Sleep Disorder?

I don't know about a sleep disorder, but I had trouble with this and they did a blood test and found I was anemic/iron deficient. They put me on prescription iron pills and I'm like a new woman! Maybe look into getting a blood test.

Best of luck!

Dear J.,
I had that same problem but I had a lack of vitamin B. My thyroid needed a boost also. I chose not to go to a medical Dr. but to a chiropractor that deals in nutrition also. After that I felt myself again with no meds. Look for a reputable Dr.(chiropractor) that has more than just a 4 year degree. My Dr. has an 8 year degree and could be a med Dr. but he felt he could help more people as a chiropractor instead. I hope this helps. L. J

I would do as your doc advises. not to scare you, but it scared the freckles right off me. last year I began feeling sluggish throughout the day & after a while it started where i could sleep up to 12 hours & still not feel rested. i was irratable, cranky, had pains in between my shoulder blades, heartburn, & feeling like i was walking under water. one day at work a had a pinching like pain in my chest & thought nothing of it & kept working, then it started hurting more & more & i noticed I was getting shortof breath & dizzy & my head started hurting. I told the girl I was working with to check my bloodpressure, it was through the roof & high enough for me to go straight to the ER. they did an EKG and some other tests. the doc told me that the months of me feeling sluggish & exhausted were the very first warning signs that should have landed me in his office, but i paid my symptoms no mind at the time. I was told that i was having PVC's(premature ventricular contractions), it's where the muscles around the heart basically start spazzing. he said it went on long enough that it cause left ventricle damage to my heart & that everything that was happing to me was basically my body's way of trying to tell me I was heading for a fullblown heart attack. i've changed alot of things about my diet & started taking baby aspirin everyday, and make sure i don't get worked up over petty things. i have not had an episode since. my doc advised me to take short naps throughout the day, like 30 min here and 45 there. it has really helped alot. i hope i haven't scared you too bad, but with hind sight being 20/20 there are alot of things i wish i wouldhave changed. goodluck & god be with you.

Hi J.,

When that happened with me, I was ultimately diagnosed with adrenal exhaustion and low thyroid caused by an autoimmune problem (technically called Hashimoto's disease). After more work with a Doctor of Osteopathy, it turned out my entire endocrine system was out of whack. The doctor said it's common that when one part of the endocrine system gets out of whack (due, for example, to lack of sleep postpartum), the whole system will get messed up, at least to some extent. Those problems aren't necessarily yours, I realize, but I do recommend that you see a good doctor and be aware that low thyroid doesn't always show up with the typical first test. I have had the best luck with my holistic doctor....

I wish you the best,
P.

I used to require a lot of sleep until I had my thuroid levels checked, found out I had hypothyroidism, have been medicated for it to keepit under control and it has changed my life! I have so much more energy and need less rest. It really was an incresible discovery for me (especially since I didn't have any other typical hypo symptoms).

my first thought was thyroid or adrenal problems. good luck. i on the other hand, am 4 months pregnant, and i'm just tired all the time from making a baby! so i can relate...

I have also always needed to sleep 9-10 hours to feel rested. Fortunately I don't have to go to work in the mornings. If I did have to work, I would purposely get a job on second shift. Maybe consider an earlier bedtime on a regular basis. It takes awhile for your body to catch up just as it does when you vacation to a different time zone. Another option is to take a nap every day. Also cut out all caffeine because that makes you crash hard when it wears off.

Dear J.,

Absolutely, there are sleep disorders that cause people to sleep too much. It's possible that you are not entering deep sleep for a long enough period of time (for whatever reason), so your body is crying out for more sleep in an effort to get the rest and recuperation you need.

Sleep disorders can cause all kinds of moderate to serious problems, so it's a good thing you're having this study done now.

A sleep study is a wonderful thing! One of my friends had similar symptons and has finally done the sleep study. She found out that when she sleeps, her blood is not oxygenated enough and that is why she was always so exhausted among other symptons. Anyway, she got some type of machine that provides oxygen during her sleep now and she feels WONDERFUL. She says that she is back to her old self. (After years of struggling). So I would highly recommend you do the sleep study.

Talk to your doc about checking your thyroid levels. These can affect your level of alertness if they are out of whack.

You should have a blood test to ck your hormones and see about the chemical that is in your body to help you wake up. My dh had issues with something being low and it makes him very sleepy. He can sleep in on the weekends, take a nap in the middle of the day and still go to bed early.. It's hard for me sometimes. I want him to spend time with the kids but he's sleeping. I just want him to enjoy them.

