Why Am I So Sleepy??

[Biscuitsmom31]

The last couple of weeks I've been extremely sleepy all the time. It doesn't matter how much sleep I get, I'm still fighting sleep when I'm driving, typing at work, watching television, and even eating. It's miserable!

I asked my rheumatologist about it Monday and she said it was just part of having rheumatoid arthritis. Well, I've had RA for 9 years now and I've never been sleepy like this. They did bloodwork which all came back normal. Also, since my parent's are diabetic I thought that might be the problem. I bought a meter and tested my blood sugar this morning when I woke up. It was 84. I think that is a normal reading.

I can't keep chugging Red Bulls and 5 Hours of Power, etc. It's expensive and doesn't even help.

My children told me last night that they're sad because I'm always sleeping and not spending any time with them.

Why am I so sleepy??????

 

[wishspirit]

you could be anemic, that can cause people to be very tired

Get a blood test from your doctor!

 

[Biscuitsmom31]

you could be anemic, that can cause people to be very tired

Get a blood test from your doctor!

I did. My bloodwork is normal.

 

[budbeerlady]

Medication? My Mom has rheumatiod and Fibromylangia, she could sleep 24/7/365 or she would if she could.

 

[Pooh's Pixie]

Pregnant? Mononucleosis?

 

[mickeyboat]

Dehydrated? Try replacing the Red Bull with water and see what happens.

Have you been eating enough protein, exercising? Any history of SAD?

Denae

 

[crossfamily]

I blame it on the winter blahs.. I have been like that too for some time now. All I want to do is sleep and like you my blood work is normal and I'm not taking any meds...

 

[grinningghost]

I know how you feel. I have MS and there are weeks that I could literally sleep non-stop if I didn't have to get up to go to the bathroom. It's horrible when you're in a constant state of drifting off.

I would ask your doctor if they can possibly prescribe you some Amantadine. It does help some people with MS fatigue - maybe it works for RA too?

Good luck to you - I can relate.

 

[Biscuitsmom31]

Pregnant? Mononucleosis?

Definitely not pregnant! I have no other symptoms of Mono. I had mono once 13 years ago and I recall having a horrible sore throat.

 

[clarabelle]

Try cutting out the caffiene. Are you eating OK? Getting any exercise?

 

[Biscuitsmom31]

Medication? My Mom has rheumatiod and Fibromylangia, she could sleep 24/7/365 or she would if she could.

I do take truckloads of medication but it hasn't ever done this to me before. I haven't had any recent changes in my meds either.

For the Record, I'm getting ready to do a study where I can get Rituxan (new extremely expensive drug) for free. I have no clue what that stuff will do to me. Right now I'm taking:

Methotrexate - 25 mg weekly
Prednisone - 10mg daily
Plaquenil - 200mg 2x daily
Lexapro - 10 mg daily

I don't know that any of these would cause me to be so sleepy!

 

[Biscuitsmom31]

Try cutting out the caffiene. Are you eating OK? Getting any exercise?

I have not been eating well or exercising.

My life has been a roller coaster lately and I haven't been able to get into a decent routine. I have been grabbing whatever to eat and mega dosing on caffeine.

I was just talking to my co-worker about how we are both going to start eating better. I'm also thinking of joining an exercise group that does aerobics for 30 minutes over the lunch hour Monday-Thursday across the street. I'm sure these things couldn't hurt.

 

[Biscuitsmom31]

I know how you feel. I have MS and there are weeks that I could literally sleep non-stop if I didn't have to get up to go to the bathroom. It's horrible when you're in a constant state of drifting off.

I would ask your doctor if they can possibly prescribe you some Amantadine. It does help some people with MS fatigue - maybe it works for RA too?

Good luck to you - I can relate.

It's very hard to do a good job at work when you are so sleepy. I'm fortunate that I've been at my job long enough that they won't get rid of me too easily.

Yesterday, I was typing a contract and instead of the word "obligors" I typed "burglars".

 

[Beth76]

My first thought was SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) due to lack of Vitamin D, which you get from sunlight. You may want to ask your doctor about that.

 

[Biscuitsmom31]

My first thought was SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) due to lack of Vitamin D, which you get from sunlight. You may want to ask your doctor about that.

Ahhh. I was wondering what a PP meant by SAD, but I didn't want to look stupid. Hmmmm. I am inside a lot.

 

[Tazicket]

I have not been eating well or exercising.

My life has been a roller coaster lately and I haven't been able to get into a decent routine. I have been grabbing whatever to eat and mega dosing on caffeine.

I was just talking to my co-worker about how we are both going to start eating better. I'm also thinking of joining an exercise group that does aerobics for 30 minutes over the lunch hour Monday-Thursday across the street. I'm sure these things couldn't hurt.

That might have a lot to do with it. I know when I'm having a rough time and I eat not great food, it just makes me feel worse.

When I started having extreme fatigue problems, they did a blood test and we found out that I have hypothyroidism and also an auto-immune thyroid disease. Did they check thyroid levels when they did your bloodwork?

Whatever it is, I hope you start feeling better soon.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

Yesterday, I was typing a contract and instead of the word "obligors" I typed "burglars".

and ...sorry, I couldn't help but laugh out loud over that. I'm forever using the wrong word when typing and/or talking. Drives me nuts!

How about depression? It's both caused me to sleep way too much or too little.

I would look closer at your medications and talk to the dr and the pharmacist about them. I was on one med last summer for migraine prevention and I slept ALL the time. It hit me when we were going to drive home from WDW and I slept the whole way. Once we were home I was always sleepy--I'd sleep at night, wake up, eat breakfast, and go back to sleep. I'd be awake from the late afternoon through the evening and then start all over again. It was not fun!

And yes, you need to be eating better, laying off the caffeine, and getting a little exercise. Like I should talk.

 

[arminnie]

You might need a sleep study. I was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea in my 40s. I just wanted to sleep constantly.

I had NO idea that I was waking up every 2-3 minutes and getting NO REM sleep at all. You would think that you would know, but I didn't have a clue.

 

[Pooh's Pixie]

I do take truckloads of medication but it hasn't ever done this to me before. I haven't had any recent changes in my meds either.

For the Record, I'm getting ready to do a study where I can get Rituxan (new extremely expensive drug) for free. I have no clue what that stuff will do to me. Right now I'm taking:

Methotrexate - 25 mg weekly
Prednisone - 10mg daily
Plaquenil - 200mg 2x daily
Lexapro - 10 mg daily

I don't know that any of these would cause me to be so sleepy!

My FIL is on many of the same meds for RA. He is not sleepy. I would put a call in to the MD, and ask if they know why this might be happening. Maybe they didn't test for something in the bloodwork.

 

[Biscuitsmom31]

You might need a sleep study. I was diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea in my 40s. I just wanted to sleep constantly.

I had NO idea that I was waking up every 2-3 minutes and getting NO REM sleep at all. You would think that you would know, but I didn't have a clue.

My dad has terrible sleep apnea. That could be the problem. The only thing that seems odd is that it started overnight. I think apnea would have been giving me problems for a while instead of fine one day - miserably sleepy the next.

I have gone from someone who has always been able to get by on 5 hours of sleep to someone who can't get enough and it literally changed overnight.