I have been trapped for six years in a situation that began suddenly. While playing pool with friends, I felt sudden shock waves through my body, and since then, it has felt like my mind and body are slipping away. I keep wondering if an undiagnosed sleep issue is the root cause. My psychiatrist thinks it’s a major mood disorder, but my condition just keeps getting worse regardless of my current mood. No matter if I sleep 10, 12, or more hours, I wake up feeling completely unrefreshed. Sleeping less makes everything fall apart even faster. My cognitive abilities have dropped so much that I struggle to converse, recall recent events, or engage in hobbies. It feels like my brain is failing. I’m living in a persistent dream-like state of DP/DR. Focusing causes physical pain, like a burning sensation in my head. My body is spent, my heart beats fast, and I deal with agitation and intense exhaustion daily, along with head pressure and burning. Two home sleep tests came back “normal,” yet I continue to decline. I suspect hidden sleep fragmentation or UARS is preventing restorative rest and leaving me nearly vegetative. Has anyone else gone through such a severe, worsening decline?
To really eliminate this possibility, you need an in-lab evaluation. You might have several sleep issues, but only a clinical study can confirm that.
Have you seen a neurologist yet? Edit: maybe a neuropsychological assessment?
Did you get your thyroid checked out?
Consult a physician and request a sleep study. Start the process now, and you should have some clarity within a year.
This might be a strange question, but are you on any antipsychotic medications? I dealt with similar symptoms for years. It took time to recover my cognitive function, which involved stopping antipsychotics (and moving to different meds), using a CPAP for sleep apnea, and making lifestyle shifts like finding a job I enjoyed with a steady routine. It’s worth seeking a second opinion from a sleep specialist if you think it’s apnea-related.
I have struggled with this for years. Even with mental health support and sleep apnea treatment, the feeling persists. Some lifestyle changes helped slightly over the last few years, but I can sleep 14-16 hours and still feel exhausted. I even fall asleep while driving. I take high doses of stimulants for ADHD and an unspecified sleep disorder with severe apnea symptoms. My doctors are baffled by my ongoing fatigue and sleepiness. Even the thought of a task is incredibly draining. I am so sorry you are going through this.
Yes, I have! Honestly, I feel terrible. Home and pharmacy tests didn’t show anything. A psychic medium I talked to actually suggested sleep apnea. I didn’t believe it for years, but eventually, I decided to get it checked. My GP referred me for a hospital sleep study, and they found Central Sleep Apnea, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, and UARS! I also have restless legs and myoclonic jerks during the day. Trust your intuition, get those blood tests, and schedule a proper sleep study as soon as possible. Good luck and keep us updated!
For the most part, yes. However, my issue was chronic insomnia where I didn’t sleep at all. My head felt like it was exploding daily, and I had short-term memory loss and brain fog, along with reflux and anxiety. Keep pushing your doctors for more tests. I got my diagnosis after reporting insomnia, snoring, and what I thought were sinus problems. My symptoms seemed to start one night when I woke up suddenly with a racing heart.
Boosting this! I really hope you find some help, OP!
I believe you; I’ve experienced this firsthand, starting after I took an antidepressant. You should get an in-lab sleep study. In the meantime, record yourself sleeping to see if you talk or move (look into RBD). It’s very possible you have sleep apnea along with psychosomatic symptoms. Tell your primary doctor and ask for a vitamin panel. My brain fog started immediately, but a work trauma later made it so bad I thought I had dementia. You might have a combination of issues, and long-term sleep disorders make everything else worse. Even writing this, I’m struggling to find words and making typos. This isn’t normal, and you need to find the cause. Edit: Home tests are unreliable. Get a polysomnography in a lab. My home test missed my moderate sleep hypopnea.
My initial home sleep test showed nothing. My first in-lab study was inconclusive; they saw my oxygen drop to 70% but didn’t know why. I went two years untreated until things worsened and another study confirmed severe mixed sleep apnea. I stop breathing because my brain fails to signal my body and because of obstructions. I’ve used a BIPAP for a year now and feel better. I use it for five hours every night.
Based on what I’ve been through, I think it’s definitely worth taking specific steps to screen for UARS.
I felt just like that in my early 20s. I knew it was sleep apnea. My sleep study was normal, but I knew those tests aren’t always accurate. I kept seeing doctors until one noticed my nasal passages were very narrow. I had surgery on my septum and removed obstructive tissue, which fixed 95% of the issue. Do you use nasal sprays like oxymetazoline? Does that help at all? We underestimate sleep, but it’s vital. I feel for you, OP. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone. Message me if you want to talk.