Anybody wanna make a diagnosis?

[PhilJohnson]

I have always been a rather low energy person but lately it seems like I have even less. I have been finding myself randomly falling asleep lately. I usually get at least 8 hours of sleep and still feel like I could sleep another 8 when I wake up. And for some odd reason I have a slight sore throat almost every morning. I'll do something for a few hours and feel like I gotta take a nap. At work sometimes it is a real battle to stay with it. I constantly space out and forget what I am doing. Sometimes I'll fall asleep while working under the car, surfin' the net, or even driving Since I don't have any sort of health insurance just curious if any one else has to deal with similar problems and any suggestions of how to deal with it.

[arkansastwist]

my dad suffered with this his entire life, your airway is obstructed by a small flap of skin causing you to snore, this is a major cause of sleep apnea. which can lead to heart attacks if not taken care of. when my dad sits down, you can count him out, he will be asleep within 2 mins. My husband, who doesn't snore a lick, was just diagnosed with mild sleep apnea, and is now on a c-pap machine. if you have any questions just give me a holler, but your symptoms mirror my dads to a tee...he's on his second heart attack now he just turned 55

[PhilJohnson]

Originally Posted by arkansastwist

my dad suffered with this his entire life, your airway is obstructed by a small flap of skin causing you to snore, this is a major cause of sleep apnea. which can lead to heart attacks if not taken care of. when my dad sits down, you can count him out, he will be asleep within 2 mins. My husband, who doesn't snore a lick, was just diagnosed with mild sleep apnea, and is now on a c-pap machine. if you have any questions just give me a holler, but your symptoms mirror my dads to a tee...he's on his second heart attack now he just turned 55

Yowzers, that doesn't sound good I always thought sleep apnea was caused by being overweight (I am 40 pounds overweight so it could be a possibility). I know when I was a kid the doc said I had these polyp thingees in my nose. I guess the one side is almost completely blocked. My mother wanted surgery but the doc thought it wasn't a big deal at the time. Not sure if that was the type of obstruction your talking about.

[arkansastwist]

the polops can cause more restriction of air, and can contribute to the apnea. The sore throat is caused by a flap of skin that is in your throat, and when you breath in it vibrates causing the sore throat, you can have apnea without snoring as with my husband, but since you are exhibiting sleepiness during the daytime when sitting, driving and other activities this is a sign that you are waking up during the night and not getting enough sleep. a lack of iron can cause you to feel tired, i suffer from iron defincacy, but i dont fall asleep.

[where I want to]

I was having a similar problem- fell asleep in the truck while held up for construction. If I sat down, I fell asleep. I was also cold a lot and a host of other wierd symptoms. Turned out to be a vitamin D deficiency. Took prescription amounts of Vit D for 8 weeks and all these things that I thought were just me getting old fast diappeared.
I have no idea if that is your problem but it was an easy, fast thing to do.

[Sawmill Jim]

Another thing are you reel stressed ? Lately i been stressed to the max an a tad depressed i think .Nothing big just been raining payment coming due timber market in the john .On the bright side even if they cooked me i would be so old an tough you couldn't stick a fork in the gravy Get on line an check it out some too good luck . Wife found out she had a bad lack of vitamin D too .

[mtnest]

My first thought is Mono. You are describing classic signs. Go to a doctor and have them check you out

[billooo2]

I used to work in a sleep lab. Your symptoms are classic for sleep apnea. It would not be cheap, but a sleep study......actually probably 2 because the first one would be to diagnose/document that it actually is sleep apnea. The second would be to have one with C-PAP where they would determine what pressures would be required to alleviate the symptoms.

It was often amazing to see the difference in the sleep patterns during that first night with C-PAP. And the patients would wake up in the morning saying, "Wow!!!! I have not slept like that for years!!!"

[PhilJohnson]

Well I am not depressed or stressed, quite the opposite. My job is easy and I only work 20 hours a week on average. I know my friend has sleep apnea and has a C-pap machine. He never had troubles with falling asleep but he never felt rested. Told me he felt a bit better. I have thought about doing one of those sleep studies but alas the cash is in short supply these days. It does seem like it is kinda like on a cycle. Sometimes I'll feel pretty good for months at a crack and then bammo it hits. There was only one other time I can remember it being worse and that is when I worked 50 hours a week. The guy who rode with me had to make sure I didn't fall asleep on the way to work or back from it. I crashed my car the one time when I didn't have anyone to wake me up while working that job. I hit a sign, 4 inch steel pipe, and a fence post. The air bag woke me up that time. I know both my mother and Grandma suffer from a similar sort of thing, though they never went in to the doc for it what ever it is.

