Doctor won't prescribe me sleeping tablets

emilymemily

Hi hoping someone can help me. Ive suffered from insomnia my whole life and it's massively interfered in my day to day life. I cannot function without sleep, im dosey, find conversation very difficult and feel like ive smoked half a bag of weed.
This has interfered with school, work, college.. ive lost jobs over it in the past, almost failed college due to lack of attendance and dropped out of secondary school as I found the exhaustion too much. Now im 30 and still dealing with this. Im starting my first day at a new job today and have had 3 hours sleep, I awoke at 1.30 this morning. Ive taken all the herbal tablets, Melissa dream, Kalms Night ect.. ive used the Lavender sprays, room is ventilated, im relaxed ect but my brain wont shut down.
I was prescribed Stilnoct before but the dose was too low so they didnt work, the doctor wouldnt prescribe anything stronger, I would end up taking two or three at time only to wake up 3 hours later.
My dad has given me some of his sleeping tablets in the past as no doctor will prescribe me any. They were great, I got a full nights sleep and they reset my body clock so I was able to sleep for the rest of the week without any medication or help.
I'm now already thinking up potential excuses to leave work early as in the past 3 days ive had a total of 6 hours sleep. I will not make it through the full day as ive also got a 4 hour journey.
The lack of sleep not only effects my thinking but it messes up my digestion and appetite too so my diet is slipping again, I cant eat without feeling the need to vomit or getting bad stomach cramps.
I went to my gp last week to get something to help me sleep but she wouldnt give me anything. Now im lying here ready to burst into tears as im exhausted but have to be up in half an hour. Im sick to death of not being taken seriously. Why is there no help?

Gremlinertia

Mod Note - no medical advice allowed, support or helpful suggestions only

Hey there Emily, wondering if you've ever sought a second opinion? If you have had a sleep monitor overnight or perhaps even been referred to a sleep clinic?. I can understand where gp is coming from regarding a script for medication but you do seem to have serious sleep problems from your post..
You say that you are relaxed but your brain won't "shut down" have you mentioned this to the doctor also?. I suffer sleep issues at times myself but usually stress or physical pain related so at least i have a start point to work from with it..

emilymemily

Gremlinertia wrote: »

Mod Note - no medical advice allowed, support or helpful suggestions only

Hey there Emily, wondering if you've ever sought a second opinion? If you have had a sleep monitor overnight or perhaps even been referred to a sleep clinic?. I can understand where gp is coming from regarding a script for medication but you do seem to have serious sleep problems from your post..
You say that you are relaxed but your brain won't "shut down" have you mentioned this to the doctor also?. I suffer sleep issues at times myself but usually stress or physical pain related so at least i have a start point to work from with it..

Hi thanks for responding. Yes ive told them this but they wont listen, ive been to different doctors and counsellors too and theyve all just given me the same condescending advice to meditate, spray lavender on my pillow or do physical activity's to tire myself out. I just feel like hitting my head against a wall at this stage, they wont take me seriously.
Yesterday I walked for 3 hours, I had a very busy day running around town and with 2 hours sleep the night before, came home, cleaned house, showered, changed bed sheets, relaxed all evening then took herbal tablets and still nothing, its frustrating.
I wouldnt know were to start with looking for a sleep clinic or even getting second opinion as im not even being listened too, theyre hearing what they want.

Gremlinertia

Ah so you've been around the place. In that case, have you written down everything you have tried and for approximately how long?. Took me nine years to get diagnosed with my pain problem The better a journal you have, the more history a doctor can see. It is a frustratingly slow process. I hope you are able to stick with it and find some help..

allthedoyles

Can't advise you on why the doctor won't prescribe . But what I do is no coffee after 2pm , I use blackout curtains and sometimes have to use the 4-7-8 breathing at bedtime

kev1.3s

https://www.materprivate.ie/dublin/centre-services/all-services/sleep-disorders-clinic/index.xml
Just a quick google found this, I have suffered similar sleep issues some years ago but again there was a root of the cause that I could deal with. Sleeping tablets in my opinion are not a great solution going forward but I imagine they coupled with some kind of support like above would be benifical in the short term.

Grab All Association

The HSE and some GPs don't take sleep issues seriously in this country. Still awaiting s sleep study for something my doctor diagnosed within 5 seconds over a year ago. Luckily he would be the type to prescribe something and refer you. What part of the country are you in btw? Turn up at the A&E and don't leave until they see you (it's how I got the ball rolling recently after a year of BS from that stupid HSE)

Peregrinus

I know your problem isn't apnoea, but the Irish Sleep Apnoea Trust also supports patients with other sleep disorders. And they maintains a register of sleep clinics in Ireland, and some of those clinics will have a focus on insomnia, which is your problem.

It may be worth your while contacting ISAT, to see if they can point you in the right direction for further advice/diagnosis/treatment, and possibly identify a sleep clinic that deals with insomnia.

emilymemily

Thanks everyone, so today was an absolute disaster, I missed my train as the bus was late, I finally got there but had to leave early as I couldnt function. Trying to talk with people and getting to know everyone was painful, I could tell they thought I must have been either on something or have a mental disability. I had to leave as first impressions are so important in this job and I was making a very bad one.

