Sleepiness at work and is getting worse

Posted , 4 users are following.

Hi

I'm 44 yrs old slightly overweight, I work at a computer all day although I can have regular breaks from it. I am suffering from excessive sleepiness everyday it started 2yrs ago only really happening at work now I am getting it at home as well I feel like I am going into a trance like state I am aware of what is going on around me although I feel like I'm outside the box, my arms go heavy and I feel like I'm slurring my words although no one has noticed or said anything if I sit down at home and relax I can guarantee I will be asleep within minutes I can't watch a film or drive, if I'm a passenger in the car I am also asleep within minutes I have had a sleep test done nothing bloods tests for almost everything again nothing I am now waiting for a brain scan to be done I am really scared this is something out of my control, it will last anything from minutes to all day and I have no control over it my eyes just want to close please help I am getting desperate

0 likes, 18 replies

18 Replies

Prev
  • Posted

    I have do thing called brain stem hyperstonmia aura very painful migraine 
  • Posted

    THIS IS VERY SERIOUS!  I am a retired nurse and the exact thing happened to me!  VERY hard to diagnose!  I had to stop driving and just stay at home crying and writhing in pain on the couch.  SHORT ANSWER:  It sounds like you may have Sleep Apnea (I have both Central AND Obstructive) as well as Hypoxia!  Hypoxia (you don't get enough oxygen, especially while sleeping) I had a Sleep Study and it proved the Sleep Apnea.  I had to have a CPAP machine to wear at night.  Very difficult for me to get used to since I'm very Claustrophobic.  I cried and tore it off the first week but eventually got used to a less face covering one called nasal pillows.  Then they sent me home with a monitor to wear on my finger to measure my oxygen saturation.  It went down to the 40's and 50's at night! The next day a company wheeled an oxygenator into my room and hooked it up to the CPAP.  The first night was like night and day and I had no body pain!!!  It was like being reborn.  I had gotten so bad that I had started blanking out and had driven over a curb, luckily just a few blocks from my house, not the highway.  I was taking narcotics for pain and was lucky I didn't die because my oxygen only became more depressed trying to get rid of the intense pain. I can now in comparison, after studying the effects of low oxygen on the body, compare it to a patient with Sickle Cell Anemia.  It's horrendous pain!  All due to not enough oxygen.  I bought a "Pulse Ox" that I can put on my finger at any time to tell me if I am low. I have a small carry around oxygen tank in my car, but only had to use it once in 8 years when I was visiting friends in a high altitude.  I hated it but otherwise I get enormous headaches.  I need to bring oxygen on airplanes and when I travel above 1400 ft.  You may have different boundaries.  I have been worked up inside out by the world famous Mayo Clinic and the only thing they can come up with is this is Pulmonary Hypertension secondary to Sleep Apnea.  This sub-catagory (they say) is not terminal like plain Pulmonary Hypertension.  There are 5 sub-catagories.  Please let us know your progress.  You really need a specialist for this diagnosis.  Oh, I am married and felt less than a female having to look like an alien at night.  We have worked it out to where he stays in the guest room during the week so my machinary does not keep him up at night.  I just make sure I put it on and go to sleep after he does on the weekends.  I may be getting on in years but have always taken great pride in my looks and am not about to give up now!  You have to have  a sense of humor because this is your quality of life and worth it!

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.