Excessive daytime sleepiness anyone ??
 

Starting new thread as suggested by bethsheba in an effort to
sort of poll the folks on this board interested in or having issues
about staying awake all day (especially in the afternoons). I
lived with this condition for many long years thinking of it as
'merely' a sleep issue rather than looking into it as a medical
problem. Now that I have learned otherwise I have scanned
these boards but find little information. Since I have learned
it's name and been prescribed a relief med I am really wondering
how many like me are out there living with discomfort and
worse without realizing it is a labeled medical condition known
as 'hypersomnia' and may be related to sleep apnea or an
autonomic nervous system problem or 'ideopathic'. And that
even if not curable that there is some relief available.

So please speak up, let's share information. ;)

Re: Excessive daytime sleepiness anyone ??
 

Just dropped in to add my 2 cents worth...

I experience waves of sleepiness during the afternoon, although sometimes it can begin as early as 11 am.

My naps are long, 2-4 hours, and often more restful than a night's sleep...however, when I nap in the afternoon, it usually means I will sleep very well that night...contrary to rules of sleep hygiene.

I am being treated (sucessfully, in the sense I no longer get up at night) with cpap...

Have blamed the sleepiness on cpap leaks, but maybe it is something else! Don't have insurance and am not sure I want to return to sleep specialist as he missed some basics when I was under his care for 2 years.

Any thoughts on day time sleepiness??

Bethsheba

Re: Excessive daytime sleepiness anyone ??
 

Haven't had a chance to research this in depth but what I've seen thus far has been associated with narcolepsy.

Bethsheba

Re: Excessive daytime sleepiness anyone ??
 

Yes, bethsheba, narcolepsy is one of the conditions related with
hypersomnia. But so also are sleep apnea and dysfunctions of
the autonomic nervous system. Also that CFS contributes to it.
This according to the National Institute of Neurologic Disorders.
I am having a sleep study done to determine if that is my main
cause. But I am investigating the autonomic possibility as I have
symptoms of dysautonomia that worry me. I was diagnosed many
years ago with CFS, so tis very confusing. Thanks for looking into
the subject. Sure doesn't seem like anyone else in this "Sleep
Disorder" board shares this conditon...if the number of replies can
be relied upon as a measure. :D

Re: Excessive daytime sleepiness anyone ??
 

LA,

Thanks for your response...personally, I don't rely too heavily on the "weight" of replies. I've read the boards for about 2 years now and "themes" come and go depending on who's posting.

Also, it's important to note that people with sleep disorders aren't aware that they have sleep disorders and often post on other boards thinking it is another condition causing their problem. So please don't give up on the thread...I haven't....but I haven't taken the time to do the research...YET!!

Again, I really appreciate the information you are bringing to the topic...I've been blaming my sleepiness on my apnea, but I really have nothing that confirms that it is....so I really want to learn more.

Take care! I'd like to talk later.

Bethsheba

PS Despite being sleepy during the day, do you get a second wind at night??

Re: Excessive daytime sleepiness anyone ??
 

Great question B...Yes I do get a second wind at about 8 PM.
Not every night but maybe a third of the time, and I have not
been able to explain it. Usually, though, I am wiped out right
up to bedtime. If I don't get things done in the morning I
usually don't get them done period.

You are quite right about the wax and wane of board interest
in a given topic. I noticed the same pattern with the board I
started with and spent most of my time with. And I agree from
my own personal experience that I didn't realize I had a daytime
sleepiness issue that was abnormal and worth investigation for
all too many years, so I can understand that there are likely
many in the same boat who take it as simple tiredness like I did.

I'm glad that at least one person out there recognizes having a
problem like mine. I hope you do manage to investigate and
uncover more useful information that will help you have better
days.

Re: Excessive daytime sleepiness anyone ??
 

[QUOTE=LALOV929;3760872]....Yes I do get a second wind at about 8 PM.
Not every night but maybe a third of the time, and I have not
been able to explain it. Usually, though, I am wiped out right
up to bedtime. If I don't get things done in the morning I
usually don't get them done period....[/QUOTE]

That is my experience exactly!!! I get my day's work done between the hours of 5 am (sometimes earlier) but I am done by 10 am no matter what....and if I'm lucky I get a second wind before bedtime.

At bedtime I fall to sleep almost immediately, within 1 minute usually, but sometimes 5 minutes....which is interesting because I NEVER get sleepy behind the wheel of a motorized vehicle, nor can I just nod off sitting up.

Enough of me, but perhaps you see some similarities.

I'll be off the boards for awhile...will try to research and share when I can.

Take care, LA

Bethsheba

PS I should add, if I haven't earlier, that I'm not taking medications of any kind so meds aren't playing a role in these patterns...

Re: Excessive daytime sleepiness anyone ??
 

I have the same experience. I don't know what is causing it.



[QUOTE=bethsheba;3761901]That is my experience exactly!!! I get my day's work done between the hours of 5 am (sometimes earlier) but I am done by 10 am no matter what....and if I'm lucky I get a second wind before bedtime.