@Gremlinertia. It is frustrating. What are they there for if not to help patients? I swear they think its all in my head or im being dramatic. Ive even been told by counsellors I just need to 'try harder' to get to sleep.

@allthedoyles - Thanks although I dont drink coffee so thats not an issue for me. Glad it worked for you.

To everyone else. Thank you, I will look into sleep clinics although depending on how much they charge as im not in a great financial spot. Does anyone know how much treatment could possibly be?

Grab All Association

emilymemily wrote: »

Thanks everyone, so today was an absolute disaster, I missed my train as the bus was late, I finally got there but had to leave early as I couldnt function. Trying to talk with people and getting to know everyone was painful, I could tell they thought I must have been either on something or have a mental disability. I had to leave as first impressions are so important in this job and I was making a very bad one.

@Gremlinertia. It is frustrating. What are they there for if not to help patients? I swear they think its all in my head or im being dramatic. Ive even been told by counsellors I just need to 'try harder' to get to sleep.

@allthedoyles - Thanks although I dont drink coffee so thats not an issue for me. Glad it worked for you.

To everyone else. Thank you, I will look into sleep clinics although depending on how much they charge as im not in a great financial spot. Does anyone know how much treatment could possibly be?

It should be free I imagine with a referral. Open to correction on this

brettmirl

Hi OP. I've issues with sleep due to on-going back pain issues.

Was in the continuous loop of sleeping pills...would work for a while, I'd get tolerant and back to the beginning again.

Have the back pain pretty much under control now, bar the occasional flare up...but my sleep was still terrible.

Saw a sleep specialist in Vincents Hosp, who suggested I try Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia. You can download an app or do an online course, but I preferred to see an actual person to do it.

For me, it worked and I was very sceptical at first. It was over 4 sessions, and they got me to wear a device for a week to monitor how disturbed my sleep was, exposure to light, etc.

A lot of it is common sense stuff, but putting all together is what makes it work.

If you want details of who I saw, DM me and I'll pass on the info.

bookworms

Can I ask what the app was called?

brettmirl

bookworms wrote: »

Can I ask what the app was called?

There's a couple. I use an iPhone, so links are for that:

CBT-i Coach (made by Stanford Health) - https://itunes.apple.com/ie/app/cbt-i-coach/id655918660?mt=8

Sleepio - there's a pretty hefty charge for this one, but you can sign up for a clinical online trial and after a few weeks you usually get in for free - https://www.sleepio.com/ and https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sleepio-the-sleep-improvement-app/id910208298?mt=8

The cost of Sleepio works out pretty much the same as going to see a CBT therapist, and i preferred doing it face-to-face as opposed to over an app.

I use the free CBT-i app to top up and for the relaxation tools on it.

myshirt

Have you read the Harvard Medical School Guide to a good night's sleep? Really useful.

Ultimately, follow your doctor's advice. Get a second opinion if needs be, but follow the medical advice no matter how frustrating you think it is or better you think you know how to approach the issues.

Sleep is a strange thing. Invest in a good mattress. Get the temperature right. Reduce stress in your life. Exercise. Eat well. Don't smoke. Don't drink. Enjoy your friendships. Stay active. And stick with it. It could take 6 months. Listen to your doctor.

Board1086

Hi,

All I can say is I feel your pain and I am still living this nightmare. GP’s don’t offer any help or care how bad it impacts us every single day. It’s mental torture and people with much weaker illnesss get so much more attention. I’ve done Cognative Behavioural Theraphy for this and it helped slightly. Stilnoct aren’t great they make me feel so odd. I eventually had enough and went up to my GP demanding he prescribe me sleeping tablets as I’ve tried Everything else...I got referred to a Counsellor. I hesitantly went, today, and I am so infuriated that I had to sit there being analsysed and prodded. I don’t need to break down my entire life! We’ve all had hard times and gone through shi.t! They assume it’s always an underlying mental issue rather than simply suffering insomnia. All I want to do is sleep so i can function, not go through hell at night, keep my job, live my life. Anyway! While I can’t offer you much help I just want you to know you aren’t alone in this curse of an infliction and I too receive no help from GP’s. it’d be easier if you were a heroin addict, that’s the sickening part!

Dr Brown

It's strange that most Doctors will hand out antidepressants like smarties but are alot stricter when it comes to prescribing sleeping tablets.

huddlejonny

Dr Brown wrote: »

It's strange that most Doctors will hand out antidepressants like smarties but are alot stricter when it comes to prescribing sleeping tablets.

Most anti depressants arent addictive. Sleeping pills, heavy painkillers and anti anxiety pills etc can be highly addictive. Has the OP tried Melatonin.. ?

Dr Brown

huddlejonny wrote: »

Most anti depressants arent addictive. Sleeping pills, heavy painkillers and anti anxiety pills etc can be highly addictive. Has the OP tried Melatonin.. ?

I've been taking sleeping tablets for years to treat my insomnia I don't find them in anyway addictive.

Granted they're not healthy but neither is sleep deprivation.

Board1086

Dr Brown wrote: »

I've been taking sleeping tablets for years to treat my insomnia I don't find them in anyway addictive.

Granted they're not healthy but neither is sleep deprivation.

Good point! They harp on about the health implications and ignore the implications about continous sleep deprivation.