Posted by Angi on March 16, 2000 at 09:37:40:

In Reply to: Re: too much sleep posted by Angie on March 16, 2000 at 09:08:02:

Well, I was diagnosed with a really rare sleep disorder, called "sub-wakefullness syndrome". However, I usually just say "hypersomnia" (literally sleeps a lot). There are many different hypersomnias, some are more treatable than others.

I was diagnosed by a sleep specialist, after 2 sleep studies, 2 MSLTs (daytime sleep study) and a MWT (Maintenance of Wakefulness Test). The reason for so many tests was because of how rare my condition is.

The medication I take is called Provigil. It is a very new medication (FDA just released it for use barely a year ago). It keeps me awake and I do not feel as much a need to nap throughout the day.

Most hypersomnias are not as difficult to diagnose and there are many possibilities as to why you are so tired/ sleepy.

WARNING! WARNING! I AM NOT A DOCTOR!

This is just my personal opinion. I would go your MD or family doctor first, they may want to check your thyroid and run other medical tests. If they can not find anything through tests, they may say you may be depressed.

At this point I would go to (or get a referal to) a sleep specialist. A sleep specialist would probably want to do a sleep study to observe what is going on with your sleep. And from that point determine a diagnosis and treatment.

If you think you may be depressed, it would not hurt anything to try anti-depressants (if that is what your doctor recommends). But there are many people who have been told for years they were depressed, only to find out they had a treatable sleep disorder.

Regardless, do see a doctor, it may make all the difference in the world.

Good Luck and feel free to ask me any other questions you may have.

Angi

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