daytime sleepiness or fatigue?

[Lulu54]

I really don't feel narcoleptic, but for the past few months I have been unusually prone to nodding off.  I can get a good night's rest and get up and an hour later feel the urge to close my eyes and sleep. Several times a  day this urge to sleep comes over me and sometimes I can't fight it off and have to close my eyes and take a quick doze.

Just a few minutes ago I logged on here. I read a post or two and then fell asleep for 5 minutes or so.  This is the third time today I just had to close my eyes - the other two I managed to stay awake by forcing myself to get up and move around.

While we were on vacation I was watching a brief film at Mt. Rainier, I was nodding off and that was while I was standing up because there were no empty seats.  Just typing this has me yawning and really wanting a nap.  This has been going on for the past couple months and isn't related to my vacation.

So I'm wondering if anyone else experiences this fleeting exhaustion? It is the strangest feeling but I'm not quite sure if this is true fatigue.  Any thoughts?

as always,
Lu

[Lulu54]

All, I just woke up after two hour nap and now my sleep cycle will be really out of kilter.  It may be a lunesta night and I haven't taken one of those in months.

Yes, I have had a sleep study and do have some issues but not enough, according to that neurologist, to be treated.  Perhaps that has changed?  I try hard not to blame everything on this MySterious disease - though it sure is tempting.


As Q mentioned from our meeting, I am a bit gimpy and that is something new.  Perhaps I am in some form of relapse and don't recognize it?  Unless it knocks me down for a ten count, how am I supposed to know?  I'm still upright and functioning, except when I'm nodding off.  

The 3-4 pm energy plunge is pretty normal for most everyone - eating protein at lunch or a midday snack does help to level that dip a bit.  Those countries who recognize the value of an afternoon siesta seem to have it right.

It sounds like many of us here have this same sleepiness.  I wonder what the general population experiences?

FWIW - I really appreciate all of your efforts with this question  and can relate to your comments all too well.  Thanks for sharing.

be well, be awake!
Lulu

[Guitar_grrrl]

I hear you, Lu - any time of day, I can be doing just any old activity (nothing out of the ordinary) and a sudden overwhelming wave of the sleepies grabs me and knocks me out.  I make sure I pull over if I'm driving.   I DO close my eyes for a little bit.  Sometimes for just a few moments, sometimes for a whole afternoon's nap.

Like you, I really don't want to take one more pill.  The L-Carnitine suppliment seems to help some...FWIW

Hugs,
Guitar_grrrl

[KenDub]

Hi Lulu,

My fatigue can be just as you described at times. However, most of the time, I get 8-10 hours of sleep, wake up, hit the snooze button at least 3 times, sleeping the whole 9 minutes each time, then I'm awake. I usually take lunch at 11:30 and get back at 12:00. Whether I eat a light lunch, a heavy lunch, or no lunch at all, I am suddenly EXHAUSTED by 3:30 every single day without fail. I take that back, one day it didn't hit me until 4:30, but you get the picture. What helps me are 5 hour energy drinks. I drink one at 3:30 and that is usually enough to get me through until 5:30 when I get home. I then force myself to stay awake until 7-8:00 whence I go to bed and start the cycle again.

This has been going on since my attack started in April. It is possible that you are having a small attack or possibly several pseudo attacks. Have you noticed any environmental patterns such as heat or cold when you feel sleepy?

Kenny

[Ufrustrated2]

count me in i guess. for me, it feels like part of my mind/brain and spinal column have been given novacaine or something. deperatel wanting to lay down and sleep but can't.
and can't get comfortable on my own. my body/mind/universe has it's own schedule for such things.

welcome back!!!!

[johnniebear]

Well am  in your group,   the Dr wanted a sleep study I've declined.  I rather not wear a C-Pap.

My  poor  wife tells me how loud I snore,  I told her I don't snore I just purrrr very loud.

I get very tired  after any physical work,  I learning how to pace myself, its much worse if its hot outside.

John..

[twopack]

I could be MS fatigue.  It could also be something else.  I'd be suspect if you have been more tired or sleepy for months and haven't gone into a relapse with additional symptoms.

There is a difference between fatigue and tiredness and sleepiness.  I don't claim to understand the nuances, but a neuro who specializes in sleep disorders and studies will.  Remember Lulu, we need to be cautious about falling into the temptation to blame all our ills on the MiSery.