I would say diet and exercise could help, but I don't know that the answer is just with those.

I don't knwo if any of that was helpful.

A Little about me:

SAHM of 3 beautiful kids (12,8,3) Been married for 18yr and together for since HS.

I have had this problem my whole life. I could sleep 12 hours and still have trouble getting out of bed in the morning. My doctor prescribed antidepressants, and they worked for a while, but after about six months, they were right back where they started. I have never considered a sleep study -- I thought those were only for people having trouble sleeping (that's never been a problem for me). If you do the sleep study, please let me know if they find a solution.

Just sign me "Never Sleepless in Indiana"

It may be your thyroid. Pregnancy can cause a lot of interesting things to happen even afterwards. HAve your doctor check your thyroid. Are you snoring at all? You may not be getting good sleep. That is another option. My son had obstructive sleep apnea. He was not getting good deelp sleep. Have them check your thyroid before a sleep study. You may be hypothyroid. I love osteopath doctors. They try to help you as naturally as possible and can check some things out without being too invasive. If you live in the Cleveland area I know 2 who are great. One in Richfield and the other in Middleburg Hts. I had problems like you did and it has been a lot of little things working together that has helped me. Vitamins are critical and the right ones. Nutrition exercise and rest are critical.

I suggest you schedule the sleep study ASAP. You should feel well rested in the morning - not so tired that you cannot wake up to an alarm and still need a phone call from hubby. Do you snore in your sleep? If so, snoring (sometimes loudly) can be a sign of disruptive sleep apnea. The airway gets cut off and you snore/scare yourself awake. It can be fatal if you do not wake yourself up to breath AND it is very treatable. This is the first thing they will check you out about.
There is also a condition called narcolepsy, where you fall asleep suddenly. It doesn't sound like that is the problem, but I am no doctor.
I have restless leg syndrome, which causes me to not stay in the most restful sleep pattern - so I take medication for it. Now, I sleep better and it has helped me alot.

Getting your needed sleep is the best thing you can do for your health- so getting 8/9 hours doesn't sound bad. I've had the same struggle getting up. I found some help with adding some vitamins & also Juice Plus (www.susaningramjuiceplus.com) to my daily routine- it's eliminated my afternoon energy slump, which is nice. I also think as I've tapered my sugar intake I've been able to get up easier in the mornings. So I've seen improvements just with diet & exercise changes. Good luck with the sleep test.
P.
www.BabysitEase.com

I'm not one to diagnose, but it sounds like some of the signs of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Believe it or not, that can be controlled with diet/nutrition, as well as many other sleep and lack of energy disorders.
This is actually something that I give people information on, so if you'd like to set up a 15 minute phone appt with me, I'd be happy to share with you what I've found (no charge, or course!)
Wish you the best, especially for your little one's sake -- If only my mom hadn't had to go through this our entire lives until 6 years ago when we found this company, life would have been very different! But I'm glad to "have her" now!
Blessings!

Your story sounds a lot like my own experience some years ago. Sleep without feeling rested. Could hardly respond to my child. Please! Get the sleep study! I didn't have that chance until after many years of struggling with fatigue - I learned that I have obstructive and central sleep apnea. Miraculous difference after I began treatment with an oral mandibular advancement appliance (I didn't tolerate the CPAP very well). Also have your thyroid hormones checked. I am on thyroid replacement. It is critical to my health. I also was diagnosed with chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia a few years ago and discovered that excessive stress can definitely affect my energy as well.

Get the sleep study done soon as possible. You have classic symptoms of sleep apnea/disturbed sleep pattern. Do not put it off, you are much too young to go through this now. Sleep apnea can cause high blood pressure, cardiac problems, depression and other mental disturbances brought on by "bad" sleep patterns. When we do not have enough REM sleep it can cause hallucinations at its worst. So, go NOW to schedule that sleep study.

Switch your diet to fruits, veggies, whole grains, dairy, and protein. No caffeine and lots of water. Make sure you are getting lots of exercise! I also felt horrible and then I changed my diet around and started to exercise. I have been sleeping awesome! I have been extremely rested when I wake up. No alcohol. People tend to use alcohol to fall asleep, but if you do this you don't get enough good sleep. Make sure you aren't taking any drugs that are interfering with your REM sleep. Your sleep study should help you diagnose the problem, but I will tell you that diet, water, and exercise will make a big difference. Maybe you are getting too much sleep. I work better on 6 hours. When I get more than that, I feel sluggish.

