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Apnea or something else?

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Posted by wordhog on November 01, 2009 at 11:16:51:

I've been trying to get a referral to a sleep clinic from my doctor but he seems to be trying anything to avoid sending me. I'd just like to get a sanity check here before I go and insist that he refers me!

I am 39 and I have felt tired for as long as I can remember, certainly since before my teens. I'm slightly over my perfect weight but not obese - but I had these problems even when I was thin as a rake. I've always slept through alarms and have extreme trouble getting up no matter how long I've slept. I get a minimum of 8 hours a night but most of the time try for 10-12 hours. Even if I sleep that long, I wake up tired. I have been on antidepressants for 10 years (since PND after my first child) and I can't kick them. However, I know that most of the depression symptoms are far worse when I'm tired. I believe the depression is just the result of being constantly exhausted, not the other way round. My doctor disagrees.

I've done the sleep tests on this site and it comes up with possible sleep apnea and narcolepsy. My husband says that I do stop breathing at night and I know I snore badly, have done my whole life. I fall asleep within seconds, not minutes, when I go to bed at night (often 8pm, sometimes even before the kids). I always sleep way more at the weekends - typically until 11am or even later if I can get away with it. I only get up because nature calls and then I can fall straight back to sleep again without a problem. When we go out in the evening I usually sneak off to fall asleep because I can't stay awake. I have often had severe problems staying awake to drive at night and try to avoid it if I can. If I'm really tired, I have trouble speaking coherently.

My marriage is suffering because I can't keep up my end of the deal and I'm only surviving at work because I work for myself from home and can go to sleep during the day if I can't cope.

Does this sound like I'm just not getting enough sleep or do you think I should insist on a referral to a sleep clinic? I'm aware that some people need more sleep than others but I have a gut feeling that this is more than sleep deprivation. HELP!

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