Excessive daytime sleepiness post surgery

[jencat824]

I would find another sleep dr & this time find a neurologist who specializes in sleep medicine. You may have more complex issues, for instance no time in deep sleep. A neurologist can look at your condition from a different view point, since your other dr did surgery, sounds like he is an ENT. And even though you had the surgery, that doesn't mean all your sleep problems are 'fixed'. You may have other sleep issues than just sleep apnea. I know you said you are in a small town, but hopefully they have a good neurologist. If not, I would look into traveling to the nearest one for an opinion.

Jen

[Jay Aitchsee]

Excessive daytime sleepiness and or fatigue have many possible causes. Google either for rather extensive lists. Unfortunately, it seems the only way to determine the cause is by the process of elimination. It would appear you've ruled out sleep disorders, but that still leaves many more to go. As others, I would suspect your meds and think you should do what you can to ensure one or more are not causing the problem. Depression is a frequent cause of sleepiness and/or fatigue, but often meds given to manage depression may result in sleep abnormalities. Drugs given to promote sleep may also cause sleepiness or fatigue. I would be suspect of every drug taken and would try to eliminate as many as possible (tapering off if necessary). Once you are satisfied drugs or depression are not the cause, you can move on to other possibilities, which can be as far ranging as heart disease or hormonal imbalance. Ideally, I think it would be helpful to find a general practicioner to guide you and oversee the results and recommendations of specialists.

[49er]

Excessive daytime sleepiness and or fatigue have many possible causes. Google either for rather extensive lists. Unfortunately, it seems the only way to determine the cause is by the process of elimination. It would appear you've ruled out sleep disorders, but that still leaves many more to go. As others, I would suspect your meds and think you should do what you can to ensure one or more are not causing the problem. Depression is a frequent cause of sleepiness and/or fatigue, but often meds given to manage depression may result in sleep abnormalities. Drugs given to promote sleep may also cause sleepiness or fatigue. I would be suspect of every drug taken and would try to eliminate as many as possible (tapering off if necessary). Once you are satisfied drugs or depression are not the cause, you can move on to other possibilities, which can be as far ranging as heart disease or hormonal imbalance. Ideally, I think it would be helpful to find a general practicioner to guide you and oversee the results and recommendations of specialists.

Excellent post. Just wanted to add that if you decide in consult with your doctors to taper off of your meds, verify if they need to be tapered as psych meds and beta blockers definitely need to be.

49er

[49er]

Hi Darlene,

Did you get a copy of your results from the CBC to make sure there wasn't anything that might be on the verge of being outside the normal range? Perhaps they might indicate a possible problem?

Also, where you tested for metabolic issues as that definitely causes excessive daytime sleepingness? Sorry, I can't remember if a CBC covers that or not.

Again, this might not lead to anything but I am just giving you a more things to consider as a possible culprit.

49er

[DazzlinDarlene69]

Thanks tmr, I will call the sleep lab today and ask them about the N3 (deep sleep). I didn't know what that even was since my doctor didn't mention anything about it in the report except that it was 0%. The sleep lab usually refers me to my sleep dr. and he isn't very forthcoming with information. But, if the sleep lab tells me that I have to ask my sleep doctor, then I will call his office and leave a message for him today. Thanks.

[Pugsy]

Please dig deep into the potential side effects of the meds you might be on.
SSRIs are known to mess with sleep architecture (affect the sleep stages) as well as cause extreme daytime sleepiness.
It's just an ugly side effect to most psych meds.

