Going to see Sleep Psychologist what....

[mgaggie]

should I expect? Should I take copies of my sleep studies? I know that I will need to tell them about medications I'm currently on.

[49er]

should I expect? Should I take copies of my sleep studies? I know that I will need to tell them about medications I'm currently on.

Hi Mgaggie,

I assume you are going because you're not sleeping enough hours on the machine or do you want to get off medications you are on? You might want to do a search of cbt insomnia as that probably will give you some idea. Also, google RobySue's blog as she had trouble sleeping on the machine and had cbt for it.

Definitely take copies of your sleep studies. The more information they have the better.

49er

[mgaggie]

Thanks 49er for your reply. I suffer from quite bad insomnia, it takes me over an hour to get to sleep. When I wake during the night I find it hard to get back to sleep, unfortunately having the machine doesn't help in me going back to sleep so quite often in desperation to get any sort of sleep I'll turn it off.

One of the medications I'm on has insomnia as one the top side effects. It's one that I can't stop cold turkey, so I would like to be able to at the least start cutting down to a minimal dose.

Thanks for your suggestions I'll check them out.

[avi123]

Removed

[49er]

Thanks 49er for your reply. I suffer from quite bad insomnia, it takes me over an hour to get to sleep. When I wake during the night I find it hard to get back to sleep, unfortunately having the machine doesn't help in me going back to sleep so quite often in desperation to get any sort of sleep I'll turn it off.

One of the medications I'm on has insomnia as one the top side effects. It's one that I can't stop cold turkey, so I would like to be able to at the least start cutting down to a minimal dose.

Thanks for your suggestions I'll check them out.

Hi Mgaggie,

Wow, talk about a horrible situation being on a medication that causes insomnia. Could that be causing all your problems? I am just worried that seeing a sleep psychologist when there still may be physical reasons for your problem could be an exercise in futility.

49er

[mgaggie]

Avi I doubt I could get a hold of this as I'm in australia.

And its not much use if your damn doctor won't prescribe any sleeping tabs.

49er I'm sure that the medication exacerbates my insomnia. I personally wanted to see a psychitrist, about changing my medication, but my GP said no. I was lucky that I got a referral to a sleep psychologist (thats cause the sleep centre said I needed to see one) my GP wanted to send me to a dietian as he seems to think that me losing weight will fix all my problems.

[mgaggie]

apologies for my poor spelling. You can probably guess I am a bit cheesed off with my GP at the moment

[49er]

Avi I doubt I could get a hold of this as I'm in australia.

And its not much use if your damn doctor won't prescribe any sleeping tabs.

49er I'm sure that the medication exacerbates my insomnia. I personally wanted to see a psychitrist, about changing my medication, but my GP said no. I was lucky that I got a referral to a sleep psychologist (thats cause the sleep centre said I needed to see one) my GP wanted to send me to a dietian as he seems to think that me losing weight will fix all my problems.

Hi Mgaggie,

Wow, your GP sounds like a piece of ^^%%. Is it possible that perhaps slowly tapering off of the medication might improve your sleep without switching to anything else? Just a thought.

By the way, do you have any rights to ask for another GP if you're not satisfied with the one you currently have?

49er

[mgaggie]

By the way, do you have any rights to ask for another GP if you're not satisfied with the one you currently have?

49er

I can go and see another GP, its a bit of a pain having to transfer records etc. I don't think any other doctors locally are taking new patients, so I'd have to travel a couple of hours to find one. When I last saw my GP I was very tired, so its possible I didn't make myself clear in why I wanted sleeping pills.

I am hoping that the psychologist will make some decent recommendations for treatment, and if so I'm going to get them to write a letter to my GP.

now I really need to try and get some sleep nearly 11pm here

[Tipiford]

...now I really need to try and get some sleep nearly 11pm here

Wow, no wonder it's called "Down Under" (you posted at nearly 9 ay em, my time).

Good fortune to you on seeing this sleep psychologist, and getting right to sleep tonight.

