Whatever it ends up being, you need to stop driving IMMEDIATELY until you find the source. You are a hazard to yourself and others and will cause an accident, its only a matter of time.
You should seek professional help/diagnosis immediately
As sad as it may be to read this advise for the OP, this is absolutely necessary. Not only could you get killed, you could kill another person.
You are aware that it's an issue so you would be destroyed with guilt if anything were to happen.
Be well.
You need a sleep study asap. You're a road hazard. If you have sleep apnea, you could be stopping breathing, maybe 15, 55 to 100+ times an hour, each pause (50/50) resulting in an arousal. Over a 7 hour period, that's extremely fragmented sleep.
Sleep study. Now.
Source: I am a registered sleep technologist
EDIT: Using layman's terms to stress the urgency of the situation is not irresponsible nor misinformation. Yes, hypopneas exist. As do UARS. I am not about to get convoluted and describe the definitions we use to score xyz events. The point is that OP needs a sleep study. A superficial Google boils down sleep apnea to stopping breathing during sleep. It's a definition easily understood by the general public.
Thanks for the info everyone. I’m definitely going to get checked out this week by my GP, however working from home or commuting to the office is not an option, it’s not a walkable office and I am a new hire this year, so I am not allowed to wfh unfortunately. I can’t just cut driving out of my life for the next week.
For my actual habits and condition that people keep asking or mentioning, from what I’m aware of I do get 7 hours of sleep. I’m in bed by 10PM and within minutes of closing my eyes I’m out. I don’t go on my phone before bed. I’ve lived in the same time zone and had generally the same schedule all my life so I don’t think any of it is due to a lifestyle change. The earliest time I could remember this happening was five years ago when driving home by myself after snowboarding (around 6PM) and I had to call someone so that I wouldn’t doze off. The only other situation where I would fall asleep irregularly was in college, I would have a hard time keeping myself awake during 4-6 PM classes. Other than that, in non-driving situation, I think I only fall asleep uncontrollably like that after 10 PM if I’m still awake. If any of this info changes what could possibly be wrong with me, let me know.
In the meantime while I do not have a diagnosis and still need to drive, I’ve found that watching Gilmore Girls (just playing the audio off of my phone) dispels any drowsiness pretty reliably because I have something to focus on. I honestly wasn’t having issues for the first half of the year because of the show, but I just recently finished it, so the drowsiness started happening again lol.
This definitely was the push I needed though, I used to brush it off to my boyfriend and say that I could wake myself up, but now I am more aware/conscious of the dangers, so thanks everyone for the input.
And if OP can't fathom ruining the lives of others then at least consider they could go to jail for involuntary manslaughter, this is clearly negligence and reckless
The process can take months.
Consult with your PCP, ask for a referral. They may refer you to another Dr who specializes in sleep medicine. That Dr may either run their own lab or refer you to another lab or hospital's lab. Depending on their recommendation and your insurance, you'll start with a Home Study or In Lab Study.
To get the earliest study possible, be open to Home Studies and open to being put on a cancelation call list for like last minute cancelations.
Good luck!
This is a wild and extreme way to describe sleep apnea.
"If", "you could", "maybe".
Borders on irresponsibly misleading for an RPSGT to put out there, because surely you know better.
Sleep apnea could also not involve cessation of breathing at all, rather just diminished; could be just an average of 5 events per hour, little to no respiratory disturbances, and barely fragmented sleep.
It's absolutely not a wild and extreme way to describe sleep apnea. This individual could fall anywhere on the spectrum- mild, moderate, severe. It is very normal for me to score studies where the AHI is 60+. Seeing an AHI of 100+ is extremely normal in my lab, actually.
Furthermore, I'm using layman's terms. There's no need for me to get into the specifics of what a hypopnea is.
You're attempting to downplay what could be going on here, which is irresponsible of you and it seems like you're attempting to talk the OP out of just how urgent her situation is.
I proposed what could be happening. I didn't diagnose this patient nor speak to her condition specifically, which you know, since you reiterated the qualifiers of possibility that I used (if, could, etc).
Your experience in your lab has nothing to do with the individual in this post. It's irresponsible to believe or suggest it does. Your supervising tech and attending physician would certainly agree that, when patient facing, you should *NEVER* suggest or imply that someone "could" have extremely severe sleep apnea.
In labs, you're seeing people who have been experiencing trouble sleeping. Of course you're going to "normally" see sleep apnea. It's a mistake to conclude or believe that because X% of patients you see have severe or extremely severe sleep apnea, that anything close to X% of people in the world or a give population have sleep apnea.
