Serious Sleep Problem - please please look

Parent Cafe
1

<p>Well, I’m about to be a Sr. in HS. I’ve had sleep problems my whole life. Im a pretty good student. just an example of how my sleep hurts me: Last year I got 27 tardies in one class (first period) in one semester. It’s because I’m so tired in the morning and cant get myself to school cus im a zombie in the morning. And then I’m continuedly tired throughout the day cus if my sleep.</p>

<p>I thought the parents here were really wise, and really I should go to a doctor, but if anyone’s ever had experience or know anything about any of this, please give me some advice!</p>

<p>Anyways, for example last night I probably went to bed at 12:45 (its summer). I set my alarm for 9:45. I have restless legs syndrome. So my legs wiggle around and I rock myself to sleep for 45 minutes. Then I’ll lay in my bed for another 45 minutes trying to fall asleep. I probably fell asleep around 2:30. And then once I’m asleep I sleep super well… My alarm goes off at 9:45, and I snooze to 10:45 cus im super tired. I keep snoozing untill 1:00! So, I finally force myself to get up even though I feel like I could get more sleep after about 11 hours of sleeping!</p>

<p>This is regular to me. My doctor recommended keeping a strict schedule so I’ll be tired at night. But that’s really hard for me to do. But I’m going to force myself. Like last year during school I would go to bed at 11:00, probably fall asleep at 12:15 and wakeup at 7:15 every day and still feel pretty exhausted. SO I had a regular schedule, but on weekend I would sleep until 12 when I naturally woke up. I should’ve kept a perfect regular schedule for weekends too… but still, im talking to my friend this summer who wakes up naturally at 8:30 and goes to bed at 1. and I naturally wake up at 1 in the afternoon hahahah!! its just sooo FRUSTRATING. and i have a low energy level if i wake up early, which effects everyhing: academics, athletics, social life (cus im too tired), etc…</p>

<p>I also started taking thyroid medicine 6 months ago. My doctor thought this would help my energy level a lot. For four months now I’ve taken the right dose and have really felt 0 - little effect on my body…</p>

<p>I dont take medicine for restless leg syndrome… i heard theres might be bad sideeffects, my parrents are against me taking it cus its i think the same medicine for parkinsons.</p>

<p>this is really putting my energy level for life at 75%. and especially snce im going to college next year (in 365 days) i’d like to have this problem solved. i can handle camps with roomates and stuff, and its actually not that bad for me… except eah my energy level is 75% for the day cus of stuff we do in the morning and going to sleep wheneveryone else does cus i’ll lay away with my resltess legs for a long time and my low energy level.</p>

<p>so im not sure really whats going on… a combo of throid problems and probably mainly bad habits caused by restless legs.</p>

<p>im gonna start waking up at the same time every day, and going to bed within the same window to get a good 8-9 hours of sleep. my HS starts in 2 weeks. </p>

<p>A weird thing is if Im really tired i can take a nap pretty well. just fall asleep right away. naps just make me tireder though hahaha. when i settle down for sleep, my legs go crazy, just this urge to move my legs.</p>

<p>ANY HELP!!! this is sooo frustating. i talked to my old doctor and my new main doctor and they both werent that helpfull… just thought maybe someone here mite have some thoughts / experience… please help haha thanks!</p>

2

<p>You need a sleep specialist, not just any old doctor. Good luck to you.</p>

3

<p>It sounds like you’re getting enough sleep, even with your problems. Have you considered depression?</p>

4

<p>Yes, see a sleep specialist. Your regular doctor can and should write you a prescription for a sleep test. A sleep lab can then monitor your sleep and discover problems such as apnea, brainwave irregularities, whatever. Your thyroid problem could certainly contribute. Blood sugar problems can contribute to inability to wake up. Could be many things.</p>