At bedtime I fall to sleep almost immediately, within 1 minute usually, but sometimes 5 minutes....which is interesting because I NEVER get sleepy behind the wheel of a motorized vehicle, nor can I just nod off sitting up.

Enough of me, but perhaps you see some similarities.

I'll be off the boards for awhile...will try to research and share when I can.

Take care, LA

Bethsheba

PS I should add, if I haven't earlier, that I'm not taking medications of any kind so meds aren't playing a role in these patterns...[/QUOTE]

Re: Excessive daytime sleepiness anyone ??
 

Mac,

Welcome to the boards!!

Have you had a sleep study done to rule out other causes of daytime sleepiness?

Bethsheba

Re: Excessive daytime sleepiness anyone ??
 

Hey there, now we are three. Glad to hear from you mac.
Tommorrow I am scheduled for my first sleep study. Really
wondering what they will find.
By the way, bethsheba, I just completed a long driving trip
and realize it is not that I get sleepy while driving but rather
a groggy lack of focus that makes me extremely tense. More
a fear of having an accident because of dullness. But I will
say that the 'provigil' reduces that symptom.

Re: Excessive daytime sleepiness anyone ??
 

LA,

So good to hear you'll have a sleep study done!

Interesting comment about the "groggy lack of focus" feeling as it is similar to what I experience.
I think you may have clarified my symptoms. Although I've had sleep apnea for years, and recently I've experienced "fatigue" prior to being diagnosed with apnea, I didn't have a problem with sleepiness (despite falling asleep almost asap)...but grogginess can be a frequent companion.

I wonder, what indeed, is a good definition for sleepiness.

Good luck with the sleep test!! I really, really enjoyed mine...it was very interesting and I was fortunate to have a very knowlegable, professional, and supportive technician.

Bethsheba

Re: Excessive daytime sleepiness anyone ??
 

I set an appointment to get a study done. I have had this problem since I was 15. I am now 34, and it has made my life so difficult. I have kept it a secret because I've been called lazy my whole life because of it. I am very productive, but mainly at night. The glare of morning sun makes me want to sleep, but the night makes me feel energetic.

Re: Excessive daytime sleepiness anyone ??
 

[QUOTE=mac77;3766694]... I have kept it a secret because I've been called lazy my whole life because of it.....[/QUOTE]

Yes, I know exactly what you mean and I suspect many others do, also. When I get quality sleep, I can work, study, create like a dog...when I don't, I can't accomplish something as simple as brushing my teeth.

Re: Excessive daytime sleepiness anyone ??
 

Good for you, mac77, I also blamed myself for what I thought was
something I should be able to control, for all too many years. The
knowledge about this subject requires some digging to say the least.
So...my sleep study revealed that I have hypopnea which differs
from apnea in that with apnea breathing actually stops for a bit
whereas with hypopnea breathing closes down but does not ever
actually cease completely. In my case it prevents deep sleep so
I never get refreshed by my sleep nor have I for years but it has
been worse the past few months. So I will have a CPAP fitting and
overnight titration the middle of next month.
Now I would like to broach another related topic that interacts with
these symptoms we share. And that is "hypocapnia". It is also a breathing problem that is said to affect as much as 10 percent of the population.
I have all the symptoms and with a friend I will be seeing a therapist
next Monday to get a better handle on it. So I would suggest that
y'all check it out on a search engine...very interesting stuff. It seems
that for 'ideopathic' reasons we can develop too low a level of carbon
dioxide in the blood, which alkalinizes the blood thereby altering the
electrolyte balance and causing a variety of symptoms.
Do let us know how your sleep study goes, mac77. :)

Re: Excessive daytime sleepiness anyone ??
 

It amazes me that you guys have managed to function for so many years despite your sleep disorders. It really is a disability.

I did very well in college because I could take naps. Unfortunately, my career hasn't been up to the same level because I have never been able to nap at work. I've gone for years working while I was totally, completely exhausted. I would just want sleep--more than [I]anything[/I] else.

I feel comfort in knowing that I'm not alone. It is sad that the majority of people I've encountered in my life have been totally ignorant regarding sleep disorders. Unfortunately, in my experience, the general consensus has been that anyone with a sleeping problem is simply lazy or just lacking enough self discipline to go to bed on time. This keeps people from getting help. It is sad to think about how much I've missed out in life because of this problem. How many years that I wasted.

I'm going to pick up the equipment in about two weeks. I hope this helps someone.

Re: Excessive daytime sleepiness anyone ??
 

[QUOTE=bethsheba;3766735]Yes, I know exactly what you mean and I suspect many others do, also. When I get quality sleep, I can work, study, create like a dog...when I don't, I can't accomplish something as simple as brushing my teeth.[/QUOTE]

That has been my experience as well.

