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mark m
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Jun 22, 2005, 10:15 AM

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I am not sure what my problem is, nor do the doctors and am looking for any opinions possible.

About 5 years ago I began getting a foggy-like feeling in my head. The best way to describe it is that it is like having a constant head cold. I always feel like I am tired and groggy. The less sleep I get the worse I am. I feel like a walking zombie sometimes. The symptoms seem less pronounced in the morning but by the afternoon I start getting very light-headed. Some days are actually better than others, but I always feel tired.
I have been to numerous doctors for CAT scans, heart tests, sleep tests, etc with everything showing pretty normal. I've been on about 30 different types of medications to date with not much helping.
I was told I had depression and even went to a psyco-therapist, but I don't feel depressed, just frustrated. (The medications just added additional side symptoms.)
The symptoms also complicate my daily life. The foggy feeling seems to dull my senses to the point that I sometimes wonder if I should be driving. I also do not strike up many conversations with people. It is a lot harder to concentrate on a conversation. (This leads people to believe I'm depressed. I'm not depressed, just to foggy to think.)
I am currently on a sleep medication for sleep and a daytime stimulant to keep me going.

Does this sound familiar to anyone? Is there anything or anyone that can help?

smithn
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Jun 23, 2005, 6:56 AM

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As soon as I got through the first part of your post, "sleep apnew" popped into my mind. You sound so much like so many people who are suffering with lack of a good night's sleep! I only go back to this because you said you have been through so many other tests without a good diagnosis. It could be your sleep medication. I know if I take any brand of sleep aid, my head feels as yours does and my thinking isn't clear through at least early afternoon the next day or sometimes the whole day through. It could be a combination of your medications. Regarding the sleep apnea subject, when you are asleep - do you dream? If you are a dreamer then you are achieving the most restful, healthiest level of sleep. Other than that, I would consider seeing an endocrinologist to rule out a possible thyroid disorder or something of that nature.

markm
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Jun 23, 2005, 9:12 AM

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Re: [smithn] need feedback [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

I've actually been tested for sleep apnea and was told I was borderline. I was issued the CPAP machine but it only kept me awake due to the constraints the mask and tube have. I was retested by another physician that told me I didn't have sleep apnea.
Do I dream? Boy do I! I have at least one dream every night I can remember some part of. On some occasions they are so vivid, it takes time to fit back into reality after I wake up.
The sleep meds I am on right now is Lunesta, which is supposed to be the best out right now; time will tell. I actually feel like I'm sleeping better, but still feel the same during the day.
An endocrinologist was one of the doctors I've seen. Apparently my thyroid is fine (although it has been about 3-4 yrs since my visit).

Thanks for your response.

bkdaniels
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Jun 24, 2005, 10:42 AM

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Hey mark m, how are you doing?

Kales and Kales found only FLURAZEPAM (Dalmane®) to retain its power of reducing sleep latency and awake time after sleep onset. Other fairly quick-acting , rapidly destroyed hypnotic such as secobarbital (Seconal), 30 to 60 mg, chloral hydrate (Noctec), 500 to 1,00 mg, glutethimide (Doriden), 500 mg, or methaqualone (Sopor), 150 to 300 mg, given 15 to 30 minutes before going to bed is useful in inducing and maintaining sleep, but after a week of two, however, their effects wanes.

Of all the conditions that make for human efficiency and sense of well-being, sleep is one of the most important. Deprived of sleep, experimental animals will die within a few days, no matter how well they are fed, watered, and housed; under similar circumstances human beings suffer a variety of unpleasant symptoms that must be separated from the disease of insominia.

Human beings deprived of sleep (NREM and REM) for periods of 60 to 200 h experience fatigue and irritability and find it difficult to concentrate, to percieve accurately, and to maintain their orientation. Illusions and hallucinations intrude into consciousness, primarily in the visual and tactile sensory fields, becoming more intense as the period of sleeplessness is prolonged.

Performance of motor tasks deteriorates; incentive to work weakens, and sustained action is interrupted by lapses of attention. Recovery after prolonged sleep deprivation shows that the amount of sleep required is never equal to the amount lost.

REFERENCES
Nancy J. Rennert, M.D.,: Myxedema
Endocrinology, Yale University School of Medicine,
New Haven, CT., 4/2004

American Academy of Family Physicians: Mass Psychogenic Illness

Kales A, Kales JD: Recent findings in the diagnosis and treatment of disturbed sleep.
New Engl J Med 290:487, 1974

Best wishes,
The Prison Hospital

Prisoner: Look here, doctor! You've already removed my spleen, tonsils, adenoids, and one of my kidneys. I only came to see if you could get me out of this place!

Doctor: I am, bit by bit.

-- Aha! Jokes

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