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After suffering with insomnia for a long time, I finally went to a sleep specialist, had a sleep study and was diagnosed with sleep apnea. The sleep specialist was of the opinion that the apnea was causing the insomnia. I've been on CPAP therapy for about 3 weeks, changed masks once since the first one drove me crazy and found the second one to be fairly comfortable (such as CPAP masks go). I'm falling asleep fairly easily with the mask on but waking up an hour or two later and either taking hours to get back to sleep or not getting back to sleep at all. This is what was happening before the sleep study. It's obvious to me now that I have two separate sleep disorders and treatment for apnea is not helping the insomnia. In fact, the sad part of this is that while waiting for the sleep study, I was just starting to sleep better as I followed various behavioral tecniques that were working. So, here I am now at Square One.
That's really interesting. I know one or two members have had some sleep studies done – I wonder if they were also 'dual diagnosed' (so to speak). Let me dig around and see if I can find the members in question of they don't come forward first!
I'll also post this question in the next Insomniac Bulletin as I'm really interested to hear from our other members on this issue.
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I used to suffer from sleep apnea, and although I received no therapy for it, it just seemed to disappear on its own, but I do suspect that the sleep apnea may have been caused or at least triggered by amitriptaline, I was taking 200mg of it at the time, once it was cut down and eventually stopped, the apnea just disappeared like that. I noticed nightmares were a lot more vivid then, too.
The doctor was using amitritpaline as a one-size-fits-all pill I think, as a sedative, anti-depressant and a calmer. Which seemed to make me worse rather than better.
Hi. That's a bummer that the mask is not helping with the insomnia that was thought to be a result of sleep apnea. I went to a sleep specialist and am going for a sleep study next month to see why I keep waking up throughout the night. I just also started Cymbalta to treat my depression with the hopes that with the depression treated my sleep will go back to normal. Only time will tell!! Could depression be the cause of your insomnia? Do you have any other biological symptoms of depression like loss of appetite or GI problems? Insomnia is a very common symptom of depression. Just a thought!
Hi Nicole…..I'm interested in learning the results of your sleep study when you have it. Our symptoms are so similiar. Waking up throughout the night is the story of my life. Yes, I do think that depression is part of my problem but for some reason I'm reluctant to take anti-depressants. When I looked up on the internet the med that was prescribed for me, it listed insomnia as one of the side effects I definitely won't take that one but I am trying to decide whether to ask for something else. I hope that the Cymbalta starts working for you. Good luck on the sleep study as well.
'sleeplessinky' wrote on '21:After suffering with insomnia for a long time, I finally went to a sleep specialist, had a sleep study and was diagnosed with sleep apnea. The sleep specialist was of the opinion that the apnea was causing the insomnia. I've been on CPAP therapy for about 3 weeks, changed masks once since the first one drove me crazy and found the second one to be fairly comfortable (such as CPAP masks go). I'm falling asleep fairly easily with the mask on but waking up an hour or two later and either taking hours to get back to sleep or not getting back to sleep at all. This is what was happening before the sleep study. It's obvious to me now that I have two separate sleep disorders and treatment for apnea is not helping the insomnia. In fact, the sad part of this is that while waiting for the sleep study, I was just starting to sleep better as I followed various behavioral tecniques that were working. So, here I am now at Square One.
That sucks big time. That pattern – falling asleep an then waking up in a couple of hours and then not going back to sleep at all or taking ages to go back to sleep is a connom pattern of mine.
'sleeplessinky' wrote on '22:Hi Nicole…..I'm interested in learning the results of your sleep study when you have it. Our symptoms are so similiar. Waking up throughout the night is the story of my life. Yes, I do think that depression is part of my problem but for some reason I'm reluctant to take anti-depressants. When I looked up on the internet the med that was prescribed for me, it listed insomnia as one of the side effects I definitely won't take that one but I am trying to decide whether to ask for something else. I hope that the Cymbalta starts working for you. Good luck on the sleep study as well.
I take Seroquel and I asked my MD if that caused insomnia and she said that certain anti-depressants do cause insomnia but Seroquel wasn't one of them.
'Martin' wrote on '21:That's really interesting. I know one or two members have had some sleep studies done – I wonder if they were also 'dual diagnosed' (so to speak). Let me dig around and see if I can find the members in question of they don't come forward first!
I'll also post this question in the next Insomniac Bulletin as I'm really interested to hear from our other members on this issue.
Martin,
My son got 2 shifts this week and so just maybe we will be able to stay in our home afterall. I have a huge fear of having to leave our family home (that is the BIG fear with the money)
'sleeplessinky' wrote on '22:Hi Nicole…..I'm interested in learning the results of your sleep study when you have it. Our symptoms are so similiar. Waking up throughout the night is the story of my life. Yes, I do think that depression is part of my problem but for some reason I'm reluctant to take anti-depressants. When I looked up on the internet the med that was prescribed for me, it listed insomnia as one of the side effects I definitely won't take that one but I am trying to decide whether to ask for something else. I hope that the Cymbalta starts working for you. Good luck on the sleep study as well.
Unfortunately, most antidepressants except for Remeron and some of the older tricilycs have insomnia as a side effect!! I've been on so many!!! I understand your reluctance. If it were not for not sleeping or eating, I would try my hardest to stay off of them, but unfortunately I cannot function without them 🙁 Good luck to you. I understand your battle. My suggestion is finding a good psychiatrist since they know their meds. A primary doc does not have that expertise.
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