Dog tired

[Catsamaze]

Hi all. Have had severe insomnia for a year. I’m gradually tapering off klonapin. On a few other meds as well... Lamictal, Mirapex, and an maoi. Just over a serious depressive episode a couple of years ago. What’s happening now is a mystery to me. I have what can only be called “attacks” of almost paralyzing fatigue that are coming over me with increasing frequency lately. I’m not talking tired or very tired or fatigued in the usual sense. This goes well beyond that. Tests are negative. Not looking for diagnosis but wondering if anyone has experienced something similar and is so, what, if anything,helped. My docs write it off as anxiety. Wish I could put them in my shoes when these episodes of exhaustion happen. Thanks!

[Hb2003]

Maybe blood sugar is low ? .

[Catsamaze ADAA Volunteer in reply to Hb2003]

That’s possible, Hb2003. And probably would be easy to test for. Thanks

[Hb2003 in reply to Catsamaze]

Your welcome 😄🙏

[Jeff1943]

Sounds like nervous exhaustion caused by sleep inertia specially as you say you experience insomnia. Unbroken sleep is so important to both physical and mental health.

Evidently we go through various stages of light and heavy sleep and woe betide if we wake up during the heavy sleep period and cut short that cycle.

Napping is a danger because if you doze for more than 30 minutes you enter the heavy sleep zone: if you wake from that your brain complains by making you feel bad for 5 minutes or more.

Sleep should follow a pattern: 8.5 hours maximum not starting before 9p.m. or extending beyond 9a.m. in a fully darkened room. Keep off mobile/laptop/tablet/pcs for 45 minutes before retiring: the bright light of these devices makes your mind think it's daylight and not a time to be sleeping.

Anxiety is quite capable of producing the immobilising extreme fatigue you describe.

Keep your doctors on the case: have they given you extensive blood tests?

[Catsamaze ADAA Volunteer in reply to Jeff1943]

Thanks, Jeff. You’re describing good sleep hygiene and I could do better with that. One thing I didn’t mention is sleep apnea, which I have. I have not been consistently using the CPAP machine and that could be playing a role too. Extensive blood testing has come up negative........thx again......

[getdowngetup]

Hey Totally get the "deep deep fatigue"

A couple days ago I posted this:

Another increment down 2 to 3 days ago. In 5 weeks down from 2mg. to .25mg. Two more slow reductions of .125 mg. in next 11 days and ill be off of it after 2 years. Clonazepam/Klonapin is very, very potent and addictive medication widely prescribed and somewhat helpful. I peak withdrawals at 3 to 5 days and at about 7 days it pretty much subsides. Today I get to be nauseous, nervous, breathing labored, diarrhea, sleeping less and then anxious, sad and finally very deeply tired. Then I'm better. That's the cycle for me of getting off a powerful benzo. The Teledoc prescribed small dose of Trazadone. Only been 3 days on that. It does help already with some sedation at night dose. I'm not afraid of these changes although ditressing- I KNOW I WILL BE OKAY. I have a Teletherapy next week, start face to face new doctor & new therapist at local clinic first week in March. Definitely been a long strange trip. This is only tip of iceberg and no mention of the 45 years I utilized the Mental Health System while being a productive worker. Anyone else ever get off of a benzo that wants to share?

So yep that's how it is for me

I'm down to .25 mg now and hanging in there.

DV

[Catsamaze ADAA Volunteer in reply to getdowngetup]

To allude to your screen name you have certainly gotten up after being down! And I appreciate your being realistic about the process, knowing it will be unpleasant temporarily but that you will get through it. Benzos are tough to be on and tough to get off. And what’s frustrating for me is that klonapin never did anything for me anyway. Thanks for responding

[Sunshine1968]

Did you have a COVID test ?

[Catsamaze ADAA Volunteer in reply to Sunshine1968]

I have not, though I probably should. No other Covid symptoms but I know you don’t need more than one sometimes. Thanks for the suggestion, Sunshine....

[Hidden]

Sounds like chronic fatigue syndrome, very hard to diagnose. My friend has it. When she feeling ok she'll hang our the washing and then bang, she's laid low for days.

[Catsamaze ADAA Volunteer in reply to Hidden]

Sorry your friend has that, Jeremiah. I’m lucky that my episodes pass relatively quickly,,,

[Lazy_dog_lover]

I have had a few episodes that may be similar. I felt almost paralyzed as my mind could not focus and my body would not respond and actually move. I felt trapped, not tired.

[Catsamaze ADAA Volunteer in reply to Lazy_dog_lover]

That sounds equally dreadful, lazy dog. I’m thankful that my episodes always pass. I just don’t know when they will hit me or why.....

[Lazy_dog_lover in reply to Catsamaze]

One of my colleague’s daughter had chronic fatigue syndrome. I can’t remember if it had sudden onset. How are you vitamin D levels?