Allergies, poss sleep apnea, doctors blaming my anxiety.

[[Je...]]

I am going through a very annoying medical situation. Because my doctors are all referrals, my primary care doc is now telling all of my specialists that my allergies, waking in the night coughing; needing air, and palps, are all related to my anxiety. This year, my allergies seem to be much worse than last year, and so I'm doing everything I can to get help, and today, my Pulmonologist told me to "go see a shrink and get more meds, it's your anxiety," and she did so in a curt and hurtful manner. This is the woman who runs the sleep study where I'm scheduled to have my overnight, in-house apnea test.

 

I am already on .5 Klonopin a day for anxiety, and I wasn't nervous when I went to bed last night, but I had a hard time falling asleep for a while because it felt like I could not breathe well. I woke up at 4 in the morning gasping and my pulse ox said 71. My heart rate went up to about 140, and I was in distress. Yes, some of this could be due to anxiety, but I also think it might be a little apnea and allergies. I am often clearing my throat, because I have pretty much constant post-nasal drip. I can't take any of the nose meds because they will likely jack me, or they cause a racing heart.

 

It hurts my feelings that my doctors don't want to work with me, and truly help me. Instead, they just throw pills at me, tell me I am a hypochondriac, and I'm nuts, I need more shrinks.

 

Feeling: wounded, and scared.  :'(

 

 

[Guest [ba...]]

71 is pretty low.  If that were due to apnea, then the resulting pulse and gasp would be very understandable. 

 

I'm sorry about the treatment that you got from your doc, but not surprised.  There are a lot of them that seem to just want to push pills without helping you to 'deal' with the anxiety by yourself (without drugs).  Maybe you can find a doc or therapist who is more willing to work with you??

[[Je...]]

71 is pretty low.  If that were due to apnea, then the resulting pulse and gasp would be very understandable. 

 

I'm sorry about the treatment that you got from your doc, but not surprised.  There are a lot of them that seem to just want to push pills without helping you to 'deal' with the anxiety by yourself (without drugs).  Maybe you can find a doc or therapist who is more willing to work with you??

 

Thank you.

 

I have been speaking with a therapist once a week, but so far it hasn't done too much. She's nice, and I think she is going to try DBT on me, for the PTSD.

 

I'm still scheduled for the sleep study, so I'm looking forward to that.

[[Ro...]]

A pulse Ox of 71?  Holy CRAP!

 

That's not mental issues- you need a sleep study, and more than likely a CPAP.

 

I've been going through Hell, up and until I found out my cpap settings had gotten screwed up. Result- my mental confusion increased dramatically...long story short- sleep deprivation.

 

http://www.prevention.com/health/sleep-energy/5-signs-youre-sleep-deprived?s=1

 

http://www.sleep-apnea-guide.com/sleep-apnea-oxygen-level.html

 

 

[[Je...]]

A pulse Ox of 71?  Holy CRAP!

 

That's not mental issues- you need a sleep study, and more than likely a CPAP.

 

I've been going through Hell, up and until I found out my cpap settings had gotten screwed up. Result- my mental confusion increased dramatically...long story short- sleep deprivation.

 

http://www.prevention.com/health/sleep-energy/5-signs-youre-sleep-deprived?s=1

 

http://www.sleep-apnea-guide.com/sleep-apnea-oxygen-level.html

 

I Have a sleep study coming up. Doc says it might have been either a bad pulse ox, or obstructive sleep apnea. Hasn't happened in a while, and I hope it continues to stay OK.