[Terri]

Phil I have sleep apnea and I never could sleep with the machine. Instead, I lay in my side and put my lower hand under my chin to tip my head back. I sleep that way, with my hand under my chin.

For me it works, but I have no polyps so what works for me might not work for you.

[Ravenlost]

Yep, sounds like sleep apnea. My hubby has it and he uses a c-pap machine at night. Made all the difference for him.

[Harry Chickpea]

The more precise diagnosis would be narcolepsy. It can have multiple causes. Yes, sleep apnea is a big one, but low thyroid function, depression, or anything that creates low oxygenation levels (low iron and oxygen transport in the blood) can be a primary cause. It isn't normal, seeing a doctor could actually be cheaper than not seeing one. Just go in asking for a full blood workup and thyroid makers, along with a referral to a sleep clinic if you think that is appropriate. Sore throat could also indicate low-grade infection, especially of the sinuses or gum disease like periodontal pockets. A trip to a good dentist wouldn't hurt.

-not a Doc., but always get a chuckle over the stupidity of House.

[DJ in WA]

Originally Posted by PhilJohnson

Well I am not depressed or stressed, quite the opposite. My job is easy and I only work 20 hours a week on average. I know my friend has sleep apnea and has a C-pap machine. He never had troubles with falling asleep but he never felt rested. Told me he felt a bit better. I have thought about doing one of those sleep studies but alas the cash is in short supply these days. It does seem like it is kinda like on a cycle. Sometimes I'll feel pretty good for months at a crack and then bammo it hits. There was only one other time I can remember it being worse and that is when I worked 50 hours a week. The guy who rode with me had to make sure I didn't fall asleep on the way to work or back from it. I crashed my car the one time when I didn't have anyone to wake me up while working that job. I hit a sign, 4 inch steel pipe, and a fence post. The air bag woke me up that time. I know both my mother and Grandma suffer from a similar sort of thing, though they never went in to the doc for it what ever it is.

Sounds like you need more stress! If you can't afford a doctor, you might consider working another couple hours a week to pay for one. I can't imagine having to live like you do fighting sleep all the time.

[hotzcatz]

My DH has slight sleep apnea and he was always napping here and there. Now he sleeps with ear plugs so he doesn't wake himself up with his own snoring. He gets much better sleep now.

A multi-vitamin just in case it is some sort of nutritional deficiency, some earplugs while sleeping, a bit of "sleepytime" tea before bed and a half hour of exercise sometime during each day should sort you out one way or another, I'd suspect.

[smunn]

Your symptoms also fit the signs of a low functioning thyroid (hypothyroidism). Had same symptoms (incredible lack of energy, sleepiness during day after 8 hrs sleep, napping out of nowhere for no reason, sore throat, raspy voice, etc.) went to doctor, found out thyroid level was way below average. Am fine now taking medication. The medication is inexpensive $12/3 month supply through Walgreens.

To find out if this is the issue you take a simple blood test.

[pookshollow]

My DH was diagnosed with sleep apnea a couple of years ago and now has the CPAP machine. I sleep better too, because he's not snoring. He is not overweight, in fact he's quite lean, never smoked, so doesn't fit the "typical" profile.

I think you need to see a doctor, too. It's one thing to put yourself at risk, but what if you fall asleep at the wheel and take someone else out?

[JIL]

hypothyrodism is what it sounds like to me too. It doesn't cost alot to find out and the consiquences of not finding out could be a much higher cost. Even not finding out about sleep apenia can be a high cost. I'd find some way to check it out. Now on another note my Grandmother said the more you rest the more rest you need, and It takes energy to make energy. I'd find out! JIL

[Old Swampgirl]

Sounds like it might be metabolic syndrome, a precursor to diabetes. If you know of a friend who has a glucometer, ask them to check your blood sugar for 3-4 mornings fasting--before you eat or drink anything. Knowing your age & usual diet would help at guessing diagnoses.

[The Paw]

The difference between getting a diagnosis from a homesteading board and a doctor is that helpful posters will describe what they have experienced in their own lives, while a doctor will systematically evaluate for a range of possible causes.

Dude, you are not fixing a busted septic pump here. Go see a doctor.

[wottahuzzee]

If you go in to the doc and get any lab work done, get a testosterone level in addition to the thyroid. If thyroid is low, you can almost bet your testosterone is also low.