5th April 2005
I am hoping to find a doctor can treat me based on ALL of my problems instead of me having 3 doctors who are not taking in account how all my problems are playing in with each other. Each doctor is focused on treating his/her specialty and in the meantime I am getting worst. Here is a brief history.
I have spent all my life sleeping 3 to 4 hours a night even as a child, but was very active for the next 18/19 hours. In 1995, I started having very bad bouts of fatigue and finally got a PCP. At that time my blood pressure was so high (221/127-131) that we immediately concentrated on lowering my blood pressure. It took nearly 3 years to find a combination that would work (I might add that I was exercising a minimum of 5 hours a day and maintaining a very healthy diet): HCTZ 25 mg, Lisinopril 40 mg, Norvasc 5 mg. My blood pressure now is around 127/73-76. But I was hit with a strong bout of fatigue. I was diagnosed with anemia. I was treated with Iron supplements and nutrition changes. I begin to feel better for a little while (a couple of months) and the fatigue returned in full force. I begin to have bad bouts of sinusitis which was treated medically. Finally, I came down with pneumonia. I was then diagnosed with hypothyroidism. I was put on Levoxyl and over time begin to feel better. My immune system improved and I was no longer catching everything under the sun. Within a couple of months the unbearable fatigue returned and I was again diagnosed with anemia. I was treated with Iron supplements and nutrition changes again. Felt better for a little while and, again, the unbearable fatigue hit. I was diagnosed with PCOS and was treated with 2000 mg Metformin. By this time it is 2004, and the fatigue hit again. I was diagnosed again with anemia. I am on Ferrous Sulfate 325mg. This time it did not get better. I started having memory loss. Was sent for a sleep lab and was diagnosed with narcolepsy. I was put on an assortment of stimulants trying to improve the situation. I underwent drastic personality changes: so much so that I had to resign my job because coworkers begin to fear me. I was so tired that most days I couldn’t make it to work. Concentration was nonexistent. I begin to do things that I didn’t remember doing. Finally, on November 16, 2004, I was diagnosed with Atypical Bipolar 2. Instead of getting better, I have gotten worst. I sleep 16-18 hours a day; crowds tired me to the point of numbing fatigue; I am slow thinking, etc. I was told recently that my problem extended to more than Bipolar. I am seeing a therapist and will see a new psychiatrist on April 14th.
I have been trying to tell the docs (and no one is listening) that I have so many problems playing into each other. Each doctor is only focused on his specialty and they are creating a bigger mess. Here is a list of my problems and medications.
I'm A Mess!
Atypical Bipolar 2, Possible Mood Disorder & ADD (pending), Narcolepsy, Anemia, Hypothyroidism, Hypertension, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Allergy, Obesity
Meds
Wellbutrin XL 300 mg, Topamax 150 mg, Seroquel 150 mg, Lamictal 25 mg, Concerta 54 mg, Xyrem 10.5 ml, Ferrous Sulfate 325 mg, Levoxyl 0.075 mg, HCTZ 25 mg, Lisinopril 40 mg, Norvasc 5 mg, Metformin 2000 mg, Flonase
I am pretty much a hermit now. I cannot even tolerate being around my family for a long period. I sleep about 18 hours a day and my narcolepsy seem to be getting worst.
Sleep paralysis and night terrors were never a big problem with my narcolepsy until recently. Now every night I am experiencing these episodes that are leaving me terrified. I am using seroquel for my bipolar 2 and it was doing a great job at putting me into a deep, restful sleep. About 2 weeks ago, I noticed that I am back into REM sleep which was my narcoleptic problem before treatment. I was pending more than 85% of my sleep in REM. I feel that I am back here again and that the seroquel is not working anymore.
The night terrors seem to be increasing. The bad thing about these episodes is that when I return to sleep (which I must because of the narcolepsy), I am drowning in fear. I don't know where to turn and I am sick of trying to find a solution at being functional. Is there any medical profession that can deal with ALL of my problems and see how they are playing on each other?
I have spent all my life sleeping 3 to 4 hours a night even as a child, but was very active for the next 18/19 hours. In 1995, I started having very bad bouts of fatigue and finally got a PCP. At that time my blood pressure was so high (221/127-131) that we immediately concentrated on lowering my blood pressure. It took nearly 3 years to find a combination that would work (I might add that I was exercising a minimum of 5 hours a day and maintaining a very healthy diet): HCTZ 25 mg, Lisinopril 40 mg, Norvasc 5 mg. My blood pressure now is around 127/73-76. But I was hit with a strong bout of fatigue. I was diagnosed with anemia. I was treated with Iron supplements and nutrition changes. I begin to feel better for a little while (a couple of months) and the fatigue returned in full force. I begin to have bad bouts of sinusitis which was treated medically. Finally, I came down with pneumonia. I was then diagnosed with hypothyroidism. I was put on Levoxyl and over time begin to feel better. My immune system improved and I was no longer catching everything under the sun. Within a couple of months the unbearable fatigue returned and I was again diagnosed with anemia. I was treated with Iron supplements and nutrition changes again. Felt better for a little while and, again, the unbearable fatigue hit. I was diagnosed with PCOS and was treated with 2000 mg Metformin. By this time it is 2004, and the fatigue hit again. I was diagnosed again with anemia. I am on Ferrous Sulfate 325mg. This time it did not get better. I started having memory loss. Was sent for a sleep lab and was diagnosed with narcolepsy. I was put on an assortment of stimulants trying to improve the situation. I underwent drastic personality changes: so much so that I had to resign my job because coworkers begin to fear me. I was so tired that most days I couldn’t make it to work. Concentration was nonexistent. I begin to do things that I didn’t remember doing. Finally, on November 16, 2004, I was diagnosed with Atypical Bipolar 2. Instead of getting better, I have gotten worst. I sleep 16-18 hours a day; crowds tired me to the point of numbing fatigue; I am slow thinking, etc. I was told recently that my problem extended to more than Bipolar. I am seeing a therapist and will see a new psychiatrist on April 14th.
I have been trying to tell the docs (and no one is listening) that I have so many problems playing into each other. Each doctor is only focused on his specialty and they are creating a bigger mess. Here is a list of my problems and medications.
I'm A Mess!
Atypical Bipolar 2, Possible Mood Disorder & ADD (pending), Narcolepsy, Anemia, Hypothyroidism, Hypertension, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Allergy, Obesity
Meds
Wellbutrin XL 300 mg, Topamax 150 mg, Seroquel 150 mg, Lamictal 25 mg, Concerta 54 mg, Xyrem 10.5 ml, Ferrous Sulfate 325 mg, Levoxyl 0.075 mg, HCTZ 25 mg, Lisinopril 40 mg, Norvasc 5 mg, Metformin 2000 mg, Flonase
I am pretty much a hermit now. I cannot even tolerate being around my family for a long period. I sleep about 18 hours a day and my narcolepsy seem to be getting worst.
Sleep paralysis and night terrors were never a big problem with my narcolepsy until recently. Now every night I am experiencing these episodes that are leaving me terrified. I am using seroquel for my bipolar 2 and it was doing a great job at putting me into a deep, restful sleep. About 2 weeks ago, I noticed that I am back into REM sleep which was my narcoleptic problem before treatment. I was pending more than 85% of my sleep in REM. I feel that I am back here again and that the seroquel is not working anymore.
The night terrors seem to be increasing. The bad thing about these episodes is that when I return to sleep (which I must because of the narcolepsy), I am drowning in fear. I don't know where to turn and I am sick of trying to find a solution at being functional. Is there any medical profession that can deal with ALL of my problems and see how they are playing on each other?