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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Klavot on June 28, 2007, at 3:27:08
I get between 9 and 11 hours of sleep every day, and still I feel tired all the time. So I asked my doctor if she would consider prescribing me something like Provigil. She seemed slightly irritated with me and politely answered: "This isn't a cocktail bar where you get to place orders with the waiter."
LOL!
That's OK anyway. With great discipline I am able to stay awake and stay productive, so I probably don't really need Provigil. I'm just lazy, and was looking for an easier option. It's reached a point where I am able to control my problems with healthy lifestyle changes. At the moment I am med-free.
Klavot
Posted by Klavot on June 28, 2007, at 3:39:29
In reply to Provigil, posted by Klavot on June 28, 2007, at 3:27:08
In the morning, for about the first two hours after having woken up, my mind is crystal clear and my brain is razor sharp. I feel happy and optimistic. It would be nice if that feeling would persist throughout the day. But from about T+3 or so, I feel tired and drained to the point of wanting to go back to sleep.
Klavot
Posted by Klavot on June 28, 2007, at 3:49:43
In reply to Re: Provigil, posted by Klavot on June 28, 2007, at 3:39:29
Anyway, it turns out that I have relatively low blood pressure (109/67). And it makes sense, because I often times feel dizzy and lightheaded. Sometimes when I get up quickly, I actually feel like blacking out, and then I have to sit down again. Someone suggested to me that this might be the cause of my exhaustion, and that I should drink lots of fizzy drinks to raise my blood pressure. I will give it a try and see.
Klavot
Posted by shasling on June 28, 2007, at 5:09:19
In reply to Re: Provigil, posted by Klavot on June 28, 2007, at 3:49:43
Klavot, I babblemailed you on this cause I had some medical questions/suggestions that would have caused the thread to be redirected to a black hole. I had VERY similar problems and may be able to point you in a couple directions to investiagte
Suzie
Posted by Klavot on June 28, 2007, at 6:48:02
In reply to Re: Provigil » Klavot, posted by shasling on June 28, 2007, at 5:09:19
Thanks, Suzie, for your detailed and very useful babblemail.
Regarding narcolepsy: I've never been that tired that I would fall asleep uncontrollably, nor do I exhibit automatic behaviour, sleep paralysis or cataplexy. However, I do have intense hypnopompic / hypnagogic hallucinations, plus I have very intense dreams, and I have calculated through trial and error that I start dreaming within minutes after falling asleep. For instance, I might listen to the 2 AM news on radio, which ends at say 2:05 AM, then fall asleep, and awaken from a vivid dream at like 2:15 AM.
The possibility of adrenal fatigue is completely new to me. This is my new algorithm:
(1) Normalise blood pressure through diet and see whether that helps. If not, then
(2) Investigate possibility of narcolepsy or adrenal fatigue with my doctor.Thanks again.
Klavot
Posted by Klavot on June 28, 2007, at 7:00:05
In reply to Re: Provigil » Klavot, posted by shasling on June 28, 2007, at 5:09:19
I read the Wikipedia articles on adrenal fatigue. I don't think that I suffer from it. Thank goodness, because it looks awful.
Klavot
Posted by steel on June 28, 2007, at 7:35:14
In reply to Provigil, posted by Klavot on June 28, 2007, at 3:27:08
> I get between 9 and 11 hours of sleep every day, and still I feel tired all the time. So I asked my doctor if she would consider prescribing me something like Provigil. She seemed slightly irritated with me and politely answered: "This isn't a cocktail bar where you get to place orders with the waiter."
>
> LOL!
>
OMG thats disgusting,and i thought my old doc answering her cell during a session to which she was already late to have a casual quick chat was bad,we should start a movement of recording these comments and make a site posting them,i know its not legal but what a thought,a bet a lot of jaws would drop.Good luck,since you are trying to get such a high controlled pleasure drug (sarcasim applied there lol)
Posted by nathan_arizona on June 28, 2007, at 7:56:22
In reply to Re: Provigil, posted by Klavot on June 28, 2007, at 3:49:43
I'm probably in the minority here, but I don't think that your blood pressure is too low - I think it is pretty close to optimal.