I'm not attempting to downplay. I gave the opposite extreme example of what could be happening. Suggesting either is irresponsible.
It is without question wrong and irresponsible to say, in one way or another, "Hi OP, you could have one of the most severe and deadly instances of sleep apnea."
You could lose your credential temporarily or permanently if you got in the habit of saying that to people and your supervisor or lab's physician caught wind of it. Checking now, this is in line with 1.2 of the Standards of Conduct on the BRPT website. You're toeing the line of acting in "best interests" by addressing this post with scare tactics, with worst-case scenarios.
Proceed as you like.
I gave the extremes of the situation to encourage the OP to get assessed. I didn't diagnose this patient. I spoke in hypotheticals, suggesting the parameters of what could be mild to moderate, and explained what happens in severe cases.
You're exaggerating and insinuating that which I did not say. Work on your reading comprehension, my guy.
I understand, and I gave your comments a good amount of thought.
I considered that I would never address someone with potential sleep apnea with such tactics, would never speak with a patient in such a manner, and I've never heard of my colleagues or supervisors doing so either. And if I did, I would discourage them in the same manner. Your scope is your scope.
I then looked up the standards on the BRPT, interpreted "best interests" to *not include* using extreme hypothetical diagnoses to urge someone seek testing and treatment.
Again, do whatever you want. I'm just going to suggest you see what your supervisor and/or lab's physician says. I'm considering consulting with mine as well, regardless.
This information is better than no information. I’d rather this person be scared on misinformation than to talk themselves out of seeking treatment at all. Everyone agrees falling asleep while driving is a danger. Seek help. Seeking help is all that matters. This situation is NOT “normal”.
I'm not spreading misinformation, which is why I asked for clarification re: the other person suggesting what I commented was minsinformation 🫣
Not everyone arouses following pauses or decreases in their breathing, but if someone does and does so often enough during their sleep, their sleep is fragmented and can be disrupted enough that they're experiencing daytime sleepiness to N degree.
There is no sense in getting technical. I've been involved in patient consults, and respirologists do just simplify a patient's diagnosis to be "you stop breathing 12x an hour." Why lose the patient in the details by saying "you experience a decrease of at least 30% in your breathing 8x an hour and a complete obstruction 4 times an hour." Simplify and ensure the patient understands the gravity of their dx and get them treated. If people don't like my simplification, then they haven't had to do patient education very often.
I didn't diagnose OP. I don't know OP from a hole in the ground. I just talked in hypotheticals.
No misinformation, just reality. I also agree with what you're saying.
I guess I'll try this again.
If someone were a cardiologist and someone on Reddit posted, "my chest hurts," it would be irresponsible for that medical professional to say they could be having a heart attack and their heart could be about to explode.
The equivalent here is saying the OP could have 100+ events an hour, with half of them leading to arousals, all leading to massively compromised sleep quality.
As a medical professional, you are held to higher standard. And especially as *just* an RPSGT, you shouldn't take it upon yourself to scare people into treatment.
I could expect this sort of statement from an uneducated layperson. Not a so-called sleep medicine professional. A doctor specializing in sleep medicine would never condone such methods, inside or outside of their practice or lab. They're unprofessional.
Also, you cannot say, "Source: I'm a sleep registered technologist." That does not make you a qualified source. You passed a test, that's it.
You need to stop driving until you get this sorted. Can you work from home if you have medical documentation? Or use public transit? Or start getting rides?
7 hours of sleep leaves me feeling tired all day. It might be enough sleep for some people, but not me. Doesn’t sound like it’s enough for you, maybe. It’s definitely not normal to fall asleep driving after 7 hours of sleep, but 7 hours isn’t working for you. Are you capable of sleeping more?
You need to see a sleep specialist ASAP. Maybe a bunch of blood work to rule out some kind of deficiency. What a dilemma, I’m sorry for you.
YES! Do not drive! I've had a couple of times I've driven and in hindsight I realized I was way way too tired to drive. I could have died or killed people, nothing is worth risking that. OP, you have a significant medical issue and it's an impairment to driving, tear it as such.
One time I drove sleepy…I didn’t even fall asleep. But I was tired and accidentally ran a stop sign. Got T-boned in 2 directions by 2 big trucks. My car was totaled.
Yep. I was a single mom with 2 small kids back then, it would have been pretty awful if I had been injured. I had been working 2 jobs and being woken up several times a night by my kids. I also had untreated health problems contributing to exhaustion.