<p>I feel for you, friend. I spent my first twenty-five years cursing the world because everyone else seemed to be able to get up bright and early with no problem. It can make you so angry and discouraged. But don’t suffer silently! See a sleep specialist, adjust your schedule as best you can to allow you to sleep late, and be sure to eat right and get plenty of exercise.</p>

<p>Also, don’t let anyone tell you that you’re just lazy. That is BS. You have either a medical problem, a psychological problem (i.e., depression), or simply an inborn tendency to need a lot of sleep and to sleep late.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

5

<p>thanks guys. :smiley: yep, waking up in the morning for school is the worst part of my day…</p>

<p>ya ive been called lazy a bit. haha</p>

<p>i found a restless leg syndrome sleep specialist in my area, so im gonna make an apointment with him and try a perfectly on time sleep schedule, wake up at the same time no matter how hard it is in the meantime.</p>

<p>about the thyroid: its in my family. and now that i am taking the right dose (when i take a blood test my thyroid appears in the correct level), I dont really feel any effect on my body / energy level… maybe a tiny effect… but honestly i dont really notice any difference, i mite possibly be worse.</p>

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<p>You definitely need to see a specialist. I am like you.</p>

<p>Honestly I would not go away to school until you get this resolved. I commuted my first two years for financial reasons, but it turns out I REALLY needed those first two years to work out my sleep issues. Had my parents not been there to help me wake up I would not have done nearly as well as I did. There are people who have trouble in the morning because they are undisciplined, and people who have health issues and need to see a doctor and get it worked out. You sound like both. Take care of it before it gets in the way of your education. 27 tardies in college will kill you. Professors may not keep track of them, but tardies are disrespectful and will make your professors think less of you-- and you can lose credit for participation. </p>

<p>I would also recommend abolishing naps unless your doctor tells you otherwise. They make it harder to fall asleep at night.</p>

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<p>You need a better doctor. What was the reason that you were put on thyroid medication? Hopefully, it’s because they are treating you for a diagnosed thyroid condition and not simply to try to raise your energy level. Have you been diagnosed with restless leg syndrome or is this something that you are self diagnosing? I have never heard of a young person diagnosed with restless leg syndrome. I’m not saying that it isn’t possible but it is surprising to me that a high school senior could be diagnosed with restless leg syndrome.</p>

<p>Have you had a complete physical? When you had your blood work done, did your doctor notice a B-12 deficiency? A B-12 deficiency is associated with sleep disturbances but you can’t self diagnose this. The doctor would notice this from the results of your blood work up. </p>

<p>Do you exercise? How is your weight? Do you spend any time outdoors during the day or is most of your time spent sitting? </p>

<p>Underlying depression may be playing a role. There is absolutely no reason for a teenager to have so many tardies unless one is dreading going to school.</p>

<p>Rather than posting for an answer on CC, you should get a complete physical with a new doctor. In the meantime, go outside and exercise. Take walks every day. Don’t eat after 7:30pm or there abouts. Take a multivitamin in the morning. Don’t spend all day sitting around. Get up and move. Don’t drink caffeinated sodas, coffee, or teas.</p>

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<p>I think you may have an undiagnosed medical problem, of which the thryoid and restless legs may even be a symptom, but not the whole story. For example, Lyme (is that possible?), an autoimmune disorder, chronic fatigue- that kind of thing. It can be hard to get help for some of these things. Your PCP could do a cortisol test, or ANA test, to start in those directions. Then, you will end up at an endocrinologist, neurologist, neuroendocrinologist, rheumatologist, or infectious disease- or several of these! But I would recommend seeing a “functional medicine” MD, or “integrative medicine” MD, to avoid the wild goose chase with specialists. Some MD’s practice a more holistic medicine and are still within the insurance system. They can also order tests like saliva tests for cortisol, that “mainstream” MD’s won’t do.</p>

<p>Whatever it is that you call restless legs could also be several other things…and low TSH thyroid tests can be misleading if another illness is simply causing your body to have problems absorbing thyroid hormone. In that case, your thyroid would still be producing hormone adequately, but the body is not using it properly. Therefore, supplements are not that effective (and weren’t really needed).</p>