Good Luck, zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Hello J.. I recently had this problem and finally went to see my Dr back in March. He suggested I walk for an hour before bed (but at least two hours after supper). I thought, alright now you have lost it. By the time I cooked supper I could hardly keep my eyes open to eat the supper I cooked!! and we eat at 6pm. Well, I did as he said so that I could tell him he had lost it :) and it was amazing how it helped. I would go to Walmart and walk around (and spend too much money) for 30 to 60 minutes each night. It really helped...hope that helps you too!

Hey there! I am a respiratory therapist and when I started reading your post the first thing that popped into my head was sleep apnea. I am so glad you are having a sleep study! That is the first place to start. :)

I agree, do the sleep study and let us know how it turns out! I have always been a sleeper too. I do dream A LOT and that seems to keep me from getting or feeling rested. I never thought of doing a sleep study but it sounds like a good idea.

Dear J.,
I feel your condition is directly related to your lifestyle,
eating habits, and perhaps your adrenal glands. I would be
happy to make several recommendations. At your young age,
this is not normal. You should be waking up with renewed
energy and vitality --alert and ready to go.
Very likely, a few changes in your diet, and taking some
nutritional supplements, you would feel like a new person.
JoannaW

There are so many possibilities of what it could be...thyroid, diet, depression, chemical imbalance, vitamin defficiency, etc. I had the same problem of wanting to sleep all the time. I would fall asleep on the way to work, at work, on the way home, sleep for 2 hours after work, eat dinner, then go to bed. I never wanted to leave the house or visit friends, because I'd rather sleep. It started when I was 22y/o. I had a sleep study done and it revealed that I have idiopathic hypersomnia- which means excessive daytime sleepiness, but they don't know why. Not quite narcolepsy, because I didn't loose muscle control or dream during the nap study, but something like it. I'm not a big fan of taking meds, but I literally can't function without them. Caffeine had no affect on me at all. Now I take 3 pills every morning, which will keep me going through the work day. It's not a cure, but it made my quality of life so much better. After I had my daughter, I tried to stay off the medicine to see how I would do...result, my boss thought I was severely depressed and hated my life, because my eyes were always "sleepy" looking and I had trouble focusing. After I started back on the medicine, she couldn't believe the change she saw in me. I was happy and cheerful, alert...

Definitely do the sleep study- not only for you, but for your family too. Don't let life pass you by anymore. It's an annoying process to go through, but so worth it in the end. Be open to what they say and suggest.

yes there is and you need to get to a sleep apnea clinic soon.they can help you on that also go see your main dr as you may also bejust lacking iron
soon dear

Have your Dr. do some blood tests along with the sleep study. I was like you. All my life I was a sleeper. It didn't matter if I got four hours or fourteen hours, I was always tired. turns out that it was my thyroid. I tested off the charts. Its def a good thing that you want to fix it. Stick with your Dr ands don't stop til you have an answer. Life is so much better now that six hours is enough for me. I wake up before my kids most days, and thats really a great feeling compared to my past!!! Good luck.

You may not be getting restful sleep due to another problem. I would have the sleep study done. If nothing else, it will rule out any other problems. It could be a diet thing too. Do you eat a lot of processed or junk foods? Are you eating late at night? Do you take a vitamin? All of those things can contribute to just a general feeling of ickiness. I know I ALWAYS feel better when I take my prenatal vitamin (I take them even when I'm not pregnant). And I always feel much better when I drink lots of water during the day. Make a few small lifestyle changes and see if that helps, but I would go ahead with the sleep study.

I strongly suggest that yiy have the sleep study done. There can be medical reasons that 4you are needing sleep and have a difficult time waking up. You want to be sure that there is nothing mediacally wrong before trying anything else. The sleep study will supply the answers.

I suggest seeing a psychiatrist and asking for assistance. I have sleep problems as well. I always feel extremely tired when I first wake up. It's like tug-of-war to get going in the morning. It doesn't matter how much sleep I get... 4 hours or 12 hours. My psychiatrist suggested trying the over-the-counter and non-medication items. I have a slow and non-energetic routine for getting ready for bed. I have tried drinking chamomile tea, warm milk and taking melatonin vitamins. The melatonin does help me relax, and I do feel a little bit more rested. I suggest doing the sleep study as this may be a neurological issue. The OTC and natural remedies haven't helped me too much.