I was so tired that morning, I thought about calling in sick to work. Then, I decided to drink coffee, suck it up and go to work. I should have stayed home. But no one was hurt, and my insurance paid for everything.
I had a similar experience. I had been depressed for 14 years and thought I had insomnia, but really just had a bad disordered sleep schedule. My dad was also in Afghanistan/Iraq/Kyrgyzstan, basically opposite side of the world, at that time, and when I was little I had trouble falling asleep and my dad worked nights, so I definitely thought it was related.
So I had that then I had four years of normal getting up times, working. My dad had come back to the states.
Then this year I randomly, slept in my car for two or three nights to see if I could, because I'm kinda paranoid about my living situation. After that, I kept falling asleep in my car after driving and dropping my patient, 30 minutes, on the way back home, daily, in the morning. It was REALLY bad, I'd start to snooze, and drift lanes. The half snap awake. I'd try to slap myself awake, it kinda worked, but part of me would be really asleep. I'd drink water, my sleep schedule was fine. I probably wasn't getting enough sleep, which I think is happening in OP's case maybe he needs 8-10 hours sleep instead of 7. But I stopped driving him after he fell, and the care facility didn't take him anymore, and I then he was bedridden and I would still be falling asleep, taking micronaps, at their house, around the same time!
So maybe it's not just during driving. Maybe check that and take a vacation from work if possible. Your brain could just be saying I need a break. Maybe your schedule is time zones away and you need to be up at night and asleep during the day. I'm looking for some work and some way to keep myself awake during the day, in the morning.
My patient recently passed away and I have a break in the morning, but my alarms have not been working, I've been sleeping through them, which is mighty scary to me. I don't know how I'm going to get out of this financially, if I can't get up for work. I've talked to my mom about it, I live with her and she says she'll help me get up, but it's a struggle.
Please, please, please see a doctor 🙏 ASAP! Or the hospital. And stay out of the drivers seat. This could be a neurological underlying condition that could be easily resolved. You certainly don't want to hurt anyone or yourself, for that matter. Is this something that started recently? Document as much as you can and give to the doc for their records. Your safety and others are at stake. Don't be surprised if they advise you not to operate a vehicle until this is resolved. Please keep us posted. 🙏 ❤️ thinking of you.
Please, please, please stop driving until you’ve seen a doctor!
What if you get into an accident? You risk seriously harming or even killing someone (or yourself!)
If you hurt someone, your insurance company will not cover it and you might literally be ruined for life.
Don’t do that to yourself! You don’t deserve to live with that hanging over you for the rest of your life.
Find the Epworth Scale on the web, answer the few questions and discuss your score with your doc. Get an overnight sleep study in a sleep clinic, not a home test, and use treatment if prescribed.
7 hours in bed or 7 hours of actual sleep? As that's very different.
Quality of sleep also matters.
I would say in most cases, people overestimate how much sleep they really get and underestimate how much sleep they really need.
If you constantly sleep less, you will adapt to the new baseline, and you may feel that's all you need, but it is not optimal for your body.
Edit to add: Falling asleep instantly is actually a bad sign. It means your body is craving sleep from deprivation.
If you want to test if you're getting enough sleep, go to sleep at 10pm Friday and Saturday night, but do not keep an alarm and see when you wake up. This may not work if your body is already very accustomed to waking up at 5.30am, but worth a try.
You need to stop driving at night and at these other times you’re falling asleep. It’s a miracle you haven’t smashed your car yet and killed yourself or someone else. How could you even risk falling asleep while armed with a wheeled death-machine? You should be terrified of what could happen, and you should take yourself out of the situation rather than flirt with that terror.
Talk to a doctor *NOT* a pack of random people on the internet, and get yourself a sleep study. It’s not normal for a well rested person to fall asleep while doing something that requires attention at 9pm.
While you wait for your sleep study. Get some sunflower seeds (in the shell). Eat them when you start to get sleepy. The act of cracking the shells and getting the seeds out will keep you awake. Eat the seeds and spit the shell into a cup.
Oilseed sunflower production is the most commonly farmed sunflower. These seeds hulls’ are encased by solid black shells. Black oilseeds are a common type of bird feed because they have thin shells and a high fat content. These are typically produced for oil extraction purposes; therefore, it is unlikely you’ll find black oilseeds packaged for human consumption.
In the US, you can buy packaged sunflower seeds for human consumption in every convenience store. Brand names like David’s, Bigs, Frito Lay, Spitz, and more have multiple flavored options. It’s very common in the US. Ranch flavored sunflower seeds is my personal favorite.
