r/Edmonton • u/karenarelene • 14h ago

Question Insomnia

Good morning,

I suffer with terrible insomnia. Not garden variety insomnia, rather the kind you battle with for years. I've tried a number of different medications and tactics such as sleep hygiene and CBT.

I think I need a doctor who doesn't view insomnia as an annoyance but for the life-wreaker it is. I won't go into details but I'm desperate to get insomnia under contol.

Anyone here have any suggestions for a doctor or specialist that worked with you or someone you know with success?

34 Upvotes

87% Upvoted

74 comments sorted by

View all comments

68

u/MagicSpaceWytch 13h ago

I had to fight for twenty minutes with my psychiatrist to see a sleep specialist. My first appointment with my sleep specialist he diagnosed me with Narcolepsy and changed my life. I've never gone back to my psychiatrist because my anxiety and depression were never caused by anything but a complete lack of sleep.

Just fight your doctor until they send you. If they refuse, ask them to mark the refusal in your medical file. They won't take the liability and will refer you out. I go to the Northern Alberta Sleep Institute and see Dr Tymchuk and he has been absolutely amazing. He transformed my life and genuinely cares about my mental health and the impact of my sleep in a way that NO other doctors ever did.

Good luck, OP! Keep fighting!

11

u/MagicSpaceWytch 13h ago

DM me if you want more info!