<p>The point is, your situation may be very complicated and it might take some time and effort to find answers. In high school, you are legally entitled to accommodations, but at the college level you are not entitled to them as much, and accomodations are more dependent on good will. If you do go, make sure you get a diagnosis that is documented, and work with the college’s accommodations/disabilities office.</p>

<p>I am glad you are not using anything to sleep. Clearly, you are getting enough, but it is not refreshing, and that is a sign of some deeper trouble.</p>

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<p>I agree with the other posters that you should definitely see a sleep specialist. You need to be evaluated in a sleep lab, overnight. Things can show up there that won’t during a physical. One of my friends had a similar problem and turns out she had sleep apnea - would stop breathing in her sleep, then wake up, and so she was waking up hundreds of times during the night without being aware of it. They gave her a device to use at night and she’s fine now. That’s just one possibility - there are many more.</p>

<p>Definitely see specialists who could help solve this. You need to find the causes of this and get the help you need. Good luck and keep us posted.</p>

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<p>Do you drink coffee? Soda? Tea? Eat chocolate? While I agree with those who are saying you need to see a sleep specialist, you should also try eliminating every single caffeine source from your diet.</p>

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<p>I agree with the others to see a sleep specialist but a few basics (note - I’m not a doctor) - </p>

<ul>
<li><p>Cut out all caffeine - no coffee (except decaf), tea, caffeinated soft drinks or especially ‘energy drinks’.</p></li>
<li><p>Take care in eating sugar spiky foods shortly before hitting the sack. Better yet, don’t eat anything for a few hours before going to bed.</p></li>
<li><p>Exercise every day. I think a lot of people have some degree of ‘restless leg syndrome’ but IMO exercise helps this. Try doing an hour of leg-moving exercises a day. This can be doing an elliptical, bike, walking, running, etc.</p></li>
<li><p>When you go to bed, don’t watch TV if you have one in your room. Unless you’re already sleepy and can fall asleep fairly soon, read a book. This can occupy your mind and get your eyes more tired for sleeping. Don’t get so into the book that you keep yourself awake to finish it but it might help you.</p></li>
<li><p>Be wary of taking meds unless it’s really warranted. Be wary of ‘sleeping medicines’ and drugs like Ambien that can have side effects. Some doctors prescribe meds too casually rather than getting to the root cause IMO but I’m not a doctor. If you don’t like the results from one doctor then go see another or at least a specialist rather than a GP. Of course, a doctor may be able to determine the root issue and prescribe medication or other changes to help you with this.</p></li>
<li><p>Part of the test from a sleep specialist may be to see if you have sleep apnea which could be waking you multiple times in the night and can be damaging. Overweight people are more likely to have it but even thin people can have it.</p></li>
</ul>

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<p>To explain a little further, in case you’re not familiar with sleep apnea, you wouldn’t remember waking up, even if it’s happening hundreds of times during the night. The only way you’d know is via a sleep test.</p>

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<p>A lot of good suggestions have been made, especially having a sleep study done to rule out sleep apnea & avoiding caffeine ( coffee, tea, cola, chocolate, Red Bull, etc. ). If sleep apnea is the problem an oral device can be fabricated ( as a dentist I have treated many cases simply & effectively ).</p>

<p>Excercise during the day, but not at night. Also, do not eat after 7:00pm. One of the best things you can do is take Melatonin 1-3mg before bedtime. This is a natural, over the counter sleep precursor which promotes natural, restful sleep.</p>

<p>If there is a mental component keeping you awake, try this: Tell yourself ( and your brain ) that this is sleep time, you can’t solve your problems now & you will address them tomorrow.</p>

<p>I don’t have any experience with restless leg syndrome, but hopefully these suggestions with help alleviate some of your symptoms.</p>