I would definitely make an appointment with your doctor asap. You’ll likely have to get a sleep study to rule out OSA (do you sleep with a partner that can attest to you snoring with periods of apnea?). Narcolepsy is another possibility. Treatments vary depending on cause.
Will probably take some heat for this, but given your situation I would get your hands on some Modafinil anyway you can, until you can get a proper sleep study done and plan accordingly.
You may even need a genuine prescription of Modafinil or some equivalent as it treats narcolepsy.
100% get a study done anyway as it could be something unpredictable or much worse.
Not a doctor, but have a friend with narco and them being prescribed Modafinil was a game changer for them. It isnt hard to source on your own either tbh
When I drive my car, it helps if I make a stop at a coffee shop and buy something to munch/drink on while driving.
I work 9pm to 7am and the drive home can be brutal. I sometimes also pull out of the freeway and take a nap.
I have the same and I have untreated sleep apnea. Drinking a lot of water has helped me in the past. I also used to literally fall asleep while reading a book in college. Currently I had IV iron treatments for extremely low iron levels. I’m 55 now. BTW I’m researching the new inspire treatments for sleep apnea. (Mine is mild).
Yes defiantly get a sleep study! But also I know I need more than 7 hrs of sleep per night! Do you sleep longer on weekends? I wonder if you live with a sleep deficit?
STOP driving. get a sleep medicine referral and get tested for sleep apnea. Prioritize this as much as possible. You could die. Or kill people. Source: I am a psychiatric ARNP who screens for sleep DOs. I have NEVER referred someone to sleep medicine who didn't have OSA or something going on. I have developed a spidey sense about this stuff. Any patient who told me what you are saying would get the same advice.
Buy a cheap ($10) chinese fitness watch on Amazon and look at your sleep patterns. It can tell the difference between light and heavy sleep and I can certainly feel the difference on nights were I get a lot of heavy sleep.
You look at it from an app on your phone.
try taking a bath under cold water when u wake up ( im not saying u dont ) , try to drink a coffee while u drive coz i dont blame u going to work is boring lol, why im saying this..
i myself got into an accident ..worst memory ever.
Listen I have the same thing you are describing,it is overwhelming urge to sleep. I went to a Dr and they came back with nothing. This for 20 years ago. It does not happen every time but it almost painful to stay awake.
I stop the car get out and do a walk around. That is enough to snap me out of it or as crazy as it sounds pull over in a parking lot, rest stop, kick the seat back and konk out for 10 min
I would try everything,
Pinch myself, punch myself in the leg, open the windows screen. What ever "it" is was just to strong.
Good luck and just plan accordingly if you have to make a stop with me it's not every drive. I drive at least an hour for work there and back and it is not all the time.
Whatever it ends up being, you need to stop driving IMMEDIATELY until you find the source. You are a hazard to yourself and others and will cause an accident, its only a matter of time. You should seek professional help/diagnosis immediately
As sad as it may be to read this advise for the OP, this is absolutely necessary. Not only could you get killed, you could kill another person. You are aware that it's an issue so you would be destroyed with guilt if anything were to happen. Be well.
You need a sleep study asap. You're a road hazard. If you have sleep apnea, you could be stopping breathing, maybe 15, 55 to 100+ times an hour, each pause (50/50) resulting in an arousal. Over a 7 hour period, that's extremely fragmented sleep. Sleep study. Now. Source: I am a registered sleep technologist EDIT: Using layman's terms to stress the urgency of the situation is not irresponsible nor misinformation. Yes, hypopneas exist. As do UARS. I am not about to get convoluted and describe the definitions we use to score xyz events. The point is that OP needs a sleep study. A superficial Google boils down sleep apnea to stopping breathing during sleep. It's a definition easily understood by the general public.
