Have you been to see a doctor about your sleep?

[MaddieHU]

Its hump day which means theres only 3 more days until the weekend and only 3 more questions to answer!

Today we are asking; have you been to see a doctor about your sleep? If so, was it useful? If not, what would trigger you to go?

[soulboy118]

I went and saw my doctor years ago about my sleep problems through my copd , very sympathetic but would not prescribe anything ,even in the short term so I never broached that subject with him again ,nothing would make me go again

[LDloveslattecoffe]

Yes and this caused referral to sleep clinic to get diagnosis of sleep apnoea resulting in the use of the CPAP machine

[mrsk06]

Yes, been referred to sleep clinic but still waiting for appointment after 8 months, had sleep apenoa test down but that came negative. Just waiting game

[checkmypulse]

Yes, was told that I snored and stopped breathing during the night, advice I just ignored. I did mention it on a GP visit who just said 'your brain will wake you.!' After AF diagnosis I learnt about the AF/SA link and the EP advised sleep study which said 'mild SA' at 8.5 ahi's an hour. No treatment. EP persisted with with the sleep clinic and now I have a CPAP which has helped, mainly with sleep quality. I still get ahi's, better at between 1-5, occasionally up to 8.

[Lybra]

I did broach the subject to my Doctor, but I was told sleeping pills were not the answer. So I found my own way to get to sleep.

[sicklecellnews in reply to Lybra]

The doc was right. Pills not the solution.

[foxglove in reply to Lybra]

Just curious! What is your own way of getting to sleep?

[Hidden]

I have been seen by Consultants at the sleep clinics at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (where I was diagnosed 7 years ago) and, latterly, the Bostonian, Boston Pilgrim Hospital.

[nakedphil]

yes seen gp + psych+psychol. need practical help caring for others and myself not avialable to change circumstances

[deegan]

Yes over 20 years now. Last couple of years she has prescribed 28 sleeping tablets every six months and has also recommended going to a doctor in a sleep clinic who specialises in cognitive behavioural therapy. This I have not tried yet.

[MrEd44]

When my inability to stay asleep became unbearable I went to my Internist. He prescribed mirtazipine which makes my nights bearable. I also asked about a sleep study, he said I didn't have apnea as I wasn't overweight. I continued to insist on a sleep study until he gave me a referral, turns out I do have fairly servere sleep apnea.

[Bumley]

I spoke to my GP about problems related to my heart (have had a triple by pass) and she asked me to complete a STOPBANG questionaire and I passed for referall to a sleep clinic which found I had moderate level sleep apnea and was given a CPAP initially followed by a BPAP after 3 months

[sicklecellnews]

Doctors know what to do when I'm sleepless as a result of acute sickle cell pain crises.

Outside that, a doctor once prescribed sleeping pills - which I didn't take. I hate artificial sleep. The more I fear being dependent on sleep induced.

[JeffMett]

Yes I did see him at first but I haven't seen him for 4 or more months, the trouble is they don't want to give you any sleeping tablets incase you become dependant on them. At this time I wouldn't mind being addicted on them at least I would wake up in the morning and be able to get on with my life, instead of sitting in front of the TV for 2 or 3 hours until I got the will power to try and do something.

[Johnny-One]

I got really ill when I hit 38 which meant I had to go to the doctors, but it was not about my sleep issues.

As it happens I discovered I had three categories of problems which meant seeing three types of specialists:

Breathing troubles, which was the initial trigger and this turned out to be bronchitis and pneumonia, a repeat of when I was six months to 18 months old. I was told by my parents I was on life support for most of that time.

Headaches, which was discovered as a result of tests - I did not realise I suffered I just thought everyone felt that way in their heads since I had suffered them all my life, but what a relief when I got that one under control.

Narcolepsy, which took the longest to diagnose and be told about - so much of my life made sense at that point. Again I thought it was perfectly normal for a human to fall asleep at a moment's notice.

Was the Sleep Related issue useful - No. I got the diagnosis, was told it was very serious at every test, but nothing else was done. I was not even put in touch with support groups. That I did through research myself.

I lost a lot of faith in the NHS process as a result of my illness and subsequent treatment. Do not get me wrong I think the NHS do a fantastic job in the UK for most scenarios and the majority of the population, but there is so much more funding needed if we want to cover the entire population with proper social care. Sometimes as well it is a matter of knowing where to look. I had not really heard of Narcolepsy until I was diagnosed. How do you know what you do not know?

