Intense sleepiness and rain? - Sleep Disorders Message Board

Sllk · 05-30-2007, 11:54 AM

I am trying to find links to websites that would give more information on the possible cause/relationship between oncoming rain and sudden intense sleepiness (to the point of not being able to drive, stay awake in social situations, function at work, etc.) If I have to force myself to stay awake, I break out in sweats, become nauseous, dizzy, inability to think straight...a general mess. My job keeps me in front of the public and this is causing me no end of distress.

I have consulted three doctors where I am now living and they have all said they have never heard of this and have no recommendations for dealing with it other than to 'just get some sleep' - but this condition is negatively impacting my life in general, as I now live in the tropics and long months of summer rain are unavoidable and I do not have the luxury of being able to skip work for 4-5 months of the year, or flex my work hours.

These symptoms are only overpowering during the months of late May-September, when the heat and humidity are also high. Rain during the cooler months of October-January does not affect me at all.

Once the rain starts, I wake up and feel just fine...

I'm looking for information that will let me know that this is very real, that I'm not losing my mind, that perhaps there are herbal treatments or some sort of alternative medicine, or perhaps even perscription drugs (if worse comes to worse) and that I can then take the findings back to the doctors and get the right treatment...if there is any.

Have tried doing research on the internet and feel I'm getting nowhere fast.

I gladly welcome any advice, suggestions, tips on what to look for, whatever.

bailey46 · 05-30-2007, 01:18 PM

Do you have sinus problems? I have some major difficulties with my sinuses in the days just before storms move in when the barometric pressure is changing. Sometimes I'll have all the classic outward signs of sinus issues, other times I just get to feeling like I've got the flu and get extremely fatigued and foggy-headed. It's hard to function when you feel like you're in slow motion all the time! Even if you do not think you have sinus problems, I'd try sinus irrigation, keeping your environment cool (especially when you sleep) and your indoor humidity stable. These are the changes that have really helped me.

Good luck and all the best...

Sllk · 05-31-2007, 09:31 AM

Bailey, thank you for the suggestions...it's a start! No trouble with sinus, unless I am in airconditioning, which I try to avoid like the plague. Heat and humidity actually give me more energy, and better health in general, which is one of the reasons I chose to move to the tropics. Have no clue what sinus irrigation is, but it sounds like something found in 'first world' countries, which I no longer live in...here, the typical treatment for those with sinus trouble is to take a 'sea bath' (just an ocean swim, letting the salt water do it's magic naturally.)

What I haven't tried yet, but will look into this week, is consultation with a 'bush doctor'...men or once in a rare while, a woman, who boils down different barks, leaves, flowers etc, bottles the concoctions, stores them buried in the earth for a period of days until it ferments...the most god awful tasting stuff, but has worked any time the family has needed treatment in the past (bronchitus is actually the only thing that comes to mind, guess we're healthier than I thought!)...the herbal treatments - a bath made from boiling the leaves of a certain tree - was also used last year when chicken pox swept through town...children using Calamine Lotion and other doctor prescribed treatments still had blistering and itching for a week and a half, while my husband's youngest brother showed no signs or symptoms three days after breaking out with the first 'bump' and immediately getting the herbal bath for two days.

I whole heartedly believe in herbs and other alternatives..., and here, it's what is affordable...just was hoping to find more info as to the correlation between barometric changes (in the case, rain build up) and the horrific sudden need for sleep that will leave me senseless.

reinatexas · 09-10-2007, 03:32 PM

I'm new to this not sure how it works. I was trying to ****** how rain affects sleepiness and not much came up.anyway I too have that problem,back in May/June when it was raining a lot in Dallas I'd get more sleepy during those days,and don't think it's a sinus thing either but when the rain got really bad I did actually get sick for a couple of days, it went from grogginess to almost flu/cold symptoms. I't been pretty dry and sunny,but it rained today and I feel like I've been hit with some heavy drugs. It's mid afternoon and barely have been able to get my day going , that's when I ******d and came upon this. Have you come up with any new information?

Nexis · 09-19-2007, 12:04 AM

I am wondering if the heat and humidity causes blood pressure drops...