Sleep disorder questions
Question:
Hello – For the past few years I’ve had problems sleeping. I can go to sleep fine, but wake up within 4-6 hours, feeling wide awake. Sometimes if I lie quietly, hoping to doze back off, I’ll get hungry. I’ll feel completely alert and ready to start the day until perhaps an hour after what should be 8 hours sleep, then I’ll feel exhausted until sundown, when I start feeling a bit better. According to my bed partner, I snore, but not in the classical apnea way, and not when I sleep on my side, and I don’t twitch or thrash. Does this sound familiar to anyone, or do I have my own personal wierd form of insomnia? I’ve been handling this with OTC stuff, without much success, and in the past I’ve tried Trazodone, which I eventually developed enough of a tolerance to that I couldn’t take enough to stay asleep without being a zombie the whole rest of the day. I went for an annual physical, and got a prescription for Elavil, 25mg, which I’m splitting in two. If I take this about 12 hours before I want to get up (that would be 7pm for me), I’m not totally knackered in the morning. I still wake up a few times during the night, but it’s possible to get back to sleep, and I feel rested. Should I be increasing the dosage (doc said it was okay to do that, up to 25), if I’m not sleeping through, or should I stick with what I’m taking as long as I feel rested in the morning? I’ve also got a referral to the sleep disorders clinic at OHSU for evaluation, but that isn’t until March. I’m hoping by then I’ll be settled in with the Elavil. Should I see the sleep specialist (most likely this will be a psychiatrist) if I’m doing well on the Elavil? If a sleep study is ordered, should I stop taking the Elavil for it, and how much in advance should I do that? I know this is a lot of questions, thanks for listening. Nancy
Response:
In article <b07mp801…@enews4.newsguy.com>, "Nancy Wolfe" <nancykwo…@yahoo.com> wrote: > I’ve also got a referral to the sleep disorders clinic at OHSU for > evaluation, but that isn’t until March. I’m hoping by then I’ll be settled > in with the Elavil. Should I see the sleep specialist (most likely this > will be a psychiatrist) if I’m doing well on the Elavil? If a sleep study > is ordered, should I stop taking the Elavil for it, and how much in advance > should I do that?
A sleep specialist shouldn’t be a psychiatrist. That would just be…odd. If they order a sleep study, ask what to do about the Elavil. My own experience with it suggests you may need to be off it 2-3 days if you’re supposed to not take it. I used to take a half-dose every other day for sleep. — _Deirdre http://deirdre.net "Ideally pacing should look like the stock market for the year 1999, up and up and up, but with lots of little dips downwards…." – Wen Spencer on plotting a novel
Response:
Deirdre Saoirse Moen wrote: > In article <b07mp801…@enews4.newsguy.com>, "Nancy Wolfe" > <nancykwo…@yahoo.com> wrote: > > I’ve also got a referral to the sleep disorders clinic at OHSU for > > evaluation, but that isn’t until March. I’m hoping by then I’ll be settled > > in with the Elavil. Should I see the sleep specialist (most likely this > > will be a psychiatrist) if I’m doing well on the Elavil? If a sleep study > > is ordered, should I stop taking the Elavil for it, and how much in advance > > should I do that? > A sleep specialist shouldn’t be a psychiatrist. That would just be…odd.
Definitely incorrect! There aren’t as many of them in SOCAL as neurologist and pulmonologists, but there are a number of diplomated psychiatrists. You can read about psychiatrist and psycholosits at my sleep lab at pacificsleepservices.com – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> If they order a sleep study, ask what to do about the Elavil. My own > experience with it suggests you may need to be off it 2-3 days if you’re > supposed to not take it. I used to take a half-dose every other day for > sleep. > — > _Deirdre http://deirdre.net > "Ideally pacing should look like the stock market for the year 1999, up > and up and up, but with lots of little dips downwards…." > – Wen Spencer on plotting a novel
Response:
In article <3E2788CF.9EB6E…@socal.nospam.com>, NormC <no…@socal.nospam.com> wrote: > Definitely incorrect! There aren’t as many of them in SOCAL as > neurologist and pulmonologists, but there are a number of > diplomated psychiatrists.
OK, I’m just wrong. I’m willing to accept that. It still strikes me as odd. — _Deirdre http://deirdre.net "Ideally pacing should look like the stock market for the year 1999, up and up and up, but with lots of little dips downwards…." – Wen Spencer on plotting a novel
Response:
On Fri, 17 Jan 2003 04:39:53 GMT, NormC <no…@socal.nospam.com> wrote: >Deirdre Saoirse Moen wrote: >> A sleep specialist shouldn’t be a psychiatrist. That would just be…odd.
Patients who don’t sleep well may very well intake with complaints that would be in the realm of psychiatry (functional CNS disorders). >Definitely incorrect! There aren’t as many of them in SOCAL as neurologist and >pulmonologists, but there are a number of diplomated psychiatrists.
One advantage to sleep medicine: there basically aren’t emergent crises in the middle of the night. Therefore, the psychiatrist who is a sleep specialist sleeps better than the psychiatrist who is a psychiatrist. Of course, the latter may very well order "Give ‘em two Haldol and I’ll see ‘em in the morning." 
Response:
Deirdre Saoirse Moen wrote: > In article <3E2788CF.9EB6E…@socal.nospam.com>, NormC > <no…@socal.nospam.com> wrote: > > Definitely incorrect! There aren’t as many of them in SOCAL as > > neurologist and pulmonologists, but there are a number of > > diplomated psychiatrists. > OK, I’m just wrong. I’m willing to accept that. > It still strikes me as odd. > — > _Deirdre http://deirdre.net
Probably because many psychiatrists are odd. Regards Lee in Toronto —–= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =—– http://www.newsfeeds.com – The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! —–== Over 80,000 Newsgroups – 16 Different Servers! =—–
Response:
Hi folks- Actually my psychiatrist kept medicating me for depression which was actually accurate and appropriate. But I NEVER felt rested (to put it mildly!). Only after a number of years did he finally suspect I might have OSA and referred me for testing. I was told I have the worst case of sleep apnea in a woman my age (45 at the time) that they’d ever seen. Now the kicker: My psychiatrist headed a sleep disorder clinic for three years after medical school!!! His knowledge of psych meds and how to use them effectively I trust completely. His competence in even suspecting sleep apnea- well that’s a whole different story! Susan "Charlie Perrin – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> On Fri, 17 Jan 2003 04:39:53 GMT, NormC <no…@socal.nospam.com> > wrote: > >Deirdre Saoirse Moen wrote: > >> A sleep specialist shouldn’t be a psychiatrist. That would just be…odd. > Patients who don’t sleep well may very well intake with complaints > that would be in the realm of psychiatry (functional CNS disorders). > >Definitely incorrect! There aren’t as many of them in SOCAL as neurologist and > >pulmonologists, but there are a number of diplomated psychiatrists. > One advantage to sleep medicine: there basically aren’t emergent > crises in the middle of the night. Therefore, the psychiatrist who is > a sleep specialist sleeps better than the psychiatrist who is a > psychiatrist. > Of course, the latter may very well order "Give ‘em two Haldol and > I’ll see ‘em in the morning."