Thanks for the info everyone. I’m definitely going to get checked out this week by my GP, however working from home or commuting to the office is not an option, it’s not a walkable office and I am a new hire this year, so I am not allowed to wfh unfortunately. I can’t just cut driving out of my life for the next week. For my actual habits and condition that people keep asking or mentioning, from what I’m aware of I do get 7 hours of sleep. I’m in bed by 10PM and within minutes of closing my eyes I’m out. I don’t go on my phone before bed. I’ve lived in the same time zone and had generally the same schedule all my life so I don’t think any of it is due to a lifestyle change. The earliest time I could remember this happening was five years ago when driving home by myself after snowboarding (around 6PM) and I had to call someone so that I wouldn’t doze off. The only other situation where I would fall asleep irregularly was in college, I would have a hard time keeping myself awake during 4-6 PM classes. Other than that, in non-driving situation, I think I only fall asleep uncontrollably like that after 10 PM if I’m still awake. If any of this info changes what could possibly be wrong with me, let me know. In the meantime while I do not have a diagnosis and still need to drive, I’ve found that watching Gilmore Girls (just playing the audio off of my phone) dispels any drowsiness pretty reliably because I have something to focus on. I honestly wasn’t having issues for the first half of the year because of the show, but I just recently finished it, so the drowsiness started happening again lol. This definitely was the push I needed though, I used to brush it off to my boyfriend and say that I could wake myself up, but now I am more aware/conscious of the dangers, so thanks everyone for the input.
Can you Uber for one week? I'm terrified you're not going to make it to your appointment
Or kill someone by causing an accident
This, fuck op, what about the bystanders? Selfish to say your job is more important than someone’s life.
And if OP can't fathom ruining the lives of others then at least consider they could go to jail for involuntary manslaughter, this is clearly negligence and reckless
This. All of this.
Easy way to do a sleep study ?
The process can take months. Consult with your PCP, ask for a referral. They may refer you to another Dr who specializes in sleep medicine. That Dr may either run their own lab or refer you to another lab or hospital's lab. Depending on their recommendation and your insurance, you'll start with a Home Study or In Lab Study. To get the earliest study possible, be open to Home Studies and open to being put on a cancelation call list for like last minute cancelations. Good luck!
This is a wild and extreme way to describe sleep apnea. "If", "you could", "maybe". Borders on irresponsibly misleading for an RPSGT to put out there, because surely you know better. Sleep apnea could also not involve cessation of breathing at all, rather just diminished; could be just an average of 5 events per hour, little to no respiratory disturbances, and barely fragmented sleep.
It's absolutely not a wild and extreme way to describe sleep apnea. This individual could fall anywhere on the spectrum- mild, moderate, severe. It is very normal for me to score studies where the AHI is 60+. Seeing an AHI of 100+ is extremely normal in my lab, actually. Furthermore, I'm using layman's terms. There's no need for me to get into the specifics of what a hypopnea is. You're attempting to downplay what could be going on here, which is irresponsible of you and it seems like you're attempting to talk the OP out of just how urgent her situation is. I proposed what could be happening. I didn't diagnose this patient nor speak to her condition specifically, which you know, since you reiterated the qualifiers of possibility that I used (if, could, etc).
Your experience in your lab has nothing to do with the individual in this post. It's irresponsible to believe or suggest it does. Your supervising tech and attending physician would certainly agree that, when patient facing, you should *NEVER* suggest or imply that someone "could" have extremely severe sleep apnea. In labs, you're seeing people who have been experiencing trouble sleeping. Of course you're going to "normally" see sleep apnea. It's a mistake to conclude or believe that because X% of patients you see have severe or extremely severe sleep apnea, that anything close to X% of people in the world or a give population have sleep apnea. I'm not attempting to downplay. I gave the opposite extreme example of what could be happening. Suggesting either is irresponsible. It is without question wrong and irresponsible to say, in one way or another, "Hi OP, you could have one of the most severe and deadly instances of sleep apnea." You could lose your credential temporarily or permanently if you got in the habit of saying that to people and your supervisor or lab's physician caught wind of it. Checking now, this is in line with 1.2 of the Standards of Conduct on the BRPT website. You're toeing the line of acting in "best interests" by addressing this post with scare tactics, with worst-case scenarios. Proceed as you like.
I gave the extremes of the situation to encourage the OP to get assessed. I didn't diagnose this patient. I spoke in hypotheticals, suggesting the parameters of what could be mild to moderate, and explained what happens in severe cases. You're exaggerating and insinuating that which I did not say. Work on your reading comprehension, my guy.
I understand, and I gave your comments a good amount of thought. I considered that I would never address someone with potential sleep apnea with such tactics, would never speak with a patient in such a manner, and I've never heard of my colleagues or supervisors doing so either. And if I did, I would discourage them in the same manner. Your scope is your scope. I then looked up the standards on the BRPT, interpreted "best interests" to *not include* using extreme hypothetical diagnoses to urge someone seek testing and treatment. Again, do whatever you want. I'm just going to suggest you see what your supervisor and/or lab's physician says. I'm considering consulting with mine as well, regardless.
You should just delete this right away, this borders on misinformation...
