Posted by Phyl on December 18, 2002, at 19:50:56
In reply to no meds work, should I try sleep lab?, posted by Merci on December 18, 2002, at 18:32:08
> has anyone ever been to a sleep lab? was it helpful? I've always been a poor sleeper and though a few meds have helped a little, nothing works for very long. I'd be interested in hearing about about your experiences with sleep labs or any other kind of sleep studies. Thank you.
>
I did go to a sleep lab about 20 years ago. I spent two nights there. I woke up 26 times the first night; 28 times the second night. One-third of insomniacs have a mental problem; one-third have a medical problem--twitching legs, etc., and one-third cannot be figured out. I fell in the last group. I was put on Elavil which I used on and off; it was pretty strong for me. Then I used every OTC sleeping aid and, more recently, tried Ambien and Lorazepam. Nothing worked for very long and a few months ago, when I told my internist that I was resorting to scotch (which I hate) out of sheer desperation, he put me on Lexapro. Did the sleep lab help me? I think it helped to the extent that I knew someone understood what I was going through. I went to Dartmouth Sleep Lab and the sleep expert there at the time was Dr. Peter Hauri, a very respected man. I didn't really learn too much; I knew I was very sensitive to caffeine and I avoid it at all costs. They could offer me only the same information I have read in books. I tell myself it is not a terminal illness, and I am somewhat resigned to the fact that it is my cross to bear. It isn't easy and most people don't understand what constant sleep deprivation does to a person. But there are a lot of us bug-eyed out there. I'd say to definitely try a sleep lab. You can't lose anything; you might learn something, and it is definitely an interesting experience. Go for it, and good luck! BTW, for me, Lexapro seems to help me sleep better. In two months, I've resorted to scotch just once!!
poster:Phyl
thread:132376
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021217/msgs/132385.html