I've been diagnosed with both sleep apnea and MS.  Here's a few things I have found out along the way (although they may apply only to me).  

**I always thought I slept soundly through the night.  After all, I awoke stiff and in the same position hours after falling asleep promptly.  NOT  My sleep study showed I was waking up 81 times and hour.  Yes, you are reading that right.  I wasn't staying asleep for even one whole minute at a time!  No wonder I didn't feel refreshed in the morning.

**MS fatigue will cause me to feel wiped out but not necessarily sleepy.  I don't want to move or have energy to even keep my eyes open, yet I can rest with my eyes closed for hours and never fall asleep.

**If I go more than a few nights without wearing my CPAP machine it gets very difficult to stay awake whenever I am still (reading, driving, watching TV, etc.).  If I continue to push it, I find I must REALLY concentrate to make my thought processes work.

**MS fatigue has a chance of being relieved by resting, cooling and power naps even if I have to devote a few days in a row to those things.  Sleep deprivation sends me into hours long daytime naps with no refreshment.  More sleep only leads to more suffering.

**It was the sleep specialist neuro who prescribed Provigil in addition to CPAP a couple of years before I was diagnosed with MS.  The former PCP had ordered an antidepressant (because he was stumped about what else to do).  The sleep doc saw things through a different filter when I mentioned it to him on a routine appointment and returned me to function.

Sorry to get so winded about me.  Hope something in there is helpful.  I do think it would be well worth the effort to look at non-MS possibilities since you say this has gone on for a while without relief.  Besides, sleep apnea has been found to contribute to things like hypertension, weight gain and heart disease (hear that last one?)

Hope I didn't put you to sleep again.
Mary

[PastorDan]

My thoughts went where Julie's went.  You've been checked for sleep apnea?  I plan to ask my darling tonight if she'll help me be more diligent about using my nighttime breathing apparatus.  I've had a lot of sleepy days recently, and felt drained most of today.  Even let my hour nap turn into 2.5 hrs.  Still dragging.

[Zacksmomi]

Obviously you are not alone.  I am trying to hold my eyes open at this moment.  I have a 5 year old at home and I get so worried cuz sometimes I have not idea how long I nod off for.

I have not looked into meds for it.  I did discover 5 hour energy the other day.  I don't like those energy drinks, but this is mostly B vitamins and a bit of caffine.  It works great, but I only take sips of it all day, I could never drink a whole bottle at once.

Ok gotta nap now.
You take care
D

[Sarahsmom46]

Maybe you want to join me in gettting another sleep study and see if something has changed from last time that is the cause of your increased sleepiness.  It wouldn't hurt.  

Julie

[Wobbly]

I have days when if I closed my eyes, I would be asleep right away.. fatigue is not a good thing and in the summer I think it will make us alot more tired and sleep on and off through out the day.

just rest up everyone
take care
wobbly

[tjj3761]

I know exactly what you mean.

I get up at 6:30 am and then by 7:00 I am exhausted and sleepy.  It is the strangest thing.  Even if I get enough sleep, I still feel so, so tired.

[jensequitur]

There are times when I would like something to pep me up - I don't think I'd need it all the time, just when I'm having a problem with fatigue.  Just like my Flexaril - I don't take it unless I need it.

[Lulu54]

I did that at my desk at work back in May.  I had to laugh about it then, but this continues to be a bit much now that the catnapping has continued.  I see my neuro the end of July - I'll chat with him about it and get his opinion. I just hate to add another pill to the regimen.

later,
L

[jensequitur]

I used to get really tired at the same time every day - 3:30 on the dot.  Now I'm just vaguely tired all day long.  Not enough to fall asleep at my desk, but woozy.  Actually, I take that back - a couple of weeks ago I was so tired that I fell asleep for a second at the desk.  Not good when you're at work.

[essdipity]

Hey there, Lu-friend.

Sure, this kind of thing happens a lot in MS. Fatigue is a weird symptom. It can be fleeting sleepiness, as you describe, to general weariness without sleepiness, to loads of other feelings between the two.

Your best bet is Provigil (or Nuvigil). That works well against narcolepsy, but MS can be in the same category. Your neuro can prescribe it for you, though you may have to jump through hoops with your insurance company. Mine demanded preauthorization (just bureaucracy) for 100 mg, and now is doing the same thing with a 200 mg script.

If this is a problem, start the process with your neuro.

hugs,
ess