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Member
Member Since Apr 2024
Location: Canada
Posts: 60
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Jun 05, 2024 at 05:54 PM
#1
Hi there. I can't seem to find any real sleep support anywhere. So I'll post here.
I've had sleep issues for decades, since I was a kid. I've had a biphasic pattern, which seriously interrupts my life. I've wanted to shake it, and had tests done, which shows sleep apnea. The cpap machine doesn't work for me. I'm finding better sleep at night using mouth tape, but even so, I'm still napping during the day. I'm currently under stress as my work situation is closing. A company I was starting up isn't going forward, so I'm assessing alternative options. Those get tricky, given my sleeping patterns. Anybody have any insights? I have looked over CBT-I (insomnia) therapy, but it hasn't gone very far. It's confusing as it's near the normal CBT. Any discussion appreciated. |
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 nonightowl
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Member Since Jul 2021
Location: virginia
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Jun 05, 2024 at 07:21 PM
#2
Maybe very long walks will help. I take 6 or 7 mile walks to tire myself out.
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Grand Member
Member Since Mar 2020
Location: Northeastern USA
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Jun 05, 2024 at 10:22 PM
#3
Welcome! I was DXed with sleep apnea in 2006, but I'm sure I had it for at least 40 years. I use the CPAP machine, and my AHI is down around 1 event per hour.
I've been taking Nuvigil to combat daytime sleepiness, and I use a SAD therapy light. Sometimes I do slip into a somewhat biphasic pattern. It seems that a supper with lots of carbs (and sugar) promotes this. As well, the full Moon can bring about alertness in me at night. This starts about one week before the full moon and lasts roughly two weeks. I tend to sleep deeply all night during a new moon. __________________ Major Depressive Disorder; Sleep Apnea; possibly on the spectrum Nuvigil 50mg; Effexor 37.5mg Wellbutrin 150mg; meds for blood pressure & cholesterol |
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Member
Member Since Apr 2024
Location: Canada
Posts: 60
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Jun 06, 2024 at 08:43 AM
#4
I went for a walk last night. I'd have to see if I can work that into my schedule. I live in Toronto so the winter gets in my way and SAD happens every October.
Ya my diet is highly managed on low carbs, so that's good. Interesting notes on the moon cycle. Thanks for the Nuvigil tips. I will discuss it with my doctor. |
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Member
Member Since Apr 2024
Location: Canada
Posts: 60
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Jun 09, 2024 at 10:53 AM
#5
And now I'm finding that sleeping is a big part of depression. It also raises cortisol which interrupts nightly sleep, which brings on the daily fatigue. A good video on CBT on all this:
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| Discombobulated, nonightowl
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Member
Member Since Apr 2024
Location: Canada
Posts: 60
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Jun 14, 2024 at 07:44 PM
#6
Now I'm thinking this might be a live long disability that will keep me from getting hired, or the ability to focus on much. Isn't that lovely? That means my life is pretty much over.
How the hell do I deal with any of this? |
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Grand Member
Member Since Mar 2020
Location: Northeastern USA
Posts: 819
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Jun 15, 2024 at 10:26 PM
#7
Well, try to understand that you'll have some days where you feel energetic and focused as well as days of tiredness with brain fog. Today I think I could've sleep all day and still be tired. I got over 10 hours sleep and felt like taking a nap after I got up.
I know a guy who's on disability based on some sort of sleep disorder. (This is in USA.) If your doctors keep good notes, they should be able to support your case if you're denied. __________________ Major Depressive Disorder; Sleep Apnea; possibly on the spectrum Nuvigil 50mg; Effexor 37.5mg Wellbutrin 150mg; meds for blood pressure & cholesterol |
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Member
Member Since Apr 2024
Location: Canada
Posts: 60
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Jun 16, 2024 at 04:43 AM
#8
Oh I don't have energetic days. My schedule is completely messed up. It's 5:40 am Sunday now, and I'm up to do some gardening. Only to probably have 3 naps like I did yesterday. Not because I want to. Because that's what my body tells me. It's turmoil. I woke up terrified yet again, and I get to do some necessary gardening. This is what my life has come to. I'm not looking for disability. I've worked my whole life to achieve something rational, and it feels like I'm being laughed at.
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Grand Member
Member Since Mar 2020
Location: Northeastern USA
Posts: 819
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Jun 16, 2024 at 08:54 PM
#9
Hmm. folks in Florida do gardening at 5:40am -- it's too hot to do it later in the day! But in Canada it does seem unusual.