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<p>You have gotten lots of great advice here! I especially agree with the poster who said to see an integrated medicine specialist. My S2 had very serious debilitating sleep problems for several years. We went to many well regarded specialists in different fields and got many different diagnosis’. Like my son, your sleep problem may in fact be caused by a combination of things but the most important thing is getting treatment that is effective -if something is not working keep looking for answers. Please follow all the suggested sleep hygiene advice that you get. It is so important and not always easy to do as a hs/college student but it is one thing you do have control over! Stick to a very tight schedule and don’t sleep more than an hour later on weekends. I think that melatonin is a great suggestion too.</p>

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<p>Please consider all the wonderful advice you’ve received here. One other suggestion is to look for an alarm clock that actually begins to lighten your room much as the sun does. It may help reset your clock. I know I have a terrible time getting up before the sun rises.</p>

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<p>You absolutely need to see a specialist for the whole picture. I second the suggestion about light therapy. Maybe you could start college on a part-time basis, living at home, with afternoon classes until you get this situation sorted out. Life with a roommate can add to sleep difficulties. You might want a single room.</p>

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<p>A disabilities office at any college can make sure you get a single room, in a dorm area that is quiet, and also the disabilities office can make it possible to take a reduced courseload.</p>

<p>The important point here is that you are spending enough time sleeping (or thinking you are sleeping, in the case of apnea). But you are not refreshed.</p>

<p>Some of the suggestions are geared to insomnia and to people who are not getting enough hours of sleep. There is a difference.</p>

<p>There are several health problems or syndromes that use the language “adequate sleep without feeling refreshed.” Very often, when someone has more than one troublesome symptom going on (you have the exhaustion, restless legs, and thyroid) the answer is not simple. Each specialist will deal with your problems from their perspective, and the resulting treatment ideas will not be coordinated.</p>

<p>Sometimes the answer is not found in a definitive, easily articulated manner, meaning label or diagnosis, but each clue can be followed and you can sort of resolve things by working around the edges. </p>

<p>Again, I suggest doing an ANA, more thyroid testing, am cortisol or 24 hours cortisol via saliva, maybe Lyme Western Blot (not Elisa), maybe Epstein-Barr/mono. Nutritional testing, as someone mentioned, including B12, B6, magnesium.</p>

<p>I am not a doctor, obviously, but our family has been through this, and I am trying to save you time and trouble. If you can’t locate a good integrative medicine person, maybe ask a local chiropractor for referrals. We have gotten everything covered by insurance, by choosing the MD’s wisely. Good luck!</p>

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<p>thanks everyone sooo much! for clarification, im gonna be a senior in highschool this upcoming year. so i have 365 days to figure this sleep problem out before college. its not like im going to college now.</p>

<p>thanks for all the help!! ive taken all your considerations into tought and am scheduling an appointment with a sleep specialist. thanks!!</p>

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<p>Consider trying some natural sleep aid supplements from the health food store. There are many websites that list them. Here are two. They are worth a good try before considering any medication, many people find them very effective.</p>

<p>[A</a> Guide to Herbal Sleep Aids](<a href=“http://ezinearticles.com/?A-Guide-to-Herbal-Sleep-Aids&id=52704]A”>http://ezinearticles.com/?A-Guide-to-Herbal-Sleep-Aids&id=52704)</p>

<p>[Herbal</a> Sleep Aids Herbal Supplements 101](<a href=“http://www.herbalsupplements101.com/category/herbal-sleep-aids/]Herbal”>http://www.herbalsupplements101.com/category/herbal-sleep-aids/)</p>

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<p>Restless leg syndrome may be a sign of lack of iron or something to that effect…
[Study</a> Links Restless Legs Syndrome to Poor Iron Uptake in the Brain: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)](<a href=“http://www.ninds.nih.gov/news_and_events/news_articles/news_article_rls_iron.htm]Study”>http://www.ninds.nih.gov/news_and_events/news_articles/news_article_rls_iron.htm)</p>