Re: Excessive daytime sleepiness anyone ??
 

hi. i'm new to here and was going to ask a question when i came across this post. and i don't know if i'm allowed to machine anything about herbs and such so if i'm not that i apologize in advance.

anyways about 3 years ago when i was in collage a good friend of mine gave me an herb called calea zacatichichi. (AKA the leaf of god) and you can smoke it, eat it( which i would not recommend cause it taist like *** ) or drink it. anyways after taking the herb i noticed that i was sleeping rather well, in fact i could stay up all night studying and have only 5 hours of sleep and feel like i had 8. i then gave it to another friend of mine who was having to take drugs just to fall asleep and even then they did not work some times, after about the third day he told me that it worked out really well for sleeping. me and my friend ended up giving this herb out to about 20 or so people and every one reported that it helped them sleep. it relaxes your hole body and clears your mind. but it will give you some messed up dream i'll tell you that. hence the name leaf of god. also every one i spoke with about this machined that they became addicted to the herb for about a month then just stopped taking it. its been 3 years since i last took it and have never had sleeping trouble since then. anyways just thought i would machine it..

take care guys and i look forword to using these forums

P.S. you can find the herb is some health food store all over the internet and ive even seen it on ebay.

Re: Excessive daytime sleepiness anyone ??
 

Hi all. I just found this thread after perusing some of the others in an effort to nail down what the heck is wrong with me. Now, I don't know if this would qualify me as having "excessive daytime sleepiness" or not, but....I can't seem to get enough sleep, no matter how much of it I get. Here is a basic rundown of my daily sleep pattern - I usually get up between 4:30 - 5am on weekdays, I head to the gym for my daily workout, afterwards I might run some errands. I come home and eat lunch, and by 12noon I crawl into my bed and take a nap until 2pm. I then jump in the shower, get dressed and head to work (I start at 3pm). By around 6pm, I can feel myself getting sleepy again...my head feels heavy and I will often nod off at my desk on and off throughout the evening. I usually leave work by 9:45pm, I'm home by 10pm...brush my teeth, change into my jammies and I'm not kidding when I say that I could be "out cold" within 30 seconds of my head hitting the pillow. Then the whole cycle repeats the next morning. On weekends, I sleep in a bit later...getting up at 6:30am. I usually do not take an afternoon nap on weekends, but generally will start getting sleepy at around 7 or 8pm. I will often nod off while watching TV. I usually go to bed at 9pm on weekends...sometimes earlier.

I never really associated my tiredness and fatigue with a sleep disorder...I had been focusing on other conditions (thyroid, autoimmune, CFS, diabetes, perimenopause,etc) in which fatigue is a common symptom. Perhaps I need to investigate the possibility of a sleep disorder, a little further.

Re: Excessive daytime sleepiness anyone ??
 

[QUOTE=nscrbug;3776835]Hi all. I just found this thread after perusing some of the others in an effort to nail down what the heck is wrong with me. Now, I don't know if this would qualify me as having "excessive daytime sleepiness" or not, but....I can't seem to get enough sleep, no matter how much of it I get. Here is a basic rundown of my daily sleep pattern - I usually get up between 4:30 - 5am on weekdays, I head to the gym for my daily workout, afterwards I might run some errands. I come home and eat lunch, and by 12noon I crawl into my bed and take a nap until 2pm. I then jump in the shower, get dressed and head to work (I start at 3pm). By around 6pm, I can feel myself getting sleepy again...my head feels heavy and I will often nod off at my desk on and off throughout the evening. I usually leave work by 9:45pm, I'm home by 10pm...brush my teeth, change into my jammies and I'm not kidding when I say that I could be "out cold" within 30 seconds of my head hitting the pillow. Then the whole cycle repeats the next morning. On weekends, I sleep in a bit later...getting up at 6:30am. I usually do not take an afternoon nap on weekends, but generally will start getting sleepy at around 7 or 8pm. I will often nod off while watching TV. I usually go to bed at 9pm on weekends...sometimes earlier.

I never really associated my tiredness and fatigue with a sleep disorder...I had been focusing on other conditions (thyroid, autoimmune, CFS, diabetes, perimenopause,etc) in which fatigue is a common symptom. Perhaps I need to investigate the possibility of a sleep disorder, a little further.[/QUOTE]


the same thing happens to me! Except I can't get enough sleep no matter when i go to bed or when i wake up. I sleep in incredibly late on weekends and take naps. During the week I get up at 5:00 am for work and get out at 4:30 pm and i have a lot to do after. Once night comes I rarely can fall asleep without ambien, i only talk a half though and it works like a charm. I get enough sleep for it to wear off too. Whether or not I take it, I cannot stop from dozing off at work during the day. It just won't stop.

I also wake up in the morning with my neck, chest, buttocks sweating. I open the windows and it's freezing out, turn on the fan and get under the covers and I always wake up hot. It feels cold when I get out of bed because of the wetness on my shirt and the freezing air. I don't have any idea how to get a happy medium. It happens a lot but I haven't paid attention to whether or not it is every night.

Re: Excessive daytime sleepiness anyone ??
 

nscrbug,

If you and your doctors have ruled out other possible causes of your sleep problems, I would definitely suggest consulting with a sleep specialist!! You have a number of symptoms that suggest a sleep disorder....

Last but not least, medications can cause some of these problems so if you're taking meds for anything, look at the side effects!!! Doctors often don't take this into consideration.

Bethsheba