I wake up with symptoms that suggest terror. It's either the apnea or low blood sugar. (I don't have nightmares.) After a few (or several) rounds of box breathing I can sleep again. But I've also did what you did and get up and putter around on a project. __________________ Major Depressive Disorder; Sleep Apnea; possibly on the spectrum Nuvigil 50mg; Effexor 37.5mg Wellbutrin 150mg; meds for blood pressure & cholesterol |
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Member
Member Since Apr 2024
Location: Canada
Posts: 60
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Jun 19, 2024 at 07:53 AM
#10
We have a heat wave coming through. Was up doing gardening again, but sleep will interrupt today. It's just before 9am and I feel it coming. I had a bad sleep last night, and woke up with a sore throat. Couldn't manage cpap over last night.
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Veteran Member
Member Since Sep 2021
Location: CT
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Jun 25, 2024 at 08:03 PM
#11
Phil, I don't know if this will help , but whenever I can't sleep, I breath out then hold my breath ,count to 30 in my mind, Then breath in. I repeat this process over and over. It gives you something to do while lying in bed, it takes your mind off your troubles, and when you do breath in its pleasant. Usually I'll drift off. If its too hard to hold till 30, then try 20. There is no magic number. Doesn't work for everyone, but maybe worth a try.
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Member
Member Since Apr 2024
Location: Canada
Posts: 60
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Jun 25, 2024 at 09:32 PM
#12
Hi Cat. Thanks for the input.
I do breathing exercises now. What you're doing is short term hypoxia. This changes blood chemistry, as well as the psychology of meditation. I'm quite good at meditation, but the recent guided stuff is a bit woowoo. But yes, I will give it a try. Thank you. |
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| Catsrock
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 Catsrock
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Location: CT
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Jun 29, 2024 at 02:26 PM
#13
Phil, did you try it? Did it help? I'm curious.
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Member
Member Since Apr 2024
Location: Canada
Posts: 60
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Jun 29, 2024 at 02:30 PM
#14
Hi Cat. Yes I did. It is along the lines of all the other breathing exercises in that it's a diversion. My anxiety still persists. In fact I just got out of bed (3 pm) with more anxiety. Did another sleep study but have to wait until the end of July for interpretation. The waiting is horrible.
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Veteran Member
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Location: CT
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Jun 29, 2024 at 02:59 PM
#15
Sorry that didn't help. I'm waiting three months to have a medical procedure to find out about a possible serious issue. I hear you about the waiting!
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Member
Member Since Apr 2024
Location: Canada
Posts: 60
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Jun 29, 2024 at 03:01 PM
#16
I'm finding out that I have Metabolic Syndrome, which brings a myriad of stuff. So this is going to be long term. Not sure how I'm going to fair through this. Waiting is terrible when I want to jump on this stuff. The doctors don't seem to get this.
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Veteran Member
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Location: CT
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Jun 29, 2024 at 04:08 PM
#17
That's true
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Member
Member Since Apr 2024
Location: Canada
Posts: 60
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Jul 09, 2024 at 01:19 PM
#18
And more of that today. Replacement temporary GP, a specialist whose position I got rid of a long time ago that will put me back on the meds that don't work and get me worse, and test assessments that don't have any answers, other than to buy a whole new APAP machine, which is slightly more advanced than the one that doesn't work that I own now.
Meanwhile, referrals and waiting for little feedback is the new norm. So ya, government run healthcare is absolutely horrible. Don't let anybody tell you otherwise. It's just another cash grab, at the expense of people's health. |
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Member
Member Since Apr 2024
Location: Canada
Posts: 60
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Aug 07, 2024 at 12:57 PM
#19
Update: Narcolepsy Type 2 (assumed, chasing this) and Type 2 Diabetes. The latter seems to be creating the first, due to orexin depletion. The time it took me to get any suggestion that this was the case, is amazing. I've seen nothing but confusion as to which causes which, and nobody will directly address this.
For the life of me I don't know why this is so difficult to research and get answers. Meanwhle, my doctors are full of administration and not following up on their promises. They're interested in booking appointments for specialist referrals, more admin, and assigning more pills that make me feel horrible. |
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Grand Member
Member Since Mar 2020
Location: Northeastern USA
Posts: 819
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Aug 07, 2024 at 09:12 PM
#20
Medical studies can prove correlation. Correlation does not imply causation.
__________________ Major Depressive Disorder; Sleep Apnea; possibly on the spectrum Nuvigil 50mg; Effexor 37.5mg Wellbutrin 150mg; meds for blood pressure & cholesterol |
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