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The Dragon Slayer??

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Posted 5/10/2011 7:18 PM (GMT 0)

Sometimes, I feel like I’m a dragon slayer for lack of better words. I’m so tired around this time every day, so tired I’m afraid I will fall asleep right here at my desk at work.

It’s like sleep is the dragon, and I’m on the quest to fight it off. Every single day around this time, give or take a few mins. Anyone else every feel like this?

Posted 5/10/2011 7:50 PM (GMT 0)
Hopegirl,

YES.  Every day - around 1pm-ish - I hit a wall....big time.  The delirious, eye-crossing, mind numbing fatigue.  I'm not a coffee or soda drinker....but I sometimes have to take an Excedrin (or two) that has caffeine in it, just to survive this point of the day.  If I'm home, and the girls are down for a nap - I sometimes close my eyes for a few....but, more often than not, I wake up feeling WORSE than when I started.  So, I just try to push past the wall and make it through. 

Speaking of which....that time is fast approaching and I'm beginning to feel it!!

Hang in there, girl :)  I know it doesn't help much - but you're not alone :) --Tina

Posted 5/10/2011 7:54 PM (GMT 0)
Tina,

 

It does really help to know that I"m not alone. It's so difficult and I'm in so much pain, I have a massage scheduled for 5:30. I don't even want to go, I look forward to it as soon as it's scheduled. I just want and need to go home.

 

Thank You again!! I see it's 3:54 here That is an hour and 6 mins for me. My heart is beating faster and everything. I know if I blink for too long, that will be it!

 

Posted 5/10/2011 8:00 PM (GMT 0)
Oh yes allot of days I will take a little nap around this time, not always mind you, but sometimes. I do have a question for you though, is this the only time of day that you are tired? The reason I asked because allot of times day time sleepyness can be caused by sleep apnea, and if you have that, it can be easily treat. But other than that concern, I guess I am lucky ( in a sense) since I am on disability, I am home and I do not have to fight off the dragon, but I can instead, just succumb to the dragon and catch a few zzzzzzzzzz's .

I do feel for you though, there is nothing worse than fighting off sleep when at work in the afternoon!

White Beard
Posted 5/11/2011 1:47 AM (GMT 0)
Back when I worked every day at 3:00 I would get so sleepy. Sometimes, I just shut the door to my office and took a short nap. The last 18 months I worked though it got really bad and if my boss was gone for the day I went into his office and laid down on his couch and actually slept till 5:00. He knew I was sick and so did the receptionist, if there was an important call she would come wake me up, otherwise she let me sleep. My boss was great about it, he said he just glad I was there.

Now I have my days and nights mixed up so everything is truly messed up.
Posted 5/11/2011 3:06 AM (GMT 0)
I really feel for you fighting that dragon every day at work. There are days when I can barely hold my eyes open, but I don't work, so if I really want/need to I can take a nap. I do understand though. *hugs*

Loretta
Posted 5/11/2011 3:49 AM (GMT 0)
Every afternoon, around 3 or so, I would so love to all asleep, have no idea how long I would sleep as usuallly I have to push through and do something for somebody. I do not sleep well, but get by on little sleep, as I am used to it. I love to stay up till 3 am or so and would so love to then sleep till around 11am, like that ever happens. maybe my meds kick in then. Glad to know I am not alone.
Posted 5/11/2011 4:18 AM (GMT 0)
Hello Hope! That name sure has a special ring to it! wink

I think if you suffer from CP and your working, then from experience at least for me, the answer is...certainly an afternoon sleep attack can visit you.

There are several other things that can cause, this sleepiness you suffer...one being boredom...and then maybe stress...or being on the down cycle of BT pain med's.

Is it possible that any of things might be the culprit?....maybe a combination of the three?

Several of the members have made excellent suggestions...but one stood out to me..and that would be White Beards suggestion. I think over 50% of at least Americans suffer from Sleep apnea.

I have too!...have not slept well at all in several months, and wonder if I suffer from the same thing. Probably a Dr's appointment in in order then.

Good luck to you, and I hope you find the culprit that is robbing you of an energetic day. It can be miserable to say the least. shakehead

SE wink
Posted 5/11/2011 5:22 PM (GMT 0)
S.E.

If you think you might have sleep apnea, you really should get it checked out, a simple overnight sleep study will do the trick and will determine if you have sleep apnea, or any other problems with sleeping, such as Restless Leg Syndrome and an host of other things! Sleep Apnea can easily be treated with a varity of different types of PAP devices, (Postive Airway Pressure devices, ie CPAP, BiPAP, and ASV machines) and now they have a host of different meds to treat Restless Leg Syndrome, most of them are low dose Parkinson type medication. So if you are tired all the time during the day, and find yourself falling asleep, then please go and get it checked out! It really is important, as sleep apnea is can be extremely dangerious and can sometimes, even have fatal consequences! It is not just not snoring and not sleeping well, but it can cause high blood pressure, and even diabetes, and host of other things, and even possible stroke and heart attack, during your sleep! Not to mention the possibility of falling asleep at the wheel while driving and the dangers that poses not only to you, but loved ones in the car with you, and other pedestrians and people in vehicle on the road with you. The implications are scary and staggering! I am a strong advocate of getting checked out and treated for sleep apnea! So not just SE but anyone that thinks they might have it, Please, Please, Please, get it checked out, and if needed treated, if not for yourself, then do it for your loved ones, and for people like me that might just be sharing the roadway with you!

White Beard
Posted 5/11/2011 6:16 PM (GMT 0)

         Yes!..I agree WB!....although I'm not sure that is what I sufer from, I surely will get it checked out. My bosses wife found this to be the case with her, and he told me that there is a very high percentage of people that have it, and do not realize it.

      My next visit!... I will bring it up to my PCD, and I know we have a sleep clinic right here where I live.

          I'm thinking I was blaming my CP on my being tired all the time. As soon as I get home, I usually take a cat nap and then eat a bite of supper, then back to sleep, and up at least two times a night. Morning comes around and I'm still tired, and have never felt refreshed in several years. Maybe its something else in my case, but I do agree it is worth looking into.

 One thing I have noticed is that my airway is cut off quite a bit since I sleep on my back. As I push my lower jaw forward, I noticed I take in quite a bit more air and its eaiser to breath.

       Thanks!

 SE wink      

Posted 5/11/2011 6:55 PM (GMT 0)
Hopegirl,

Hello. I've found (using several years of experimentation) that changes in dietary habits dramatically improve my energy, even during the afternoon malaise hours. I also deal with chronic pain due to interstitial cystitis, and I know that pain adds an extra element of exhaustion that's not easily remedied. That being said, you might really benefit from even subtle changes in your diet. I'd personally recommend fewer calories, slow-digesting whole grains, and vegetarianism / veganism. Obviously these alterations aren't for everyone, but I've seen a lot of clinical evidence demonstrating how they work biologically. Those biological benefits often spill over into noticeable psychological benefits. Pain, as you know, doesn't exist in a vacuum; it's a reactive phenomenon that worsens with dietary blunders.

Of course, you may have an extremely healthy diet. I don't know, but I do realize that even the healthiest people often find avenues for improvement when trying to alleviate pain.

Good luck with your other stress and pain-reducing ventures.

Sincerely,

Cyrano
Posted 5/11/2011 11:30 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, I tend to nod offf around 3-4 p.m. and then a lil kitty will try to pull something and
I'll hear him and have to go for the water gun...it's weird how they know when to be naughty...
they wake me 10 to 20 minutes in the nap....today it was lil Remington my snowshoe kitty with bright blue
eyes looking at we to say "What did I do?"....as if he could get away with it...
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