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Severe Dayime Sleepiness
Hello folks. I’m brand new here at Connect. I’m hoping to find a few others who experience similar sleep issues to my own.
I had a sleep study 9 years ago that showed OSA, but I didn’t follow up because I didn’t think it was bothering me, and I hated the CPAP device. My new problem started about 20 months ago with the onslaught of daytime naps, usually three a day. It really affected my mental health badly, having deep anxiety and depression between naps. It was difficult to wake all the way up in the morning and from each nap. I had a big fear that there was nothing I could do about it.
I started using a new CPAP andI went through 4 stimulant type meds Modafinil, Armodafinil, Adderall, and Vyvanse. None of those stopped the napping, but a couple of the meds did improve mental health and productivity between naps. My CPAP shows a mild OSA which it says it handles. The doctor from my sleep study said I was still showing apneas.
It’s tough going through life not being awake long enough to accomplish much. No idea what to do really.
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Hello @timbrownfl, Welcome to Connect. You are definitely not alone with severe daytime sleepiness. There are a couple of other discussions that you might want to read what others have shared.
-- "Nap attacs": https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/nap-attacs/
-- extreme daytime fatique—-is there a cure?: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/extreme-daytime-fatique-is-there-a-cure/
You might also be interested in reading this study which sounds similar to what you describe:
-- Excessive Daytime Sleepiness in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients Treated With Continuous Positive Airway Pressure: Data From the European Sleep Apnea Database: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fneur.2021.690008/full
I used my CPAP for over a year before my AHI numbers came down to 4 or lower which is the target my sleep medicine doctor gave me for helping with my obstructive sleep apnea. Do you mind sharing what type of CPAP machine you are using and the AHI numbers you are having?
Thanks John!
I have been using my CPAP (Resmed Airsense 10) for over a year. The frustrating part is my average event per hour is a ver low .4. Then a few days later I went to another sleep study my number was 7. I also tried an MSLT that day, and the Dr said it was invalid because of the 7 AHI. She doesn't bend an inch!
I wouldn't call my daytime sleeping as nap attacks - like I think of Narcolepsy. I always have time to find a bed. My sleepiness is not exactly normal either. It's a bad feeling that gets worse until I sleep. Even with a stimulant I only stay awake about 4 hours - I sleep right through stimulents. When I wake up it also sucks - being hard to get up, depressed and anxious for a while. Living your life in 4 hour segments is not easy, especially with many doctor appointments for me and my wife. She is being treated for breast cancer.
I'll take a look at your links.
Thanks again.
-Tim
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2 ReactionsArmodafanil (Nuvigil) has helped my daytime sleepiness and lethargy. I like it better (smoother, less jagged?) than the stimulant meds I've tried. It helps attention.
The big drawback is that now I need my 150 milligrams each and every morning for the foreseeable future.
YMMV
Hopefuly Armadafinil works for you. It made me so nervous I couldn't leave the house - slept right through it anyway. I just got diagnosed with Narcolepsy Type 2 and am waiting to be approved for Xywav.