Lost my ability to sleep and other serious issues

I hope you can keep looking for a better doctor(s). My experience with medical marijuana is that when I quit taking it, eventually my body eliminated it and I no longer have residual symptoms. I cannot take it because of the THC. Thinking of you . . . .

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I'm in Canada and wish we had something like the Mayo Clinic here. The healthcare system is free, but it's incredibly slow so if anyones in need of help fast then it's too bad. Also, doctors here don't seem to care about things they can't see in my case.

Thank you for the advice. The thing is with my issue and because of internal head tremors it feels like my eyes are shaking somtimes so it's become extremely hard to stay focused on reading and staying still. I was completely ok 3 months ago. I still really don't know what happened, but believe the mushroom/marijuana did something to me. I think I'll never find out exactly what happened, but that's ok.

I do enjoy being outdoors. I'll take a walk later 🙂

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I'll start by saying that I'm really at a loss for words as to what my situation has developed into over the last 3 months. I'm making this post as hopefully I can find some direction from others.

I'm 31 years old, live in Canada and prior to my situation I was perfectly healthy. It all started on Nov 25 as I was stupid enough to smoke marijuana that night and 2 weeks prior I had started taking a supplement called "Lions Mane mushroom" that's marketed as improving mood and nerve health. That night I started to experience major insomnia to the point that over the last 3 months I haven't been able to sleep 1) without sleeping medication and 2) for more than 2 hours at a time. The first month in this journey I only was getting heart palpitations, loss of appetite, stool changes, losing my inability to sleep. Then the second month and onward to today I started getting internal body tremors, neck/head shaking, slight hand tremors, massive migraines, quivers in muscles, myoclonus jerking in hands and legs and feet, short term memory loss, inability to sit still, hallucinations, weak legs, loss of libido, loss of emotion, tight muscles, my balance being off, and numb/hands feet. The neck/head/internal tremors has made it very hard to even sit still, it's really chronic pain. I truly believe that the Lions Mane mushroom and marijuana had some adverse reaction to me that started all this. There's studies done on the mushroom that show it can affect the CNS in mice and as well I read some people having adverse reactions to taking it. There's no real human studies done on it and I was stupid to not really research it beforehand. I think because that day I took the mushroom in the morning and then the marijuana at night, the two seem to have caused these symptoms I'm getting because prior I didn't smoked marijuana often and I had just added the mushroom to the few health supplements I was taking in the morning. I don't know the science behind it all, but I can say for certain the inability to sleep started that night on Nov 25. It really feels like I did a science experiment on myself by accident. People can say it wasn't the mushroom or the weed, or that I'm crazy, but I know for certain that those were the only things I started taking in the two weeks prior to Nov 25. I'm certain some of my issues have to do with sleep deprivation, but it doesn't seem that I should be getting this many issues (especially the neck shaking and internal tremors).

I saw a neurologist today who looked at me and essentially I was laughed at when I told him all the issues I'm experiencing. I was told it was impossible to be experiencing all this then was told to see a psychiatrist. I have been seeing a psychiatrist after my issues started because I was referred to one when I went to the hospital about them and have been on Mirtazapine for a couple months which does put me to sleep, but yet my body wakes me up like clockwork after 2-3 hours. It's really frightening what's going on with me. I believe this issue is more physical than anything, but doctors keep saying "see a psychiatrist". I did a sleep study that proved I wasn't sleeping. I'm waiting to see a sleep neurologist on April 8, but the in the meantime it's so hard living with the constant sleep deprivation, internal/head tremors (my head feels like it's shaking), slight hand tremors, and inability to sit still. It feels like I really did some brain damage to myself from that mushroom consumption every morning and then smoking weed that night even though I wasn't taking heavy drugs or anything, it sucks feeling like I damaged myself permanently.

At the moment I'm looking for therapy to help me stay positive during this situation. I went from being healthy, working, and seeing friends to now mostly being stuck in bed due to sleep deprivation and the other issues I'm experiencing. My life has completely turned upside down. I'm losing relationships, people are thinking I'm going crazy when in fact I don’t really know what's going on with me except that I'm in physical agony every day.

Thank you for reading my post.

Does anyone have advice on what I can direction I should go? Should I look for another specific type of doctor other than a neurologist?

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Insomnia is awful; and I can appreciate your circumstances as I share it. I’m 10 months in from a cold turkey withdrawal from many years ethical use of benzodiazepines, i.e. prescribed. That’s 10 months only sleeping from 2 to 5 hours (if lucky), often stitched together in 3 sessions. I have seen neurologist, psychiatrist and psychologist; all confirm sleep problem - no solution,
only discovering severe anxiety, also affecting my gut.

Rather than reinstate benzos, last month I bought a bottle of vodka and tequila and began taking a shot or sipping, i.e. self medicating ~1.5 hours before bed. It has helped to calm the racing thoughts and serious IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) and subsequently increased sleep so I am more functional now.

As for dealing with anxiety, there are a number of videos on YouTube by professionals and amateurs sharing insights. While drinking alcohol and engaging videos are not panaceas they have been pragmatic in getting some relief from the debilitating effects of sleep deprivation; also cheaper than doctors visits of no consequence. I feel it’s just a matter of some more endurance time until my baseline sleep gets much better. BTW, I otherwise don’t drink.

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Suggest dropping the alcohol. Perhaps try meditation and you may want to review your pre-bedtime habits, such as watching TV, looking at a computer screen. These actions have been known to make falling to sleep difficult. My own experience is I don't get too concern over the amount of time I sleep. For the most part, I am not always aware I have fallen asleep until I wake up. Some nights I sleep 4 or 5 hours and other nights I sleep longer. I just get up and start my day. Maybe even catch a short nap later on. In any case, my mental and physical health are just fine for person of my age. I just don't concern myself with the amount of time I am sleeping. The body usually takes care of that for me.

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Sleep hygiene is nice as a preventative measure against insomnia. With sleep pathology one needs more heavy-handed techniques - like surgery for a broken bone versus walking more deliberatively. Please see my profile indicating neurological dysfunction for many years (I am 70+). To support your POV you might want to add information to your own blank profile.

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They have a good sleep program at Mayo Clinic but the problem getting appt. I called so many times to get appt but won’t give so I asked my Dr to refereed me he did nothing happens. Is anybody know how to get appt? I haven’t sleep in so many months and sleep meds only work for 2 or 3 hrs and may body is falling apart. Top of that I have MAC and Brochiectactsis. Thanks for listening.

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@stress, I'm sorry to hear you haven't been able to make an appointment with sleep medicine at Mayo Clinic. You mentioned you have called many times and also had your doctor give you a referall but still have been unable to get an appointment. Have you tried to make an appointment online? Here's the link if you want to give it a try - http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63.

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