Sleeping and Mental health questions

Hi, @abopp2022, and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. That sounds like a rough cycle to be unable to sleep at night and then overly tired during the day. I commend you on looking into it more deeply.

With not feeling like your normal self in the morning, and feeling as though your whole body feels weird and like your brain activity is low, I thought you might be interested in getting some feedback from other members who have had insomnia, like @pjss48 @amberpep @lorena1egas @techi @sleepy0 @rachel123. @sandytoes14 may also have some thoughts.

@abopp2022, have you considered making an appointment with your physician to get his or her input on this, or sending a secure portal message or calling?

@abopp2022 It was my experience that many doctors do not put 2 and 2 together with vague symptoms. I think you may be right in being concerned if you feel that there is something more serious going on. I presume you have been to your PCP but nothing was diagnosed. I went almost a year and a half without a diagnosis -- my problem was I am sure different from yours, the only thing in common being many vague symptoms. When I was finally diagnosed, I discovered that all of those vague symptoms of what I had -- cirrhosis!

What I know now is that if I ever have a problem again that is not diagnosed relatively quickly, I will head to Boston, 55 miles away, to a major hospital. Major medical centers are so much more experienced that they can often add things up better than doctors in a more local area. Hopefully, that will never happen again.

All that being said, mental health problems, particularly depression, can cause sleep problems. Are you depressed? You don't need to answer that, I just think it is something you should consider.
JK

No, I'm not depressed. What all symptoms did you have? I just stated only my sleeping problems

@abopp2022 I had plummeting platelet counts for no apparent reason -- they call that "Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)", but it turned out to be from cirrhosis. I had recently diagnosed (within a few years) diabetes, shaky hands, which were diagnosed as "essential tremor", excruciating cramps in my thighs, trouble sleeping, causing fatigue during the day, I was always cold, and I had fluid retention in my feet (edema), but that was not constant. It was primarily when I traveled probably because when you are eating out a lot you tend to eat more sodium, which I use very little of at home.
The thing that finally brought all of this to a head was episodes of confusion, called hepatic encephalopathy (HE). That was what made the doctors know there was something wrong but even then it took a year a half to figure it out, and it was the neurologist who finally suggested it was a liver problem. Because of the confusion, it was assumed it was a neurological problem.
The only problem I had in common with yours was the sleeping problem leading to daytime fatigue.
JK

My legs hurt and I always had a ton of gas. And I also had panic attacks and bouts of confusion, like i didnt know what the heck was going on. I haven't been to the doctor yet. And honestly I dont want to because I've been so much these past few months and I dont want them thinking I want medicine. I did go to the doctor last week though because I was dizzy and felt like the room (or me) was spinning adn i was nauseated. She said it was vertigo.

@abopp2022 vertigo is not uncommon. Both my sister and my daughter have had bouts of it. Did you get exercises for the vertigo? There are some that people do when they feel dizzy and I understand they do help.
I really don't think your symptoms are enough like mine to be overly concerned about that, but there is something going on and you do need to find a doctor who can figure that out.
JK

The doctor gave me some medicine but I've been afraid to take it because I dont want to sleep more than I already am. I've been staying in bed doing a diamond painting or working on my silhouette so I dont have to get up and be dizzy. My BPM has been lower than normal too.

@abopp2022 I would suggest you try the medicine your doctor gave you for vertigo. You say you don’t want to sleep more but you may need to do just that. Staying in bed doing your diamond painting is not helping your sleep pattern any. I understand not wanting to go back to your doctor. Please do. You can turn down additional medication if that’s what you feel best.

Hi, @abopp2022 - how are things going with the dizziness and the sleep?