Sleeping Disorders - who here has dealt with it?

[LynneSin]

I'm in the process of seeking out treatments for a possible sleeping disorder. I am not asking anyone to diagnosis what I have, but I would just like to hear from those who have dealt with Sleeping Disorders and how you went about dealing with it.

There is definately an issue and it could affect my job if I don't start getting out of bed in the morning and to work on time (Note, I'm usually about 5-10 minutes late but I'm always rushing out the door just to make it that late.)

Thanks!

[IdaBriggs]

1. My father had sleep apnea.

In addition to not getting "restful" sleep, it was kind of scary because he would stop breathing. He got a "sleep machine" and it really solved the problem. All of the grandkids played with it when he first got it (so they wouldn't be afraid of it). I believe the problem was officially diagnosed with a visit to a sleep clinic, although my mother had been complaining about the issue for years (but he didn't believe her until an anesthesiologist complained about how he would 'stop breathing' during surgery). Good luck!

[SarahB]

2. I haven't...

but I know a little about it through osmosis because of what my ex does. Bushwentawol could help you if he's around maybe. I guess the first step would be to get a sleep study done at a sleep disorders lab or center. Many hospitals now have this service.

[MissMillie]

3. Sleeping disorders are a triple threat for me

I have been diagnosed with 3 sleeping disorders. I have obstructive sleep apnea, for which I wear a CPAP to bed every night. I also have sleep bruxism, which requires me to wear a mouth guard to prevent grinding.

I also have restless legs syndrome. I am not currently being treated for this because the medications for this involve are counter-indicated because of some other medications I am taking.

You will have to have a sleep study done--maybe even more than one depending on what they think they've found.

I'm glad you're seeking treatment. Let me assure you that getting treatment for my sleep apnea changed my life.

Good luck to you!

[LynneSin]

4. did your insurance cover this?

:shrug:

[SarahB]

5. Most insurances do.

The first step is to go to your doctor and he or she can order the sleep study done. If you need c-pap or other equipment, coverage varies depending on your insurance.

[MissMillie]

6. Yep, covered it completely

Given that sleeping disorders are often the root of other serious medical problems (like high blood pressure, depression, etc), insurance companies are usually happy to foot the bill on the grounds that this treatment is preventative.

[Dr.Phool]

8. How is life with the CPAP?

I was just diagnosed last month with sleep apnea, and am getting hooked up to the machine Monday night.

My hypertension seemed to come out of nowhere, and the doctor told me that sleep apnea devastates the body, and can even cause diabetes.

Does it take a lot of getting used to? How long before you feel the effects?

[MissMillie]

12. I found the CPAP easy to get used to

Though I know for other people, this was not the case.

The best news I can give you is that there is a variety of different "masks" so it's very likely that you will find something that you'll find comfortable.

The first weekend I was on the CPAP, I slept one night more than 12 hours (I obviously had some sleep to catch up on) and it was a good quality sleep, too.

Within a couple of weeks I was feeling much more rested during the day.

[hlthe2b]

7. There is some published evidence

that some adults with ADD (women, in particular may have a form of sleep disturbance that results in heavy theta waves early in the morning, rather than the normal pattern: stage 1, deep theta, deepest delta (slow wave, almost "comatose"), alternating REM with theta in 90 minute cycles until awakening. I believe (would have to pull the article by William Dodson, MD) that these women have early morning return to delta making it very difficult to waken.

ADD meds (and some specific narcolepsy meds) can help, but many of these women have probably been self-medicating with hi dose caffeine all along (even bringing the coffee pot or no-dose pills into the bedroom).

[johnnie]

9. Is not wanting to get out of bed in the morning a disorder?

I thought no one wants to get out of bed in the morning, I don't.
But as to your question, I have suffered from insomnia on and off since I was a child. In high school I went to get help for it and they just told me to read at night (which I already did). Back then they didn't seem to want to pass out meds as willingly as they do today.
I have never gone back to a doctor for it and when the insomnia cycle rolls around I just deal with it. My last one lasted about a year and a half and it was terrible. I would usually be running on 2-3 hours of sleep a night. I just had to do the typical things before bed (no caffeine, don't go to your bed until you are ready to sleep, no food before bed..ect.)
I don't know what disorder you have, but I thought not wanting to get out of bed was normal..lol. In fact this morning I hit the snooze so many times that I finally got out of bed 15 minutes before I typically leave in the morning. I do that about two times a week if not more.

[LynneSin]

11. If it's affecting my job, I have to deal with it

I work a quazi-helpline with 24x7 coverage although I rarely do helpline support. I have a great work record but this is dogging me big time. I have to deal with it before it deals with me.

I would prefer to do it non-medicatedly - we'll see

[johnnie]

13. Are you having a hard time falling asleep?

Or is it just waking up?

[LynneSin]

14. All of the above

Seriously!

[liberalitch]

10. I am too light a sleeper and if I get awoken too many

times in the course of the evening I am so exhausted that I can hardly function the next day....