Tipiford

[DreamDiver]

I am hoping that the psychologist will make some decent recommendations for treatment, and if so I'm going to get them to write a letter to my GP.

now I really need to try and get some sleep nearly 11pm here

Is it possible that sleeping pills may be contraindicated for the medicine you're taking that causes insomnia? Have you asked your pharmacist whether there are any medications contraindicated for the constellation of prescriptions you are currently taking, including sleep meds? You probably already know but for those who don't, psychiatrists can prescribe meds. Psychologists cannot.

Some people find the below sleep aid alternatives useless -- others find they actually help:
Light therapy,
biofeedback,
light and sound entrainment,
or even plain old mindful meditation

For myself, I listen to MP3's of familiar stories I've already read. When I wake up, it takes my mind off whatever day-time problems are trying to fill the mental void by simply listening to the familiar story. I find myself falling asleep easier.

[Snuffle-nose]

I went to sleep Psychologist to get my sleep patterns right again, it was discovered after doing a sleep dairy that I was having my 1-3 stage of sleep REM or light sleep but I was missing out on my stage 4-5 sleep [deep sleep] So we went thru it all, my napping during the day, how groggy I was when getting woken out of my sleep by someone else and not by natural waking pattern. Boy was I haggered!!!!

But now after a few good session my sleep improved after getting new cpap as my other one spat the dummy and it was taken and replaced, since then I have had some time when I totally forgot about certain appointments I made and was meant see someone at my clinic!!!! Oops at that time I was sleeping horribly cold and couldn't breath properly when I made them. I How embarrassing, as I often keep appointments well . blush !

[49er]

Hi Snuffle-nose,

Can you please refrain from using red ink in your posts? That is very hard on the eyes.

Not clear as to how seeing a sleep psychologist improved your sleep as it seems the new cpap was the key. But perhaps I am missing something so that is why I am asking for clarification.

Thanks!

49er

[kteague]

Nothing wrong with availing yourself to an opportunity to become more in tune to your body-mind connections and better know how to help yourself. The techniques you learn may be even more useful as you resolve other contributing issues. I have not experienced the particular medication issue you are facing. (Mine were with other types of meds.) Others may have more meaningful input on that. I do remember the anxiety of weaning off a limb movement med I felt dependent on even if I knew the effects were temporary until I ramped up on a replacement med. I tolerated some side effects far too long just due the dread of the transition process. I'd just like to suggest that once you optimize your sleep, your need for some meds may change, especially if the original need was born out of or exacerbated by sleep deprivation. If your meds really are causing insomnia, once you begin the weaning process and begin to sleep better, you might find your expected need for a replacement drug reduced (or even eliminated). Sleep makes everything look different. By all means take anything you need to be ok in life (whatever that means ) yet knowing that this could be your golden opportunity to reassess your needs from a less damaged perspective. At least when you do sleep you are not oxygen deprived. That's a step. Wishing you GOOD sleep!

[mgaggie]

Not clear as to how seeing a sleep psychologist improved your sleep as it seems the new cpap was the key. But perhaps I am missing something so that is why I am asking for clarification.

Thanks!

49er

You aren't missing anything 49er, my GP is being a turd. Basically I asked my GP for a referral to sleep psychologist as the sleep centre I attend recommended I see one for my insomnia, he had no problem in writing that. I then asked for a referral to a psychiatrist as I felt that my anti-depressants are causing insomnia and can inhibit REM sleep. I explained I wanted to see a psychiatrist as they know more about the ins and outs of different types of medication, and no offense to him but I can't expect a GP to know every single anti-depressant med out there. He refused to write one, then started going on about me losing weight etc.

When I see the psychologist tomorrow if all she says to me is "I can't help you, you need to see a psychiatrist", I have at least done something by at least following through with the recommendation of the sleep centre (they are the ones who I've rented the machine from for $80 indefinitely).

Until now my GP was quite good, maybe we were both having a bad day