Sleep Status Update
Saw the sleep doctor again today.
I was supposed to be there at 2:20pm, but was only able to wake up around 2:05pm. Called his admin & she said I could come in, but I'd be seen after everyone else. Headed over anyway, after assembling a bag full of THINGS TO DO. Preloaded the WRONG directions in my head and missed my turn. Took a while to recalibrate & find the place (many MANY U-turns). It was pouring buckets and there were lots of slow, careful drivers and giant puddles and anxious pedestrians with inside-out umbrellas. Ultimately arrived 1.5 hours late. Ended up only waiting 20 minutes or so - about 2 hours less than I waited last time, when I arrived ON TIME.
The results of my last (partly aborted) sleep study show more of the same issues as the last study. Namely, very little time in stage 3 & 4. A little more REM, but not much. Lots of leg movements - enough to diagnose me, but he's hesitant to add another medication on top of the pile I'm already on for other stuff.
I asked whether waking up daily with a lump of phlegm in the my throat that I gotta hock up could be making sleep difficult. He was upset that I haven't told my primary care doc about it, but said it probably wasn't a contributing factor.
Then I asked whether my history with heavy duty viruses could be having an impact (infectious mono & CMV) and he said they're probably not lingering. He's not a big believer in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
SO! Next step, per his suggestion, is to upgrade my psychological care to a psychiatrist specializing in sleep plus X, where X = something mental that is manifesting physically.
Broke down and cried in his office. When pressed, admitted that I felt like he was telling me it's all in my head. He laughed (in a kind way) and said that he's a neurologist, for him everything's all in your head.
Cute. But I didn't feel like laughing.
I have the name of 4 psychiatrists plus one psychologist that I'm to call and try to see.
And, I also gotta call my primary care doc and tell her about my morning phlegm lump. He made me promise.
Meanwhile, he called my psych. nurse and asked her to call him back & discuss me (with my permission).
Picked up the BF from his gig at BC. Went home, decided to go food shopping, had a bowl of cereal so I wouldn't eat everything in the store, went to the store, came home, watched a little TV, and started crying again. BF comforted and made yummy lasagna for dinner. I calmed down but I feel like it's just behind my eyes.
I feel helpless and overwhelmed.
Fortunately, I do NOT feel the yawning pit of badness akin to the last 3 months.
So! Any day that doesn't end in a sucking chest wound is a good one, eh?