Aa
Tired of Being Tired
Hi!
I'm 19 and in college. I'm always sleepy. I think it started slowly, but has become troubling the last 3 or 4 months. I used to be a night-owl and pull all-nighters, but now I can't function without 8-9 hrs sleep per night. If I try to get up early, even for something important, it takes hours to drag myself out of bed. I always set 3 alarms just in case, but I'm usually okay if I've slept 8+. I feel fine when I get up, but after a couple hours I start feeling sleepy again. I usually take a nap around 9:30 am, which most often keeps me awake during my 11am class. By 3 or 4 in the afternoon I am like a zombie and can't wait to get home to get my next nap, around 5:00. If I go to church in the evenings, it is common for me to doze off, just like in classes. Were it not for naps I don't think I could function at all. But now it's so bad that I can hardly get anything done because I am always napping every few hours. I don't even do the things I enjoy anymore because I'd rather sleep. Naps are typically 15-30 minutes long, though I can easily sleep an hour or two.
I went to the doctor about this and had a polysomnogram. He said I have no apnea. The tech noted that I had sleep-onset REM, which he said can be indicative of sleep deprivation. Sometimes I have trouble falling asleep at night, like for an hour or maybe 2, and other times I wake up several times. Anyway, the doctor next sent me for bloodwork. He said my thyroid is fine, and I think also B12, and I now take iron for very slight (1 pt too low) anemia. Otherwise, I am perfectly healthy. (Well, maybe a little overweight.) I am not very stressed at all. I have personally noted that I always dream during naps, sometimes including when I doze in class.
I am wondering if I might have narcolepsy? (I think I might have had brief sleep paralysis a couple times, but maybe I'm just paranoid and looking for symptoms.) Does anyone have any other ideas what this may be? I want answers and my life back. I'm tired of being tired!
I'm 19 and in college. I'm always sleepy. I think it started slowly, but has become troubling the last 3 or 4 months. I used to be a night-owl and pull all-nighters, but now I can't function without 8-9 hrs sleep per night. If I try to get up early, even for something important, it takes hours to drag myself out of bed. I always set 3 alarms just in case, but I'm usually okay if I've slept 8+. I feel fine when I get up, but after a couple hours I start feeling sleepy again. I usually take a nap around 9:30 am, which most often keeps me awake during my 11am class. By 3 or 4 in the afternoon I am like a zombie and can't wait to get home to get my next nap, around 5:00. If I go to church in the evenings, it is common for me to doze off, just like in classes. Were it not for naps I don't think I could function at all. But now it's so bad that I can hardly get anything done because I am always napping every few hours. I don't even do the things I enjoy anymore because I'd rather sleep. Naps are typically 15-30 minutes long, though I can easily sleep an hour or two.
I went to the doctor about this and had a polysomnogram. He said I have no apnea. The tech noted that I had sleep-onset REM, which he said can be indicative of sleep deprivation. Sometimes I have trouble falling asleep at night, like for an hour or maybe 2, and other times I wake up several times. Anyway, the doctor next sent me for bloodwork. He said my thyroid is fine, and I think also B12, and I now take iron for very slight (1 pt too low) anemia. Otherwise, I am perfectly healthy. (Well, maybe a little overweight.) I am not very stressed at all. I have personally noted that I always dream during naps, sometimes including when I doze in class.
I am wondering if I might have narcolepsy? (I think I might have had brief sleep paralysis a couple times, but maybe I'm just paranoid and looking for symptoms.) Does anyone have any other ideas what this may be? I want answers and my life back. I'm tired of being tired!
Hi sleepy444, how are you? Hope you are having a great time enjoying your holidays? Are you planning to join vacation or summer camps? Thanks for update. Fine, you can get the test done and wait for results to know the real cause. Since this is not an urgent test, they might have scheduled you as per chart. It is good to continue your exercises and morning-evening walks. Drink lot of water. Take care.
It's not apnea!!! And maybe I would be physically active, if I weren't so dern tired ALL THE TIME! If I could feel better with just some exercise, trust me, I would have. Where I live, and with the doctor I see, MSLT's are only done on Fridays and June 5 was the first time they could get me in.
Hi sleepy444, thanks for reply and updating on your doctor advice. Well, you need to wait for the polysomnograpy to be done and then discuss the result to know the cause and in most cases it might be sleep apnea. It is a pretty long time for the schedule of test; it could have been done much early also. Anyway before jumping in for any medication try to keep bit physically active and follow few sleep tips. Keep sharing your thoughts. Take care.
I went to the sleep doc today. After a very thorough questioning and listening quite well to me, he said that his number one idea right now is narcolepsy. He's sending me for a PSG/MSLT June 5.
