Question
Hi, I had a black out, so I think as I was driving alone and the vehicle went off the road at 75mph and drove up a 100 foot sand dune and then drove down a 130 foot hole. I awoke to find myself off the road, confused and not sure what happened. When back in town I started testing with neurologist, cardiologist and regular doctor. for about 6 months went though cat scans, ambulatory EEGs, regular EEGs, heart stress test and process where they when up my leg vein to my heart to check for blockages and to test heart strength. no neuro issues, slight hypotrophic myopothy, but per cardiologist, nothing to worry about at this time. I am about 60 pounds overweight. My blood pressure has been higher then normal over the past year. But blood work ok other then slightly elevated cholesterol and tryglycerides. I have normally never sleep that much about 4-6 hours a night, I wake up refreshed and ready to go each morning (never tired). But if I have a meeting and lights are turned off for presentation, I will start to dose off. I come home from work and I will fall asleep in about 5 minutes, I will be able to sleep for 1-5 hours, but will wake up with slight headache and will wake up feeling exhausted!!, It's like I can't control falling asleep, but I will be able to go to sleep later that night with no problem. My wife states I fall asleep very fast. I have a appointment with a sleep specialist in about 2 weeks. I have not energy in the afternoon and evenings, my job is in insurance so I am at a desk each day. I am hoping you can give me some ideas as to the problem. I just don't understand how I can fall asleep and wake up feeling exhausted and drained. It is effecting my family as I have a wife and 3 boys. Any info, would be appreciated. Thank You!
Answer
You vwery well may have like myself, narcolepsy, which is the uncontrollable urge to fall asleep at inappropriate times. Go to sleepnet.com click on disorders narcolepsy, go to narcolepsy network.org and talk about sleep.com. The best thing you did was contact a sleep specialist, what you will need to do is have your sleep monitored overnight so doctors can see if you start to fall asleep right away and start dreaming, but judging from your symptoms you could very well have narcolepsy. As long as they drew basic blood test to rule out sluggish thyroid or anemia, feel free to email again karel. Narcolepsy can vary so from people that nod out so many times a day to just being tired, one need not have all the symptoms.
