Newly diagnosed with sleep apnea.. need help

goodnightluck wrote:So, I am currently having a lot of problems revolving around my sleep. I have always been a night owl, and for the last year and a half I had tried many different sleep medications to help me fall asleep. My problem is being able to fall asleep... once I have fallen asleep I am good for the night and don't wake up. I had always known in the back of my mind that I have Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder and this has contributed greatly to my sleeping problems. I do not fall asleep until between the hours of 3am - 6am. I am currently only 26 and on disability because of sleep problems, migraines, and severe depression and anxiety. Obviously these conditions hinder greatly my ability to get and maintain a regular job.

To make a long story short, about 6 months ago I was referred to a psychiatrist when I was put on disability. I continued with sleep meds, but he always suggested that I get tested for sleep apnea. After a few months I finally agreed to just do the test. The night of the test, I was instructed to take all my regular medications. I had taken my nitrazepam (strong benzodiazapine), had clonazepam in my system (another benzodiazapine for anxiety) and also some natural valerian root.

The tests came back as severe. The sleep doctor who reviewed the results with me was horrible, rude, and condescending. He said I most likely do have Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder, but that "this can be fixed easily by going to bed an hour later until you go all the way around the clock". So essentially my bedtime at one point would be 3pm in the afternoon. I told him this idea was absurd and would never work for me. He began to get angry and believe it or not, swear. Saying that if I wanted to call "BS" on him I could but that's the way to do it. As far as the CPAP goes, I admit I was stubborn. I refused treatment and said I would not be wearing a machine to bed even though I was given reading material detailing all the risks of sleep apnea if left untreated.

Well, what eventually ended up happening was my psychiatrist and family doctor took away my sleep meds because of the sleep apnea results. I am now back to a horrible sleep routine where I miss more than half of the day and it is causing me a great deal of depression. They say there is nothing they can do about it. They also believe that even though I was highly sedated the night of the test, this had no effects on the results!?!? I have told both of them that I will agree to go on the CPAP machine if I can have my sleep medication back. They both did not have a definitive answer for me. They both basically said "I don't know" or "the CPAP will help you get back into a routine". While I think the CPAP will certainly provide me with a better quality sleep, I do NOT think it will help me fall asleep which is the problem I have in the first place. I am very sensitive to sounds and noises before beds, so much so that I have to wear earplugs every night.

I really feel as though the results could have been over the top because I was on so many sedatives that night, where as really when I am on no mediations my sleep apnea may just be mild or moderate. But if the medications are making my sleep apnea worse, wouldn't the solution be to just start a CPAP and keep me on the medication? I feel like I am not being treated properly by my doctors. It's a complicated situation because as I said, not only do I have sleep apnea, but I have Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder, so I need meds to help me FALL asleep. It's gotten a lot worse lately, some nights I don't fall asleep until 6am or 7am. I have done a lot of research into this condition and basically there is no treatment but medication and different methods of resetting your clock... which have never really been proven effective and even staying up one night (say for a party or something) can throw you right back to square one.

I live in Canada and currently I am in the process of sorting out disputes with my family doctor about my sleep problems and other conditions. I just can't stand either my psychiatrist or family doctor at this point. I feel like my life has been totally messed up because of one test... At least both my psychiatrist and family doctor think I need to go for a second test and get re-evaluated. I don't know what exactly will come of that... If any of you have had similar experiences or have input on this situation please let me know.

Sorry for the long post!

Many thanks.

49er wrote:goodnightluck,

Did I read your post right, you were cold turkeyed off of Benzos? Not to alarm you but that is an extremely dangerous practice and can cause life threatening seizures.

https://www.google.com/#q=cold+turkey+benzo+withdrawal

I hope to god you tell I misread your post because if I didn't, you need get back on these meds immediately and tapered slowly.

Google delayed phase syndrome. Your doctor is so full of sh-t, he is drowning in it. The treatment is light box therapy in the am and melatonin before you go to to bed. But right now, this is the least of your problems as you need to find a doctor who will reinstate your benzo medication.

Regarding the sleep apnea treatment, the doctors are right that eventually it might enable you to get off of the medication depending on what your sleep issues are. But cold turkeying you off of them is very dangerous and highly irresponsible.

Anyway, what you might want to do is list all your concerns about pap therapy treatment and members on this forum will be happy to help you work through the issues. Don't hold back.

If your apnea is severe, you need treatment and would be putting your health at risk by not using the pap machine.

49er

PS -goodnightluck, I was so angry at your doctors, I forgot this important point. If you were taking medicine to fall asleep earlier than your preferred 3am time, then geting the right treatment for the DPS is even more important. If you can afford a light therapy device, you might not even need to see a doctor for this as there is plenty of information on google about this condition.

Julie wrote:Hi, from the Maritimes (ex Mtl/T.O.), and I just want to second what 49er said. What a mess and what a psychotic doctor you were sent to! We more (much) than likely can help you sort out things - one at a time - and get you back to a reasonable state of mind... whether or not you have apnea, plain/obstructive or otherwise, and whether or not you have other related conditions (some of which may have been brought on by others - vicious cycle), your depression is absolutely par for the course at the very least, and probably the easiest to clear up once you've got sleep sorted out. You're too young for crap and there is hope and help. Please don't get discouraged or go away mad, sad or anything else... stick around and things will get better. There are really knowledgable people here with lots of experience in what you're going through!

library lady wrote:Ditto what everyone else has said here. I too have Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder, and my sleep doc offered to help me change it, with the use of a light box or gradually changing my bedtime. He said nothing about "going around the clock" that you mentioned - that is crazy. I declined the help, but did work on changing it myself, in my own way. I also started using CPAP at the same time.

I used to go to bed about 11:00 PM and be awake until 2:00.. it drove me nuts, especially if was really tired by 11:00. Now I go to bed at midnight or later, and I take melatonin about 15 minutes before going to bed. I get to sleep much more quickly, and stay asleep most nights. Not a huge shift in my bedtime, but with the melatonin I can get to sleep and then get up much earlier in the morning than I used to. I started the melatonin with 5mg tablets, but I was always groggy in the morning so I started splitting them, and that was better for me. Meatonin is OTC.. but I cleared it with my primary care doctor first in case of any reactions to other meds that I take.

If it is convenient to do so, maybe you should find a new doctor.

Julie wrote:Maybe a dumb question... but has anything worked at all for you at any time and for how long? What do you think made it work even for that time and do you have any idea at all what stopped it working?