Hi sleepy444, how are you? Great you are now relaxing and free of the exams stress. It is good to keep yourself bit physically engaged and short outings will make you feel much refreshed and relaxed. You can spend some time in home activities also. Having done great in your exams now, keep going the same way and enjoy rest of time till you get back to school. Well, you can discuss in detail the sleep problems you are facing now and get back with doctor advice. Take care.
I finished all of my exams and got my course grades. I made straight A's!! I am relaxing a bit. I went to the beach with friends a couple days ago. And I've been chlling and watching movies. My dad is scheduling exercise for me--he has planned me a full day today of car washing and yard raking.... Still no good on the sleeping. I had to take 3 naps yesterday, but was still a zombie at work and fell asleep at church. My appointment with the sleep doc is tomorrow, so maybe I'll get some answers.
Hi sleepy444, how are you doing? Its sometime now heard from you. Hope you might have done with your examination a lot better and now might be time for relaxation. How is your sleep these days? Have you got sleep study or an evaluation done from sleep doctor or neurologist, which you planned? Keep your regular exercise going and go out for short walks. Do keep in touch with studies. Update on your progress. Take care.
Hi sleepy444, thanks for your reply and update on your progress. Sorry to hear you are still continuing with the sleep problem. As you are preparing for your final exams, i think you need to concentrate more on studies till you complete your exams. Please do take naps if you feel sleepy as there is no point in forcing yourself to be awake and dozing off after sometime which may be disturbing your concentration on studies. Take snacks or meals frequently but little quantity and avoid too much coffee. Get back to your exercises also after your exams. Hope to hear from you on your progress after finals. Take care and wish you all success.
Suri123, Thanks so much for caring!
No, unfortunately I am not better. I am still sleepy. Today was esecially bad because I really needed to get up early to study for a final, but just could not drag myself out of bed for 1.5 hours. This meant that I got "only" 7 hours of sleep. Then I studied for a little while, but after about an hour started falling asleep at my computer. I had to read everything like 4 times and still didn't remember much after that point. I kept half-dozing off and having brief fragments of dreams. I don't think I mentioned that before--I always dream during naps, even if they're only a few seconds.
Then I went to school without my morning nap and was still like 20 minutes late. But it's okay, because I totally got at least a B on the final. I still have three more finals this week, but I'm not worried at all. I know my stuff. It's just trying not to fall out when reviewing or writing my lab report. (Or while typing this....)
I don't see my specialist until next Wednesday, but I'll be sure to let you know what he says.
It's so hard to find time to exercise. Especially since any "free" time I get I would much rather spend sleeping than doing anything else. Even practicing my guitar or using my telescope or just watching TV (I haven't even done THAT in at least three weeks!). After classes are over, starting next week, I'm hoping to have some time to get back into a regular exercise routine. I love cycling and weight lifting.
Thanks again.
No, unfortunately I am not better. I am still sleepy. Today was esecially bad because I really needed to get up early to study for a final, but just could not drag myself out of bed for 1.5 hours. This meant that I got "only" 7 hours of sleep. Then I studied for a little while, but after about an hour started falling asleep at my computer. I had to read everything like 4 times and still didn't remember much after that point. I kept half-dozing off and having brief fragments of dreams. I don't think I mentioned that before--I always dream during naps, even if they're only a few seconds.
Then I went to school without my morning nap and was still like 20 minutes late. But it's okay, because I totally got at least a B on the final. I still have three more finals this week, but I'm not worried at all. I know my stuff. It's just trying not to fall out when reviewing or writing my lab report. (Or while typing this....)
I don't see my specialist until next Wednesday, but I'll be sure to let you know what he says.
It's so hard to find time to exercise. Especially since any "free" time I get I would much rather spend sleeping than doing anything else. Even practicing my guitar or using my telescope or just watching TV (I haven't even done THAT in at least three weeks!). After classes are over, starting next week, I'm hoping to have some time to get back into a regular exercise routine. I love cycling and weight lifting.
Thanks again.
Hi sleepy444, how are you now? Hope you are feeling better now and your sleep might have been normal. How are your studies going on? Try to relax and short weekend outings can be refreshing. Do not strain too much as you might get stressed again. Do continue on regular exercises, stretches and do follow up regularly with your doctor. I do agree you are not convinced with the sleep study and can repeat again. What did your sleep specialist advise you after evaluation? Keep updating on your progress and take care.
Hi sleepy444, thanks for your reply. I do feel you have great determination to cope up with stress due to your studies, work and daily activities. Well, keeping your self totally engaged in your daytime with studies and evenings with part time job might be a cause for physical stress although it might not be strenuous job. This probably makes you feel tired and sleepy due chronic fatigue. Do continue the healthy sleep tips and let us wait for the sleep specialist evaluation and opinion. Take care and update of your visit.
