1. < Brain & Nervous System

Can’t seem to stay awake throughout the day!

Posted by sbtheplumber1 @sbtheplumber1, Feb 3 9:33pm

I have Narcolepsy, Arachnoid cyst on my brain, Pulmonary artery aneurysm, Heart murmur, Bulging disc in my neck, Failed lumbar fusion, Sjögren’s, Anemia and the list goes on a good ways! My concern is I’m taking medicine to stay awake but also a lot of other meds( around 20 pills a day) I have sleep apnea and can’t wear a cpap because I wake up choking from having a sphincter above my stomach that’s not closing and allowing the stomach acid to back up. I sleep from 6-8 hours a night, I can set up on the side of the bed in the morning and be ready for a nap or midday get so sleepy I can feel it coming on and can’t stop it, I usually drop my phone ( due to the back I’m now on disability and can barely walk to the mailbox so I’m on my phone researching a lot) my head tips, and at times I can hear my surroundings but I’m so groggy I can’t respond. It usually takes me 2 hours to come out of it and if my family wakes me early I’m groggy and headaches for a few hours. I have Cataplaxy and occasionally wake up paralyzed if I interlock my fingers I hear the family and can’t move and the longer I seem to start trying to wake my hands seem to be getting tighter, all it takes is them touching me or pulling my hands apart for me to come out of it. I can also at times be setting here and my head will drop then wake right back up like I’m blacking out. I’m starting to wonder if my breathing is affected by my head tipping and closing off part of my airway, almost like I’m unconscious. I spent 8 months sleeping in a recliner until 2 weeks ago when I had a pain stimulator put in, now that I’m back to sleeping in bed it hasn’t made a difference. I appreciate any suggestions and hope someone can benefit from this too! And don’t worry I don’t drive unless it’s a 10 minute drive to the doctor.

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SusanEllen66 | @SusanEllen66 | Feb 10 11:58am
In reply to @elisabv2u "Hi, My husband has cognitive impairment, secondary to CAD causing small vessel disease, and has had..." + (show)
@elisabv2u

Hi,

My husband has cognitive impairment, secondary to CAD causing small vessel disease, and has had 5 known strokes, with ongoing silent Lacunar strokes. Related to his cardiac disease he also has stage three kidney disease which results in anemia. You mentioned anemia which itself causes extreme fatigue, regardless of quality sleep, and if like him, you are on blood thinners it can cause silent internal G.I. bleeding. Also cognitive impairment whether it’s reached the level of Dementia yet, is exhausting as the brain has to work harder to complete sequential tasks and executive functions, so yes known to cause daytime drowsiness. Anyone will especially experience daytime, drowsiness, if they are recovering from a stroke. And as several have mentioned, drowsiness is caused by many of the medication’s given to manage hyperlipidemia, hypertension, anxiety, etc.

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@elisabv2u thank you for the info.
I understand the brain needs energy. I’ve been told that my extreme sugar craving is because my brain needs the sugar.

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sbtheplumber1 | @sbtheplumber1 | Feb 11 12:46am
In reply to @SusanEllen66 "@elisabv2u thank you for the info. I understand the brain needs energy. I’ve been told that..." + (show)
@SusanEllen66

@elisabv2u thank you for the info.
I understand the brain needs energy. I’ve been told that my extreme sugar craving is because my brain needs the sugar.

Jump to this post

@SusanEllen66 I was thought to have been diabetic back in 2016 now a few years later nothings been said and I also like my sugar( when I was working 2 years ago I always kept a big bag of candy, now that I’m not I keep a armrest full on my recliner ) With Sjögren’s I’m always thirsty which I compensate with keeping gum in my mouth or mints at all times which isn’t good since I’ve dealt with numerous kidney stones since 1995.

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Scott | @daddydoggye | 6 days ago

Funny me too with 12 meds a day some of them twice. Narcotics work for me and Dr. agrees but the side affects are getting worse. I am lazy sleep or just lay there with eyes closed. Severe nodding out when reading I am dialectic. But this is something worse and my whole body will shake for like 2sec. And my hands will shake holding things. A neuropsychologist said it’s most likely the meds. But needed more time testing was incomplete. The neurologist said with complete work up, I’m a drug attic Really…….
My. Pain Dr. says I should stay on what I’m taking I’ve been seeing him going on 7yrs now and I trust him.
My psychologist who I’m seeing now 8yrs agrees I should stay where I’m at
But lately with these stronger side affects I saw a cardiologist that put a heart monitor on me for two weeks and I recorded what I was doing. I’m waiting for results. I’m left with ear nose throat Dr. to go to see……..

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1 reply
sbtheplumber1 | @sbtheplumber1 | 5 days ago
In reply to @daddydoggye "Funny me too with 12 meds a day some of them twice. Narcotics work for me..." + (show)
@daddydoggye

Funny me too with 12 meds a day some of them twice. Narcotics work for me and Dr. agrees but the side affects are getting worse. I am lazy sleep or just lay there with eyes closed. Severe nodding out when reading I am dialectic. But this is something worse and my whole body will shake for like 2sec. And my hands will shake holding things. A neuropsychologist said it’s most likely the meds. But needed more time testing was incomplete. The neurologist said with complete work up, I’m a drug attic Really…….
My. Pain Dr. says I should stay on what I’m taking I’ve been seeing him going on 7yrs now and I trust him.
My psychologist who I’m seeing now 8yrs agrees I should stay where I’m at
But lately with these stronger side affects I saw a cardiologist that put a heart monitor on me for two weeks and I recorded what I was doing. I’m waiting for results. I’m left with ear nose throat Dr. to go to see……..

Jump to this post

@daddydoggye I think I’m up to about 19 pills total every day. It seems like seeing doctors leads to seeing a lot more doctors I see my PCP , Eye doctor, Dentist, Chiropractor, Neurosurgeon, Physiatrist, Audiologist, Skin doctor, 2 Heart doctors, Heartburn specialist, Speech therapist, Pelvic therapist, Massage therapist, Otolaryngologist, Pulmonologist, Neurologist , Rheumatologist, Urologist, Archeologist ( at least it seems I could squeeze them in) . I try to go to the pool 3-4 times a week where I done my physical therapy . I’ve taken Gabapentin and Naproxen for a while the majority of the others I started the last 3 years for my , back and heart, narcolepsy, stomach. I’m hoping when the stimulator is fixed again , and stomach surgery I’ll be able to cut way back on my meds.

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