Well that explains a lot...
Think for a moment about sleep. What does it do? How does it help us to function? Why do we need it? Why is it important?
Every time I've tried to ween myself off of coffee or related beverages, it has failed. Despite having tried my hardest to get sleep and exercise, as well as eating a well balanced/healthy diet, I often find myself struggling to maintain wakefulness throughout the day. Earlier in the year, a classmate told me that I could quit coffee if I tried. It was just a matter of "mind over matter", I insisted that I couldn't.
Today I spoke with the sleep doctor, about my sleep clinic results. When first looking at the results one line was both underlined and bolded
Increased REM Sleep.
I had no idea what that meant for me, until today. Apparently it's a pretty clear indicator that I have excessive daytime sleepiness.
So next Thursday I'm scheduled in the sleep clinic from 8:30 am until 3:30 pm. It's a day of intermittent napping/attempts to nap. They basically want to see how easily/quickly I fall asleep and the type of sleep I'm having, even after a full night of sleep the night previous.
Even after swearing off stims, here I am taking another. The doctor gave me the option of going on Ritalin. I felt, it might be a good idea to try it, given that all the drugs I was on previous were extended release. Instant might be a better fit for me. But, if it is as horrible for my body as Concerta was, I'll be dropping it like a frying pan full of hissing, spitting, scalding oil. Fact is, if it works it could nip both my EDS and inattentiveness in the bud.
His number one recommendation - get lots of sleep. My response was that I can do this month, but as soon as I start working getting the amount of sleep I need to function, is no longer going to be an option.
Every time I've tried to ween myself off of coffee or related beverages, it has failed. Despite having tried my hardest to get sleep and exercise, as well as eating a well balanced/healthy diet, I often find myself struggling to maintain wakefulness throughout the day. Earlier in the year, a classmate told me that I could quit coffee if I tried. It was just a matter of "mind over matter", I insisted that I couldn't.
Today I spoke with the sleep doctor, about my sleep clinic results. When first looking at the results one line was both underlined and bolded
Increased REM Sleep.
I had no idea what that meant for me, until today. Apparently it's a pretty clear indicator that I have excessive daytime sleepiness.
So next Thursday I'm scheduled in the sleep clinic from 8:30 am until 3:30 pm. It's a day of intermittent napping/attempts to nap. They basically want to see how easily/quickly I fall asleep and the type of sleep I'm having, even after a full night of sleep the night previous.
Even after swearing off stims, here I am taking another. The doctor gave me the option of going on Ritalin. I felt, it might be a good idea to try it, given that all the drugs I was on previous were extended release. Instant might be a better fit for me. But, if it is as horrible for my body as Concerta was, I'll be dropping it like a frying pan full of hissing, spitting, scalding oil. Fact is, if it works it could nip both my EDS and inattentiveness in the bud.
His number one recommendation - get lots of sleep. My response was that I can do this month, but as soon as I start working getting the amount of sleep I need to function, is no longer going to be an option.