I have been having bad sleep for almost ten years now. Only very rarely, maybe for 1 or 2 days out of a month I get really perfect sleep, where I wake up feeling refreshed. On normal days, I wake up wishing that I have never gone to bed. It takes me until about evening time before I can start functioning (I wake up around 8am).
To list some of my symptoms when I wake up:
- Stuffed nose
- Stiff/sore jaw
- Swollen face
- My mouth feels like it's on fire
- Dry eyes
- And I wake up very flustered
Background:
- I have had a nose operation for deviated septum five years ago which is suppose to clear my nose but hasn't. It's not fully blocked. But I can really feel the difference when I use those medicated nose block reliever. Like my nose is running at full capacity if you know what I mean. Other times it feels like my brain is not being fed enough oxygen.
- I believe I have TMJ which I am told has no cure as of yet. And I believe that I am using my mouth to breathe at night instead of my nose, which is causing the TMJ/ and or swollen face.
- I have been on Xanax and sleeping pills before which I believe have led to dependence. But I have been off it for five years now.
- I also feel a sharp pain in left ear from time to time but goes away quickly. I probably should have consulted a doctor but have not.
On the rare occasions I wake up refreshed, I feel so much more alert and intelligent really. I can accomplish anything I set out to do. But on normal days, I feel lethargic and incoherent. I have tried using process of elimination to observe what could have given me that perfect sleep, but I am not very good at it. And I think this is all too much to digest for one doctor. So after ten years, I'm finally asking for help on a forum. Hope someone can piece all these information together and I can find some answers Thank You.
Regards
Chris
28 y.o.
Singapore