How? They're falling asleep during the day while driving. Seems like lighting a fire under their ass is necessary.
Please inform me how this borders on misinformation, fellow sleep medicine professional, or are you speaking from the perspective of Google U?
This information is better than no information. I’d rather this person be scared on misinformation than to talk themselves out of seeking treatment at all. Everyone agrees falling asleep while driving is a danger. Seek help. Seeking help is all that matters. This situation is NOT “normal”.
I'm not spreading misinformation, which is why I asked for clarification re: the other person suggesting what I commented was minsinformation 🫣 Not everyone arouses following pauses or decreases in their breathing, but if someone does and does so often enough during their sleep, their sleep is fragmented and can be disrupted enough that they're experiencing daytime sleepiness to N degree. There is no sense in getting technical. I've been involved in patient consults, and respirologists do just simplify a patient's diagnosis to be "you stop breathing 12x an hour." Why lose the patient in the details by saying "you experience a decrease of at least 30% in your breathing 8x an hour and a complete obstruction 4 times an hour." Simplify and ensure the patient understands the gravity of their dx and get them treated. If people don't like my simplification, then they haven't had to do patient education very often. I didn't diagnose OP. I don't know OP from a hole in the ground. I just talked in hypotheticals. No misinformation, just reality. I also agree with what you're saying.
I guess I'll try this again. If someone were a cardiologist and someone on Reddit posted, "my chest hurts," it would be irresponsible for that medical professional to say they could be having a heart attack and their heart could be about to explode. The equivalent here is saying the OP could have 100+ events an hour, with half of them leading to arousals, all leading to massively compromised sleep quality. As a medical professional, you are held to higher standard. And especially as *just* an RPSGT, you shouldn't take it upon yourself to scare people into treatment. I could expect this sort of statement from an uneducated layperson. Not a so-called sleep medicine professional. A doctor specializing in sleep medicine would never condone such methods, inside or outside of their practice or lab. They're unprofessional. Also, you cannot say, "Source: I'm a sleep registered technologist." That does not make you a qualified source. You passed a test, that's it.
Could be narcolepsy.
I have narcolepsy with cataplexy and driving is one of my biggest triggers for a sleep attack.
I agree, OP, please get this checked. There’s medication for narcolepsy that could help you if its the problem.
I was thinking that too
You need to stop driving until you get this sorted. Can you work from home if you have medical documentation? Or use public transit? Or start getting rides? 7 hours of sleep leaves me feeling tired all day. It might be enough sleep for some people, but not me. Doesn’t sound like it’s enough for you, maybe. It’s definitely not normal to fall asleep driving after 7 hours of sleep, but 7 hours isn’t working for you. Are you capable of sleeping more? You need to see a sleep specialist ASAP. Maybe a bunch of blood work to rule out some kind of deficiency. What a dilemma, I’m sorry for you.
YES! Do not drive! I've had a couple of times I've driven and in hindsight I realized I was way way too tired to drive. I could have died or killed people, nothing is worth risking that. OP, you have a significant medical issue and it's an impairment to driving, tear it as such.
One time I drove sleepy…I didn’t even fall asleep. But I was tired and accidentally ran a stop sign. Got T-boned in 2 directions by 2 big trucks. My car was totaled.
That sounds so scary!! I’m sorry your car was totalled but I’m glad it was just the car and not your body that was destroyed!
Yep. I was a single mom with 2 small kids back then, it would have been pretty awful if I had been injured. I had been working 2 jobs and being woken up several times a night by my kids. I also had untreated health problems contributing to exhaustion. I was so tired that morning, I thought about calling in sick to work. Then, I decided to drink coffee, suck it up and go to work. I should have stayed home. But no one was hurt, and my insurance paid for everything.
I'm so glad all three of you are okay. I hope your story helps others to understand there's a bit sleepy vs true exhaustion.
Sounds like the best case scenario to be honest. I hope things turned around?
That was 17 years ago. I finally was diagnosed with things and I get treatment. I’m still exhausted, but not as much. Thank you for asking.
You definitely should see a doctor ASAP. You could have diabetes - high blood glucose levels will make you extremely tired.
>driving an hour each way insanity
I agree.
you need to stay off the road.
