Non Restful Sleep has destroyed my life

Hi. I've been to several doctors and no one really knows why is this happening to me. For the last 2 years I haven't been able to rest. I mean, I can sleep but I always wake up feeling unrested, with headache and a flu-like feeling.
I can't be functional this way and it's very frustrating.

My Dr has put me on Antidepressants since he thinks it may be related with Anxiety but it hasn't helped at all. In fact I think it's making things worse.

I asked my Dr about Sleep Apnea but he told me that due to the size and morphology of my throat that is out of the question.

My Dr treats me as if I were a bit crazy telling me things like "That is just the way you are, you must not be so hard on yourself" and that kind of stuff. What the hell, I just want to be relatively functional again.

I just want to mention that I don't take tranquilizers (benzodiazepines). I did in the past but I reached tolerance and dependence so I withdrawn from them and it's been 18 months since my last dose of lorazepam.

I don't know if this is the right place to ask for advice but again, I've got nothing to lose really.

I've tried a lot of Natural things like Melatonin, Valerian, and antihistamines like Doxylamine. Non of them did a thing for my problem, they just make the hangover worse. I have also tried things like Doxepin, Mirtazapine and the like with no success.

Thank you for your time


PS: I'm an unemployed man. 29 yo, 74kg, good health. I'm now on holidays since I'm studying during the year (my degree didn't get me any job so I'm studying another field) My routine right now is quite limited to what I can do: Wake up early in the morning, I surf the web, read and watch TV. I go out to visit my gf during the evening or night.

I currently don't have any hobbies since my lack of energy doesn't allow me to have any. I don't feel like doing anything anyway. My foggy mind can't really handle or enjoy anything

Thank you so much

Hello & Welcome, Efjaristos!

Unrefreshing sleep can grow into a monster. Sure, it may be related to Depression or Obstructive or Central Sleep Apnea, but it may rise from other sources, too.

(Even if the physical structure of your throat rules out Obstructive Sleep Apnea, it wouldn't necessarily rule out Central Sleep Apnea, which involves neurology.)

If possible, get a nighttime Sleep Study followed by a daytime Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT). These tests will give you insights into your "sleep architecture" - the nature of the stages of sleep you pass through during the night and even during the day. It is possible your deeper sleep stages are deteriorating, which happens with aging but can happen more rapidly in some people.

In my own case, circadian rhythm problems are intertwined with depression.

I wish you well. Please make yourself at home here.

There could be a number of physical reasons why you are not getting the restful sleep you should be getting. This could be the sign of autoimmune issues, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia and Restless Leg Syndrome.

Here are some links that I found interesting information on:

Dr. Michael J. Breus: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: How Does It Affect Sleep?

Sleep disorders and fibromyalgia. [Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2011] - PubMed - NCBI

Restless Legs Syndrome Fact Sheet: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

I think it's important to keep advocating for yourself with your doctor. Sometimes doctors don't know why someone is suffering with a problem and you need to bring up ideas for referrals to specialists to either rule things out or in.

I wish you well in this journey and hope you find something tangible very soon!

Yes, I would find a different doctor and have a full workup to see if there are other things going on. Good article: When Sleep Brings No Rest - The Healthier Life

Does anyone have the solution proposed for central sleep apnea?

It seems fairly obvious to me that you cannot sleep because you do not take the lorazepam any longer. I am in the same insomnia boat as you. I don't know how long you took the lorazepam for, personally I was on a benzo for years and years. However, talking with hundreds of people on a support site for benzo withdrawal has taught me that it varies from one person to the next on how long you took it for and how long the insomnia lasts. Some take it for a short period of time and have insomnia for a long period of time.

The benzo really changes the chemical structure of your brain and that certainly affects your sleep. I have not slept well or restfully now for almost 2 years either. I wake up feeling like death and have no energy.

It would not hurt to have the sleep apnea thoroughly explored to rule that out. I feel deep sympathy for you and your situation. From what all I have learned, there is really no cure for the insomnia but time. I take melatonin and I think it has started to work better or I am healing.

Not sure if exercise would help you but being really tired does make for a deeper resting period at some point. Best of luck to you!!!

I have sleep apnea and sleep with a machine. it helps so much, the fogginess is way less in the daytime. You should get a different doc that could give you the overnight diagnosis from having your sleep monitored through the night. Good luck

I have sleep apnea and use a machine also. I feel so much better since I have been using my machine. It is a night and day difference. Please see a different doctor who will at least order a sleep test. Then if you have it and they give you a machine. USE IT. it may be very uncomfortable at first but make yourself get used to it. I had my machine for years and never used it and I wish I would have starting using it a lot sooner.
I still feel the same way you do a lot with the fogginess and being tired all the time. (sleepy tired) but that is because for some reason I stop breathing and hold my breath over and over again during the night. I wish I could find a way to stop doing that. I am also a student and it is really affecting my school work and my employment. I can't concentrate or think fast enough to deal with the problems I need to deal with at work. I also can't remember things or comprehend things that I read. Sometimes it is like I didn't even read it at all after I just read it two or three times.
I am so happy to have found this group because now I know that there are people out there that understand how I feel. I feel like it is ruining my life also. I was just passed up for a promotion at work because of it.
I hope you find an answer very soon.

Wow! Your doc is not sympathetic. See a specialist. I was seeing my primary care doc for over a year for migraines and she never once mentioned seeing a neurologist. I glad I finally listened to my sister. Regular doctor - primary care - are for routine care. It seems you have a more serious concern. I don't know what kind of specialist but maybe there are docs that specialize in sleep issues. It may also be related to something you're eating.