Excessive Sleepiness - at what point is it too much?

[grinningghost]

Hey Matthew - I can relate!

I have MS AND Severe Depressive Disorder. I take meds for both, and they CAN make people sleepy, but I've been on them so long, it's not the meds anymore. It's just poor old me.

My neurologist has explained that with certain conditions like MS, exacerbations can manifest themselves as extreme fatigue and sleepiness. I often go for weeks where I literally must force myself out of bed and find myself going back to sleep within an hour - because I simply can't stay awake.

It's quite debilatating at times. And it's hard on the spouse as well - I mean, who wants to hang out with someone who is constantly sleeping? But please hang in there with her - it will probably pass in a while and she'll have more energy. In the meantime, let her sleep - her body is obviously craving it.

Hugs to both of you.

 

[clh2]

I just wanted to pass along some . I can't imagine what you and MeanLauren are going through.

 

[barkley]

just like with insomnia and getting into a cycle of not being able to sleep, the body can get into a cycle of sleeping too much. i've had problems with both, and despite med and pysch. treatment for depression and other contributing factors the best advice/practice i've found is to maintain a sleep schedual and no matter how i feel (with the exception of those days other physical restrictions prevent) i do best to stay on the same exact schedual day in and out. i sometimes have to force sleep upon myself via a sleeping pill, i sometimes have to force waking times via caffeine-but it prevents me from going on marathon periods either sleepless or "in hibernation" (as dh and the kids refer to it).

the other issue that i think may come into play here is the terrible stress lauri has been under in recent times-the issues with the psycho ex-employee and her employer's hr departement have to have an impact on her physicaly and mentaly. even if she's not "feeling" or thinks she's stressed, excessive sleep could be her body/mind's way of providing down time or copeing. in that case the only way to address it is to address the stress-in my case i waited too long and it took a horrendous physical toll on my body before i accepted i could no longer work.

hope she finds some relief.