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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Tracy on November 30, 2000, at 19:09:48
Hi kids..
Well, here's the update -- after 5 months of waiting for a sleep test, the clinic has been told that they can not order these tests, by the hospital -- and that my primary care doctor will have to do it.
And, immediately after xmas I am going to be taken off all of my medications -- to see what happens, because they really can't figure out what they are dealing with.
I started on Celexa a year and a half ago for major depression -- got better -- got worse -- then Wellbutrin was added. Got better -- got worse. Then I was taken off those. Since I was very young I have had a binge eating problem -- so they started Effexor -- no noticeable change (up to 225mg); started ritalin because too tired, eyes slamming shut and the whole deal (took all the blood tests one could take, reviewed by docs., endocrinologists, and pdocs. no visible problems) -- then was taken off that after my blood pressure went from 108/60 to 130/90. Then put back on wellbutrin. Now my sleep is all screwed up (even after a month)-- keep waking up. Still tired. Binge eating is back.
I also have been doing psychological testing over the last week -- first the pictures, then the MMP1-2, and then something else next friday... then a report will be made.
SOMEBODY OUT THERE TALK TO ME. I don't know what to make of all of this. Has anyone been taken off all their meds to see what happens? What happened?
Posted by Noa on December 1, 2000, at 16:38:17
In reply to Anyone else feel like an experiment...?, posted by Tracy on November 30, 2000, at 19:09:48
Wow, you are doing a lot to get to the bottom of it all---that is good.
I haven't had the experience of going off all meds for tests. I have had a sleep study. It was a bit weird, but painless. For me, it was worth it because it confirmed my self-diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea and led to getting the cpap, which has allowed me to get the sleep I need.
Have you started going off the meds? What does it feel like so far?
The delays are FRUSTRATING I am sure. I hope your doc does the referral pronto, so you don't have to wait much more.
keep us posted.
Posted by jojo on December 5, 2000, at 11:52:42
In reply to Anyone else feel like an experiment...?, posted by Tracy on November 30, 2000, at 19:09:48
I've stopped meds several times in the
past 18 years. Each time I crashed
severely. I've had insomnia for the past
year, and had a "professional" sleep test
last month. Somehow, the indication
for the test got switched from "determine
the cause of insomnia" to "rule out sleep
apnea" and I WAS diagnosed with Sleep
Apnea. I doubt that this contributes to my
insomnia, but it may be the cause of my
early morning awakening.
I'm hoping to try the "pressurized machine"
to see if it helps.
Posted by Noa on December 5, 2000, at 15:11:19
In reply to Re: Anyone else feel like an experiment...?, posted by Noa on December 1, 2000, at 16:38:17
I have sleep apnea, and use a cpap. It is literally a life saver. I really don't know how I survived for several years without really sleeping, and being a bit oxygen deprived. I had about 1/4 of the normal REM sleep, and this was with ADs, which typically increase REM sleep time.
Now, I am not sleepy all the time, don't wake up with headaches and don't catch as many respiratory infections as I used to. I am not constantly fighting the urge to sleep, and can actually wake up without an alarm clock in the morning!!!
I also no longer have acid reflux, which apparently was directly caused by the pressure of trying to breath through the obstruction.
Starting on a cpap is a little challenging in the beginning, and there might be things you will need to adjust or try to do differntly, and getting used to the mask, etc. can be annoying at first. But, my experience has been that it is well worth it.
I thought all my depression problems would go away once the apnea was addressed, but I still had the thyroid thing to address, and now that the thyroid thing is under control, I have to deal with the damage done from years of not functioning, and still am working on coping skills, emotional issues, etc. So, I had hoped the cpap would make everything better and that wasn't realistic, and there was a period there when I was disillusioned and disappointed that I was still depressed despite the cpap. BUT, it was still easy to recognize how much better it was with CPAP: I was not falling asleep all the time and this helped me function a whole lot better, obviously. Before cpap, I spent every possible free minute catching naps, but never feeling rested. I became extremely addicted to caffeine, just trying not to fall asleep on the job or at the wheel. It was getting harder and harderto do this, and I was beginning to get worried about driving.
Diagnosis of apnea (I essentially diagnosed myself and then had a sleep test to confirm it) and CPAP have saved my life.
This is the end of the thread.
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