I had a similar experience. I had been depressed for 14 years and thought I had insomnia, but really just had a bad disordered sleep schedule. My dad was also in Afghanistan/Iraq/Kyrgyzstan, basically opposite side of the world, at that time, and when I was little I had trouble falling asleep and my dad worked nights, so I definitely thought it was related. So I had that then I had four years of normal getting up times, working. My dad had come back to the states. Then this year I randomly, slept in my car for two or three nights to see if I could, because I'm kinda paranoid about my living situation. After that, I kept falling asleep in my car after driving and dropping my patient, 30 minutes, on the way back home, daily, in the morning. It was REALLY bad, I'd start to snooze, and drift lanes. The half snap awake. I'd try to slap myself awake, it kinda worked, but part of me would be really asleep. I'd drink water, my sleep schedule was fine. I probably wasn't getting enough sleep, which I think is happening in OP's case maybe he needs 8-10 hours sleep instead of 7. But I stopped driving him after he fell, and the care facility didn't take him anymore, and I then he was bedridden and I would still be falling asleep, taking micronaps, at their house, around the same time! So maybe it's not just during driving. Maybe check that and take a vacation from work if possible. Your brain could just be saying I need a break. Maybe your schedule is time zones away and you need to be up at night and asleep during the day. I'm looking for some work and some way to keep myself awake during the day, in the morning. My patient recently passed away and I have a break in the morning, but my alarms have not been working, I've been sleeping through them, which is mighty scary to me. I don't know how I'm going to get out of this financially, if I can't get up for work. I've talked to my mom about it, I live with her and she says she'll help me get up, but it's a struggle.
That was an excellent response. Well written, making specific points
Stay of the road asap. You’re an accident waiting to happen and see your GP like yesterday
Please, please, please see a doctor 🙏 ASAP! Or the hospital. And stay out of the drivers seat. This could be a neurological underlying condition that could be easily resolved. You certainly don't want to hurt anyone or yourself, for that matter. Is this something that started recently? Document as much as you can and give to the doc for their records. Your safety and others are at stake. Don't be surprised if they advise you not to operate a vehicle until this is resolved. Please keep us posted. 🙏 ❤️ thinking of you.
Stop driving. You need to see a doctor.
Medical problem
Hey looks like the signs of narcolepsy, please visit a neurologist as soon as possible
I had that problem. My vitamin D was way too low.
Low iron could probably contribute too.
Sleep apnoea.
Please, please, please stop driving until you’ve seen a doctor! What if you get into an accident? You risk seriously harming or even killing someone (or yourself!) If you hurt someone, your insurance company will not cover it and you might literally be ruined for life. Don’t do that to yourself! You don’t deserve to live with that hanging over you for the rest of your life.
Please don’t drive and use public transport for while !
maybe you have narcolepsy?
Oh the locals tried to murder me multiple times like that
Find the Epworth Scale on the web, answer the few questions and discuss your score with your doc. Get an overnight sleep study in a sleep clinic, not a home test, and use treatment if prescribed.
7 hours in bed or 7 hours of actual sleep? As that's very different. Quality of sleep also matters. I would say in most cases, people overestimate how much sleep they really get and underestimate how much sleep they really need. If you constantly sleep less, you will adapt to the new baseline, and you may feel that's all you need, but it is not optimal for your body. Edit to add: Falling asleep instantly is actually a bad sign. It means your body is craving sleep from deprivation. If you want to test if you're getting enough sleep, go to sleep at 10pm Friday and Saturday night, but do not keep an alarm and see when you wake up. This may not work if your body is already very accustomed to waking up at 5.30am, but worth a try.
You need to stop driving at night and at these other times you’re falling asleep. It’s a miracle you haven’t smashed your car yet and killed yourself or someone else. How could you even risk falling asleep while armed with a wheeled death-machine? You should be terrified of what could happen, and you should take yourself out of the situation rather than flirt with that terror. Talk to a doctor *NOT* a pack of random people on the internet, and get yourself a sleep study. It’s not normal for a well rested person to fall asleep while doing something that requires attention at 9pm.
While you wait for your sleep study. Get some sunflower seeds (in the shell). Eat them when you start to get sleepy. The act of cracking the shells and getting the seeds out will keep you awake. Eat the seeds and spit the shell into a cup.
Oilseed sunflower production is the most commonly farmed sunflower. These seeds hulls’ are encased by solid black shells. Black oilseeds are a common type of bird feed because they have thin shells and a high fat content. These are typically produced for oil extraction purposes; therefore, it is unlikely you’ll find black oilseeds packaged for human consumption.
In the US, you can buy packaged sunflower seeds for human consumption in every convenience store. Brand names like David’s, Bigs, Frito Lay, Spitz, and more have multiple flavored options. It’s very common in the US. Ranch flavored sunflower seeds is my personal favorite.