I appreciate your response. Thank you.
Okay, so, as far as I can tell, I'm totally not stressed. I've had a whole semeester of "easy" classes and very little homework. I have a part-time job that is like 5 minutes from home that I totally love, and everything else I can thnk of has been going just great. I'm usually a very laid-back person. This whole constantly-sleepy thing would be the only thing that stresses me out.
Change in my sleep pattern? The only thing that would be a change is gradually needing to go to bed earlier and to nap, and then to nap some more. So, I;ve had the same sleep/wake schedule for about 2 months now: I go to bed between 10 and 11, then get up between 7 and 7:30. Most days I take a 9:30 nap, and a 5:00 nap. On the weekends my naps are 12:30 and 4:00. If I miss a nap, I fall asleep at whatever I'm doing just after that time fram (class, church, HW, a movie....).
Why I seriously don't believe I have sleep apnea (even before the sleep study confirmed this): I don't snore or wake up with any dry/sore throat symptoms. The doc said my airways looked normal, and I feel refreshed after I sleep. I just get sleepy again. Fast.
My diet: I don't drink tea, ever. Coffee, I probably drink quarterly (like once every several months in a social setting). I might have soda once every couple of weeks. I don't smoke or drink at all (I AM underage, anyway).
I'm wondering how they got any results from my sleep study in the first place. I was awake most of the night, and was starting to come down with a cold and when I finally did fall asleep, started waking up coughing and ended up with a phlegmy cold for 2 weeks after that. But, anyway... Yes, I have an appointment with a sleep specialist, but they couldn't get me in for a while, so it's still two weeks away.
Hope this info helps. Thanks again.
Okay, so, as far as I can tell, I'm totally not stressed. I've had a whole semeester of "easy" classes and very little homework. I have a part-time job that is like 5 minutes from home that I totally love, and everything else I can thnk of has been going just great. I'm usually a very laid-back person. This whole constantly-sleepy thing would be the only thing that stresses me out.
Change in my sleep pattern? The only thing that would be a change is gradually needing to go to bed earlier and to nap, and then to nap some more. So, I;ve had the same sleep/wake schedule for about 2 months now: I go to bed between 10 and 11, then get up between 7 and 7:30. Most days I take a 9:30 nap, and a 5:00 nap. On the weekends my naps are 12:30 and 4:00. If I miss a nap, I fall asleep at whatever I'm doing just after that time fram (class, church, HW, a movie....).
Why I seriously don't believe I have sleep apnea (even before the sleep study confirmed this): I don't snore or wake up with any dry/sore throat symptoms. The doc said my airways looked normal, and I feel refreshed after I sleep. I just get sleepy again. Fast.
My diet: I don't drink tea, ever. Coffee, I probably drink quarterly (like once every several months in a social setting). I might have soda once every couple of weeks. I don't smoke or drink at all (I AM underage, anyway).
I'm wondering how they got any results from my sleep study in the first place. I was awake most of the night, and was starting to come down with a cold and when I finally did fall asleep, started waking up coughing and ended up with a phlegmy cold for 2 weeks after that. But, anyway... Yes, I have an appointment with a sleep specialist, but they couldn't get me in for a while, so it's still two weeks away.
Hope this info helps. Thanks again.
Hi sleepy444, how are you? Relax! I feel you might have been too stressed due to improper sleep and change in your sleep pattern. Stress and strain to body and mind can disturb the functioning of body in many ways. Normal adult requires minimum 7-8 hours of sleep at night and short nap in daytime is good. You may consider a repeat sleep study to be sure of not having sleep apnea as this is common sleep disorder causing excessive daytime sleepiness, fatigue, feeling unrefreshed after sleeping and daytime sleep attacks, night sweats, morning dry mouth or sore throat, headaches and sleep deprivation in general. Avoid smoking, excessive coffee/tea, alcohol and going very late to bed. You can consult a sleep specialist and get evaluated sooner. Take care and share your thoughts.
Oh, an afterthought:
About a week ago when my alarm went off I couldn't get my arm to reach the clock. It didn't feel asleep, it just didn't want to move there. I had to roll over and use my other arm. It was significantly earlier than I usually get up.
Also, I eat and sleep at the same times every day and I don't drink anything caffeinated.
About a week ago when my alarm went off I couldn't get my arm to reach the clock. It didn't feel asleep, it just didn't want to move there. I had to roll over and use my other arm. It was significantly earlier than I usually get up.
Also, I eat and sleep at the same times every day and I don't drink anything caffeinated.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Sleep Disorders Community
Healing home remedies for common ailments
Dr. Steven Park reveals 5 reasons why breathing through your nose could change your life
Want to wake up rested and refreshed?
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
