Frequent, sudden falling asleep

Posted by pjw5610 @pjw5610, Feb 28 10:31am

My wife falls asleep while sitting down. She falls asleep in the middle of biting on a sandwich or sipping from a cup, even mid sentence. Recently she has been very close to falling asleep while standing. She becomes combative when I tell her she needs help. Does anyone have a similar experience? What is this condition? Is there a resolution?

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Profile picture for mbixler @mbixler

@pjw5610 I’m also a retired RN, so I feel your pain! We do make the worst patients. Many of my specialists get annoyed with me, as I start the visit by telling them what is wrong with me. They get annoyed because I am usually right! Tell her as a nurse that it’s okay to make a diagnosis, but we always need to verify. It’s embarrassing when you don’t, and then have to go the doctor waaay past when you should have. Doctors love to rub it in that we should know better!

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Wow, there's two of you !!! :-)@mbixler

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Profile picture for fourleaf @fourleaf

I would suggest a Sleep Study Test.

I just had the Sleep Study Test.
1st - at home
2nd - Hospital in person

Found that I stop breathing 13 time a hour and my oxygen level drops to 77% (not good) while on sleep machine. While I'm awake, oxygen level is 93 to 98%. I also snore.

I have had headaches for a long time and migraine for the last 6 years. I wake up 3 to 4 times a night. I'm exhausted when I get out of bed.

🍀

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@fourleaf have you also considered bruxism?? its where u grind and clench your teeth in your sleep ?? I used to wake up with bad migraines, which needed a morphine shot. it wasn't until i saw an ent who sent me to a facial surgeon who diagnosed it. I also have sleep apnoea I used to snore ( evidently) till I got the machine.

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My mom is 82. For several years now, she has the stay up all night, sleep all day routine. I don't believe that she falls asleep like you are describing though, although she sounds stubborn like my mom.

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Profile picture for pjw5610 @pjw5610

Wow, there's two of you !!! :-)@mbixler

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@pjw5610 Sadly, I fear there are many more than just the two of us..

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Profile picture for mbixler @mbixler

@pjw5610 Sadly, I fear there are many more than just the two of us..

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True, and a sleep disorder creates other disorders eg heart health. Our PCP can be pretty straight forward. Hopefully she will listen to her advice about sleep management@mbixler

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Profile picture for tisme @tisme

@fourleaf have you also considered bruxism?? its where u grind and clench your teeth in your sleep ?? I used to wake up with bad migraines, which needed a morphine shot. it wasn't until i saw an ent who sent me to a facial surgeon who diagnosed it. I also have sleep apnoea I used to snore ( evidently) till I got the machine.

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@tisme
Yes, I have been a teeth grinder and clencher for long time. The last two lower cracked teeth were horizontal fracture - very infected - strong antibiotics. Also, Jaw would pop out if I moved wrong. Dentist was impressed and made a mouth guard for me.

🍀

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