What Should I Do?

[Kubly]

I went to my normal doctor complaining of insomnia a week ago. I said that I am up until 12 PM and sleep until 9 PM. Which was true before the appointment, but now I am fine and sleep during normal hours. I didn't tell her that though. I also mentioned this is affecting my life and I dropped out of school because of it. I also said I try and try to get to sleep but can't, and I've tried everything. She mentioned a blood test to check calcium levels, but I told her I take calcium pills, so she cancelled it.
She is now sending me to a Sleep Analyzes. Where they will hook monitors up to me to check my brain waves while I sleep or rest. Before I left my doctor I asked "What should I do to try to get some sleep until the appointment for the sleep analysis?" And she prescribed some crappy Anti-Histamine for sleep. What can I do in order to get some sort of benzo? I am playing the insomnia out for what it's worth. She also mentioned they might put me on some type of medication if it's as serious as I say.
Also I am going to a shrink for a separate reason and he it notorious for giving out medications. Should I mention the insomnia at all? Or try to play out the anxiety angle? Take the SSRI and smile, but go back in a month and say everything is fine, but I am getting shakes.
Anyone have any advice?

 

[jah skeletor]

if benzos are your aim you need indeed to play the anxiety angle. if you want to incorporate the insomnia into this you could say that during your periods of unrest you experience a great amount of physical pain (i.e. back, chest, etc.) because of the amount of anxiety you experience knowing your sleep patterns are askew.

 

[Good Corruption]

this is why i posted the DSM-IV...
psychologynet.org/dsm.html

Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Diagnostic Criteria
A. Excessive anxiety and worry (apprehensive expectation), occurring more days than not for at least 6 months, about a number of events or activities (such as work or school performance).
B. The person finds it difficult to control the worry.
C. The anxiety and worry are associated with three (or more) of the following six symptoms (with at least some symptoms present for more days than not for the past 6 months).
Note: Only one item is required in children.
1. restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge
2. being easily fatigued
3. difficulty concentrating or mind going blank
4. irritability
5. muscle tension
6. sleep disturbance (difficulty falling or staying asleep, or restless unsatisfying sleep)
D. The focus of the anxiety and worry is not confined to features of an Axis I disorder, e.g., the anxiety or worry is not about having a Panic Attack (as in Panic Disorder), being embarrassed in public (as in Social Phobia), being contaminated (as in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder), being away from home or close relatives (as in Separation Anxiety Disorder), gaining weight (as in Anorexia Nervosa), having multiple physical complaints (as in Somatization Disorder), or having a serious illness (as in Hypochondriasis), and the anxiety and worry do not occur exclusively during Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.
E. The anxiety, worry, or physical symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
F. The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition (e.g., hyperthyroidism) and does not occur exclusively during a Mood Disorder, a Psychotic Disorder, or a Pervasive Developmental Disorder.
Treatment Options
1. Therapy
* Psychotherapy: Most patients with mild symptoms can be treated with supportive counseling and education without need for medication.
* Other therapies: Relaxation training and cognitive therapy.
2. General measures: Regular exercise and avoidance of caffeine and alcohol.
3. Medications:
* Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs). Imipramine 25 to 150 mg/day. Does not become effective for 2 to 3 weeks. Most beneficial in patients with comorbid depression or sleep disturbance.
* Antihistamines. Hydroxyzine (Atarax, Vistaril) 50 to 100 mg QID may be used PRN, as an adjunct to other medications, or as an alternative therapy for patients with addiction potential.
* Benzodiazepines. Usually of short-term use with no long-term efficacy proved. Use lowest dose that alleviates anxiety. Longer half-life drugs may be easier to taper. May cause rebound anxiety with taper or withdrawal. Examples: Alprazolam (Xanax) 0.25 to 0.5 mg PO TID initial dose; rarely need to exceed 4 mg/day. Diazepam (Valium) 2 to 10 mg PO BID to QID. Lorazepam (Ativan) 1 mg PO BID or TID initially; rarely need to exceed 10 mg/day. Use lower doses than above in the elderly.
* Buspirone. May be less effective than other agents. Start 5 mg PO TID and increase to typical dose of 20 to 30 mg/day. Takes 2 weeks to be effective. Nonsedating. Little abuse potential.
* Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs). Clinically appear helpful but not well studied yet. Use in doses similar to those for Panic Disorder. In select patients may add a benzodiazepine for first several weeks of treatment, since it has a quicker onset of action and avoids potential initial side effect of increased anxiety with SSRIs (Prozac, Paxil, Luvox, Zoloft).
* Beta-blockers. Propranolol (Inderal) may help physical symptoms (not FDA approved) but has no effect on psychic component of anxiety.

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Hell is not where you're going...it's where you are...

 

[Shwagnum]

i believe this belongs in medical q&a....

 

[Kubly]

Thanks, GC.
This would be better here because I want to know how to get a script for Benzos.

 

[stp1993]

yeah, i have legit sleeping problems, and have 2 tests done. they strap you up to all kinds of electrodes and shit, put gluey shit in your hair to hold them in, and monitor you while you sleep. not sleeping is a bitch, but unless your lucky, they wont script you bezos without a second angle. usually they just try to "regulate your sleep" which works for some people. just be happy you can sleep normally. fish.

 

[[u.k neuronauticals inc]]

depending on how determined you are - and im basing this on personal experience - i would stick to youre chronic insomnia story.
what youve got to remember,is by sending you for further tests and assements,all the're doing is weeding out the legitimate cases from the fake.
they know that most people going after a script of benzos,will give up trying when they realise how much 'work' is involved,hence the additional appointments.
if you persevere youll eventually find that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
just keep on pushing home the fact that youre life is in tatters because of this.that youre in a permanent nightmarish limbo during the day,and youre mind is going at a million miles an hour at bed time.also, acting like an anxiety ridden freek helps when you see any doctors,you know,manically biting youre nails,shifting about,schizoid look in youre eyes etc etc.
no matter how many consultations you have,always stick to youre original story,and pretty soon theyll believe youve genuinally got problems.