Re: thoughts on fibro and sleeplessness

[Guest guest]

I'm not sure who started this but I would appreciate all the answers

I can get about sleep apnea. I fall asleep soon after I go to bed at

night, sleep all night and wake up refreshed. During the day, IF I

sit down and close my eyes, I can fall asleep almost immediately but

never fall asleep if I am busy, driving, reaading etc. TV can put me

to sleep fast. I have always been able to fall asleep anytime,

anywhere if I wanted to. My doctor wants me to have a sleep test as

she is convinced I have sleep apnea. It is scheduled for March but I

have to admit I am upset about the prospects of having to wear a mask

on my face that is connected to a machine. Also, I do have lung

fibrosis caused by the drug AMIODORONE a few years back, but the

pulmonologist said it hasn't gotten any worse in 2 years. No better

either. Thanks for any input.

Margaret B

> Marti, I'm sorry you've had problems with the CPAP. Have you ever

> looked into an Obstructive Sleep Apnea support group? They are the

> users and most knowledgeable. Did you have a heated humidifier? It's

> pretty standard to prescribe that now along with your PAP machine.

> Please feel free to email me if you want the names of the online cpap

> support groups that have been helpful. We all just want each other to

> be comfortable, have restful sleep, and reclaim our lives!

>

> girlsaylor

>

>

>> Hi all,

>>

>> Thought if this helps even one person, it is worth the time typing.

>>

>> For those who cannot get restful sleep, here's what's helped me.

>>

>> I have numerous health issues, which include the fibro, arthritis,

>> obstructive sleep apnea, GERD, ad nauseum. I take meds for all of

>> them. What I have found is that taking any one of my meds or

>> treatments out of the mix and I don't get restful sleep.

>>

>> If I try to go without the amitriptylin for the fibro (due to

> feeling

>> foggy and having cognitivee memory problems), I waken with

>> muscle/tendon discomfort. If I ty to get off the tramadol, I have

>> joint and muscle pain from my arthritis, and my right hip

> (congenital

>> bilateral hip displaysia), wakens me with discomfort (sometimes it

>> wakens me with pain anyhow, as the joint is going south, just like

> my

>> now-artificial left hip). If I try to not take the stomach meds for

>> the GERD, or to cut out the nighttime dosage (due to my very high

>> prescription copays, and only the H2 blockers do my stomach any

>> good), my esophagus gets bathed in acid and is irritated and keeps

> me

>> up at night. If I don't use my bipap for my obstructive sleep apnea

>> (I am on bipap rather than just straight cpap, as I have

> interstitial

>> lung disease and need lower pressure on exhale), I am wakened every

>> time I have an event and stop breathing, which is causing low

> oxygen

>> and affects my heart and lungs. Also, if I don't take my stomach

>> medicine for my hiatal hernia/GERD, a bipap/cpap cannot push aside

>> inflamed tissue to prevent breathing problems. If my levothyroxin

>> dosage is too low, my body doesn't get the proper signals to

> breathe

>> when I sleep, leading to lower oxygen levels. If my levothyroxin

>> dosage is too high, it can affect my heart and other organs.

>>

>> What I am saying is that if a certain treatment regimen isn't

> working

>> for you, keep pursuing it with your doctor(s) or find a doctor who

>> will check you, and treat you, for other medical conditions. I've

>> learned if I'm being undertreated/not treated for any or all my

>> medical conditions, none of them is effectively treated.

>>

>> Just my 2 cents worth. And I need to credit this observation to

>> members of an online support group for people with obstructive

> sleep

>> apnea. They helped me, and subsequently my doctors, put together

> the

>> pieces of the puzzle.

>>

>> Wishing all restful sleep,

>>

>> girlsaylor

>>