbow

When I'm not sure and the fatigue is really wearing on me I get labs done. I have hypothyroid and a history of really low Vit. D levels so those 2 could be off again and my family doctor always checks everything else too. Usually we go into it with my saying it's just in case and I don't necessarily expect anything but don't want to miss anything. He's completely understanding about that and has never had any problem checking things out. Every so often it will be my thyroid and a med adjustment will help; usually we find out I'm depressed.

I am so glad you said that I totally forgot my vitamin D levels are really low right now at least last time I had blood work done. I bought the vitamin totally forgot about it.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

If they were really low then you may need a round of weekly high dose pills for a few months before starting supplements. I had to do that at first for I think 6 months. Now I keep supplementing and still am on the lower end because I am inside so much of the summer because of heat intolerance from meds and then not as much in winter because it is winter. I need to remember to have him check that next week; I think he forgot when we did my annual labs.

It made a big difference for me when I got it straightened out. Not like I was cured, but I did feel better.