Excessively sleepy? Could be more than poor sleep

christinequilts · Post by **christinequilts** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 7:15 pm

Anyone else see this article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050905/hl_ ... h_sleep_dc

I would love to see the actual research article to see how they defined EDS...to me sleepiness is different then fatigue. Personally I can do a lot of things when I'm fatigued but its a lot harder when I am actually sleepy and worried about falling asleep. I would also like to know how they determine who had apnea or sleep related breathing disorders- or rather who didn't. As we all know there are way too many people who have no idea they have apnea...and worse yet the ones who suspect they might but can't get their doctor to take them seriously & send them to a sleep specialist.

And how many people who are given antidepressants are actually clincally depressed? It seems all too often doctors would rather write a script for an antidepressant then try to find the actual cause of the problems. I don't think anyone can go through years of lack of restorative sleep and not get depressed at some point- especially when they have to stop participating in things because they are afraid they might fall asleep. But then they have a reason for your sleepiness, don't they?

Fatigue Fighter · Post by **Fatigue Fighter** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 8:09 pm

Christine,

You can obtain a free copy of this study by going to this link for a pdf download.

http://jcem.endojournals.org/cgi/rapidp ... 005-0035v1

It is in the August publication of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. The author published it online prior to print and it is free.

Fatigue Fighter

Im2tired · Post by **Im2tired** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 8:16 pm

I'd be curious about the actual study too. The statement "Individuals reporting treatment for diabetes were close to two times more likely to report excessive daytime sleepiness than those who were not being treated for diabetes." There was no mention if it was controlled or uncontrolled diabetes. Not taking depression into consideration, I have 5 conditions that can cause me to be tired: Type 1 diabetes, hypothyroid, celiac disease (due to lack of nutrition because of damage to the intestine), rheumatoid arthritis (my rheumatologsit siad it can cause fatigue even if controlled) and of course the sleep apnea. In a way it's amazing that someone did concider a sleep study since I had so many other "excuses" to be tired.

So 3+ monthes into CPAP therapy and I'm still very tired many days and I'm left wondering what's the reason. Where does the depression end and the tiredness start? I know that I don't have all the kinks worked out with XPAP therapy but in the long run how will I know if I'm depressed or there is another non sleep apnea reason for tiredness?

Fatigue Fighter · Post by **Fatigue Fighter** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 8:30 pm

In a way it's amazing that someone did concider a sleep study since I had so many other "excuses" to be tired.

Sleep Apnea was one of the last things considered for me too (other than chronic fatigue syndrome). My mother has diabetes and my sister has rheumatoid arthritis. I have hypothyroidism. Autoimmune disease runs in my family, so the doctors tested me for everything and I suspect they also considered depression as a factor but ruled it out because I don't have chronic depression. I do get depressed at times, but that is because I wasn't getting enough "good" sleep. I also am in my 4th month of XPAP therapy and it is a lot of "tweaking" and testing and trials but I eventually expect to get good results.

p.s. I believe the study really just wants Endocrinologysts to consider depression and diabetes as potentially being a causative factor with daytime sleepiness and not just assume Sleep Apnea is the sole cause.

I really hope you get to feeling better real soon.

FF[/quote]