Posted by SleepyTimeGal on August 07, 2009 at 09:18:34:In Reply to: Fast pulse, sweats on waking posted by Phil on August 07, 2009 at 02:59:08:
Do you feel a need to urinate when you wake so frequently? That's another symptom of apnea. A simple, inexpensive screening for sleep apnea is the overnight use of a pulse oximeter. It clamps to your finger and records your blood oxygen level during sleep. If it drops below 90%, you'll want to look into having a sleep study done. Hopefully either your PCP or the neurologist will order the oximeter.
Grieving is not resolved in a year. Nature has a way of protecting us from fully dealing with painful issues until we're able to face some of these things. The first year is the most intense, but things continue to surface in various ways -- through dreams, flashbacks, triggered memories. Anti-depressants may help, but people react differently to different medications. Check the side effects of whatever is prescribed. One medication caused insomnia for me.
And always listen to your body. If you have a gut feeling something other than anxiety is going on, then pursue that until it is resolved. I was put on an anti-depressant even though I kept saying I didn't think depression was my problem. I'd been depressed many years ago and this didn't feel the same. Turned out I was right. Sleep apnea was the problem.