For that matter I had not really heard of migraines until I realised how bad my headaches were ... thank you to the staff of the Neurological unit for all their help and advice.

My lungs are what they are and are strictly monitored and controlled with some strong drugs and under the watchful eye of my local healthcare professionals at my annual check-up. I also monitor my peak flow on a weekly basis; this indirectly helps with my sleep too.

[MiniMum97]

Yes. Not really helpful. They gave me zoplicone which helped for a while and I could take once a week or fortnight when sleep was really bad so gave me a reprieve. They stopped working after a while though even at that frequency.

[Calvados1]

Nine years ago I went into a coma for four days. This was the result of sleep apnoea. I was falling asleep so many times during the day. I went to the doctors who arranged for me to have sleep tests. Unfortunately that same night I went into a coma. The hospital saved my life and I had so many tests including some with the sleep clinic. Many people are unaware of the symptoms of sleep apnoea including doctors. I certainly knew very little about this illness or copd.I have a yearly check up covering my breathing and osa at a great clinic.

I am fine now with the help of inhalers and a c-pap machine.

[RLSEXP]

Yes I have have a very understanding GP who listens to me and the research I have undertaken to deal with my Restless Legs and insomnia. She is willing to help me with almost any approach. I have also been seeing a sleep/RL specialist since January and again this Doctor is amazing - so understanding and supportive. He organised a sleep study which did not highlight anything other than RL. I am working with him to trial different approaches to my situation. My biggest problem is that I am afraid to take too higher dose of anything that is prescribed as I always have awful side effects. I also am very concerned about the long-term use of these medications. I am looking into specialist group therapy approach to Cognitive Behaviour Therapy at a clinic . The issue with this approach comes back to not just having the insomnia, but the RL as well.

[Lybra]

Yes but it was not a helpful meeting, after saying sleeping tablets were not the answer, the subject was dropped. I then looked online for help, and found a method of relaxation that does help.

[WestysWifey34]

Yup more times than I can remember now & it's either 2 weeks worth of sleeping tablets which only work well for the 1st night or nothing. Complete waist of time. Eventually after 2 years, the gp referred me to a sleep clinic & they gave me an overnight sleep study which found out that I stopped breathing 77 times every hour & I never entered into any of the normal sleep stages like lift sleep, REM sleep, etc & I don't dream either (which I knew already) I only enter straight into deep sleep on the very odd occasion when I can actually & eventually fall asleep & my sleep clinic dr said that he has never seen anyone with such an abnormal amount of deep sleep in the whole of his career as a sleep disorder consultants (35yrs). He told me the normal amount of deep sleep people are supposed to have is 20%, my result was a massive 84% deep sleep!!

He thinks that this is the reason why I always feel like I have never slept, even if I manage 2/3 hrs which is the maximum amount I some times get, the other times I am awake for days straight on end. He also said that I had more central sleep apnoea's than obstructive but I have got mixed sleep apnoea & issued me with an ASV machine which is basically like a cpap but only given to people who really suffer from central apnoea rather than obstructive apnea.

I got this August last year 2018 & used it up until about a month ago now & even after trying every single mask on the market, I still couldn't get on with the awful thing & found that it was actually making my sleep worse, even though I didn't think it could get any worse than 2-3hrs sleep 4 days a week & 0hrs sleep on the other 3 days but shockingly it made my 2-3hrs go right down to only an hour to 45 minutes worth & then the 3days in a row I would be wide awake for went down to me being now wide awake for 4-5 days in a row & OMG, I felt even worse that I had done in my life & I already felt exhausted n really weak etc b4 I got put on my ASV machine so I had no choice but to stop using it.

I am mostly a side sleeper which I know helps with sleep apnoea & I have got another appointment with my sleep consultant the beginning of June to discuss what other options are available next for me, if any (which I'm really hoping there is other options that will actually work & help me feel a lot better).

I'm waiting for my GP to start issuing a general anaesthetic on prescription as that's the only thing that actually works getting to me to sleep & keeping me asleep lol 🤗😜🤣 #IfOnlyAy

[lilliput]

I have seen my doctor but he won't help. Was lucky at least to have Zolpedium when I worked full time as I would have had to leave/ lost my job otherwise.