Postural hypotension (nearly fainting when you stand up)can be caused by a variety of conditions including dehydration and diabetes.
Does your heart race during these spells?
Posted by fiji on June 28, 2007, at 8:28:59
In reply to Provigil, posted by Klavot on June 28, 2007, at 3:27:08
Sorry about your doctor, but I do understand. It took me more than a year to get my Pdoc to give me something for the afternoon fatigue. It was so bad that I HAD to take a nap; it really wasn't an option. I take Cymbalta so I figured that was the problem.
My Pdoc was so resistant, but finally gave me Provigil. I take 100mg a day, and it has helped a lot. Now, I can take a nap if I want to, but I don't feel like I'm going to fall over if I don't.
Sometimes docs don't believe how serious this problem can be--I don't know why, but extreme tiredness can be so debilitating mentally and physically in many ways.
Maybe you should try another doctor.
best,
antigua
Posted by Klavot on June 28, 2007, at 8:49:08
In reply to Re: Provigil, posted by nathan_arizona on June 28, 2007, at 7:56:22
> I'm probably in the minority here, but I don't think that your blood pressure is too low - I think it is pretty close to optimal.
>
> Postural hypotension (nearly fainting when you stand up)can be caused by a variety of conditions including dehydration and diabetes.
>
> Does your heart race during these spells?Not that I'm aware of.
Klavot
Posted by zeugma on June 28, 2007, at 8:52:27
In reply to Re: Provigil » shasling, posted by Klavot on June 28, 2007, at 6:48:02
Regarding narcolepsy: I've never been that tired that I would fall asleep uncontrollably, nor do I exhibit automatic behaviour, sleep paralysis or cataplexy. However, I do have intense hypnopompic / hypnagogic hallucinations, plus I have very intense dreams, and I have calculated through trial and error that I start dreaming within minutes after falling asleep. For instance, I might listen to the 2 AM news on radio, which ends at say 2:05 AM, then fall asleep, and awaken from a vivid dream at like 2:15 AM.>>
I have been diagnosed with narcolepsy, though I don't have sleep attacks- I have had cataplexy (or what I take to be cataplexy), and all the other symptoms-
Antidepressants control the hypnagogics, TCA's are considered best beause of their noradrenergic/anticholinergic effects, though SSRI's work too, and Effexor is said to work very well.
It is a difficult disorder to manage. I have found, in addition to AD's, strict sleep hygiene to be necessary, which is constraining, but allows me to retain a job. Especially when taking Provigil, which does not block hypnogogics/etc. at all.
-z
Posted by Phillipa on June 28, 2007, at 11:29:59
In reply to Re: Provigil, posted by nathan_arizona on June 28, 2007, at 7:56:22
I agree about the blood pressure having been a nurse this is a great blood pressure below 90/60 you might get faint have you tried any salt as I eat a salt free dies except for what's naturally in foods. Love Phillipa
Posted by F00TBALL on June 28, 2007, at 13:54:45
In reply to Provigil, posted by Klavot on June 28, 2007, at 3:27:08
> I get between 9 and 11 hours of sleep every day, and still I feel tired all the time. So I asked my doctor if she would consider prescribing me something like Provigil. She seemed slightly irritated with me and politely answered: "This isn't a cocktail bar where you get to place orders with the waiter."
That makes me angry! If she didn't want to prescribe a non-addictive and non-dangerous drug that sounds like it could be very beneficial to you, she at least owes you a real explanation instead of some sarcastic BS.
Posted by med_empowered on June 28, 2007, at 15:25:19
In reply to Re: Provigil, posted by F00TBALL on June 28, 2007, at 13:54:45
your doc sounds intolerably sarcastic. "This isn't a bar..." ? Please. Why does it seem like so many shrinks (mis)behave this way? Anyone else have bad experiences to share?
Posted by Sigismund on June 28, 2007, at 20:01:33
In reply to Re: Provigil, posted by F00TBALL on June 28, 2007, at 13:54:45
>"This isn't a cocktail bar where you get to place orders with the waiter."
You could say 'You're not tellin me nuthin'.
This is the end of the thread.
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