[DazzlinDarlene69]

My sleep doctor who performed my sleep apnea surgery (Dr. Thomas Rojewski, MD) is a specialist in Otolaryngology & Sleep Medicine. The neurologist I see (Dr. Bryan Bjornstad, MD, his webpage states he is: General adult neurology, Clinical neurophysiology with emphasis on EEG, Sleep Medicine-evaluation and management of sleep disorders. The second one, Dr. Bjornstad referred me back to the first one for the excessive sleepiness, even though he should've been able to deal with it himself. I have been waiting on my appointment with Dr. Bjornstad for three months now, it's Aug. 25. So, now that the third sleep study has been done, maybe he will be able to answer some questions. My psych doctor (Dr. Hira) doesn't respond to my pleas for help when it comes to wondering if my psych meds may be the problem. That's why I'm waiting for my second opinion appt., but it's not until Oct. I just found out this morning that my doctor's office takes walk-ins on Mondays starting at 12Noon. So, I'm planning on being there early to see if I can't get someone to do some more tests, answer questions, etc. If they can't do anything, I'm going to ask to be sent to Ohio State University in Columbus. It is very well-known for its' excellent doctors. It's an hour away, so I would have to have my mother drive me as I cannot stay awake that long to drive anywhere. Wish me luck today.

[49er]

My sleep doctor who performed my sleep apnea surgery (Dr. Thomas Rojewski, MD) is a specialist in Otolaryngology & Sleep Medicine. The neurologist I see (Dr. Bryan Bjornstad, MD, his webpage states he is: General adult neurology, Clinical neurophysiology with emphasis on EEG, Sleep Medicine-evaluation and management of sleep disorders. The second one, Dr. Bjornstad referred me back to the first one for the excessive sleepiness, even though he should've been able to deal with it himself. I have been waiting on my appointment with Dr. Bjornstad for three months now, it's Aug. 25. So, now that the third sleep study has been done, maybe he will be able to answer some questions. My psych doctor (Dr. Hira) doesn't respond to my pleas for help when it comes to wondering if my psych meds may be the problem. That's why I'm waiting for my second opinion appt., but it's not until Oct. I just found out this morning that my doctor's office takes walk-ins on Mondays starting at 12Noon. So, I'm planning on being there early to see if I can't get someone to do some more tests, answer questions, etc. If they can't do anything, I'm going to ask to be sent to Ohio State University in Columbus. It is very well-known for its' excellent doctors. It's an hour away, so I would have to have my mother drive me as I cannot stay awake that long to drive anywhere. Wish me luck today.

Darlene,

Lots of luck in getting answers.

But if drugs are the culprit as some of us have suspected and the doctors won't do anything about removing any of them or at least reduce the dosage, you may have to be assertive and strongly request that this be done.

I am not to going to advise you to do what I did which was to taper off on my own from the psych meds I was taking at a very slow rate. But when I made up my mind do to it, I made it clear to my psychiatrist with my mannerisms that there were no other option and my mind was made up. Fortunately, even though he didn't support my going off of the med, he cooperated with my slow tapering plan and I was very lucky.

I guess what I am saying in a round about way is the doctors work for you and it is up to them to do whatever it is necessary to optimize your health which is to alleviate excessive daytime sleepiness. The team you have right now clearly is not doing that with their refusal to look at the meds that have been prescribed.

Hopefully, you will get the answers you deserve and what I am saying will be totally moot.

49er

[DazzlinDarlene69]

Just a follow-up to the excessive daytime sleepiness. I finally got in to see my psych doctor and told him that I was going off the one medication that I suspected was making me sleepy. He took me off it that day, no weaning. Within two weeks I was a different person, awake and able to live my life again. I cannot believe that I went through a whole year like that and that the doctor never suggested going off of it himself. I am in progress to change doctors, but have to wait until my appointment in Oct. Wow, I am feeling much better now. Thanks 49er for your comments and suggestions.

[49er]

Just a follow-up to the excessive daytime sleepiness. I finally got in to see my psych doctor and told him that I was going off the one medication that I suspected was making me sleepy. He took me off it that day, no weaning. Within two weeks I was a different person, awake and able to live my life again. I cannot believe that I went through a whole year like that and that the doctor never suggested going off of it himself. I am in progress to change doctors, but have to wait until my appointment in Oct. Wow, I am feeling much better now. Thanks 49er for your comments and suggestions.

I am so glad to hear this Darlene. Thank you for the update.

49er