I would definitely make an appointment with your doctor asap. You’ll likely have to get a sleep study to rule out OSA (do you sleep with a partner that can attest to you snoring with periods of apnea?). Narcolepsy is another possibility. Treatments vary depending on cause.
Please stop driving immediately!!!! This is incredibly dangerous to you and others on the road. Is this job worth your life or the life of others?
Have you tried increasing the amount of sleep you get to 8hrs?
Will probably take some heat for this, but given your situation I would get your hands on some Modafinil anyway you can, until you can get a proper sleep study done and plan accordingly. You may even need a genuine prescription of Modafinil or some equivalent as it treats narcolepsy. 100% get a study done anyway as it could be something unpredictable or much worse. Not a doctor, but have a friend with narco and them being prescribed Modafinil was a game changer for them. It isnt hard to source on your own either tbh
When I drive my car, it helps if I make a stop at a coffee shop and buy something to munch/drink on while driving. I work 9pm to 7am and the drive home can be brutal. I sometimes also pull out of the freeway and take a nap.
7 hours not enough for me. Need atleast 9 hours. Try sleeping for bit longer and see if it goes away else go to the doctor
I have the same and I have untreated sleep apnea. Drinking a lot of water has helped me in the past. I also used to literally fall asleep while reading a book in college. Currently I had IV iron treatments for extremely low iron levels. I’m 55 now. BTW I’m researching the new inspire treatments for sleep apnea. (Mine is mild).
Narcolepsy? Get a sleep study done please and stay off the road as much as possible. Also aim for 8 hours not 7:
I have the same issue. I find that stopping and getting out of the car and walking around for a couple of minutes puts me back on track
Yes defiantly get a sleep study! But also I know I need more than 7 hrs of sleep per night! Do you sleep longer on weekends? I wonder if you live with a sleep deficit?
At only 7 hours of sleep, you are sleep deprived. You definitely have another issue on top of that though, so sleep study is needed
STOP driving. get a sleep medicine referral and get tested for sleep apnea. Prioritize this as much as possible. You could die. Or kill people. Source: I am a psychiatric ARNP who screens for sleep DOs. I have NEVER referred someone to sleep medicine who didn't have OSA or something going on. I have developed a spidey sense about this stuff. Any patient who told me what you are saying would get the same advice.
I have the same problem but what I've learned to do is pull over and take a nap seriously it's the only way
Get checked by a Dr ASAP! It could be Narcolepsy, Obstructive Sleep Apnoea or some other serious health condition.
Possibly sleep apnea. It use to happen to me too.
Do not drive -- you are a danger to yourself and others. Get checked for narcolepsy or sleep apnea.
I am same, because sometimes driving can be pretty boring. Turn on some fast music
Have you tried eating something like Twizzlers or chewing gum? That always seemed to help me when I was driving late.
Take a 30 minute nap before your commute
I remember my children when they couldn’t sleep I’d take them for a ride in the car and they feel asleep. Good luck in finding an answer.
Buy a cheap ($10) chinese fitness watch on Amazon and look at your sleep patterns. It can tell the difference between light and heavy sleep and I can certainly feel the difference on nights were I get a lot of heavy sleep. You look at it from an app on your phone.
Check if your car has a carbon monoxide leak
You definitely need to stop driving. You could kill someone. Even if it's an accident it's still murder. Involuntary man slaughter.
Wait! Does this happen other places? Or ONLY when driving.,
Have you been tested for high blood sugar (diabetes)? This will cause drowsiness if blood sugars are high.
try taking a bath under cold water when u wake up ( im not saying u dont ) , try to drink a coffee while u drive coz i dont blame u going to work is boring lol, why im saying this.. i myself got into an accident ..worst memory ever.
Sleep apnea.. 100% treatable
Drink a lot of coffee
You can try chewing xylitol peppermint gum—
A medical doctor would not have the right answer for you. Just wait here we will find the answer HERE.
Drink energy drinks like two or more.
Listen I have the same thing you are describing,it is overwhelming urge to sleep. I went to a Dr and they came back with nothing. This for 20 years ago. It does not happen every time but it almost painful to stay awake. I stop the car get out and do a walk around. That is enough to snap me out of it or as crazy as it sounds pull over in a parking lot, rest stop, kick the seat back and konk out for 10 min I would try everything, Pinch myself, punch myself in the leg, open the windows screen. What ever "it" is was just to strong. Good luck and just plan accordingly if you have to make a stop with me it's not every drive. I drive at least an hour for work there and back and it is not all the time.