Excessive Daytime sleepiness

[LoveAmerica]

Hi. My name is Diane. Besides struggling with ADHD,depression and anxiety, I seriously struggle with insomnia and I am newly diagnosed with sleep apnea. Even though I have been using the CPAP machine I still have extreme fatigue and sleepiness for the whole day and evening. I fall asleep at Mass ( Church), during movies and other times. I cannot have caffeine or any stimulants. They make anxiety worse. Does anyone have any advice for me?

[Amiwrong]

Hi LoveAmerica. Have you tired natural things like ginseng, or protein shakes with energy boosting ingredients? Depression definitely adds to any fatigue issues.

I can take stimulants like my adhd medication and coffee, but at the end of my work day and weekends I am done, with zero energy. Do you have chronic fatigue syndrome perhaps? I do wonder if I do, but my doctor doesn’t seem that interested in figuring this out. I’ve always had issues with fatigue for as long as I can remember, and I’ve always had anxiety and depression, so maybe theirs a link there 🤔

Do you struggle with concentration and short term memory as well? Of course these symptoms can also be explained by the depression, anxiety and adhd.

Like me, you’ve probably had your iron, thyroid, and whatever else checked and it’s all fine. I would say my biggest issue is fatigue. It is taking so much away from life, and linked to my depression.

I just wanted to say that I understand and I do hope you get advice that can help you

[Mark1499 in reply to Amiwrong]

All I can offer is my prayers and you’ve gotten them

[Alpakka123]

Hello,The two things that come to mind are Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD) and narcolepsy. PLMD is only detected via sleep study, so they would have caught this along with the apnea. The test for narcolepsy is separate.

I use a CPAP as well. Make sure to follow the directions for keeping CPAP clean (mine has me clean my nose piece daily, mask and water chamber once a week, hose every 6 months).

[MaggieSylvie]

Hi LoveAmerica, the usual advice would be not to allow yourself to sleep during the day, so that you sleep at night. Then, if you sleep well at night, you should be more awake during the day. You're all upside down. I find that drinking one Nescafe cappuccino each day helps me to get on with my day mid-morning, and I use it as a reward for getting something done. That might not suit you, but it's what I do.