Hypersomnulence

For years and years and years I have battled to just simply stay awake for 8 hours straight.  My husband thinks I'm a lazy ***, my MIL tells everyone how lazy I am, my kids are disgusted with me because I can't ever do anything with them... I've lost a job because I was caught dozing at my desk too many times.  I was diagnosed with Polycythemia Vera last winter, with no treatments other than some blood letting. My bone marrow is "abnormal" with leukemic, but non-cancerous changes.

I didn't mean Lupus either - I meant Fibro. duh

I have no idea what to say other than of course there is something wrong with you and you have to find a doctor who can help.
You need to really talk with your husband and tell him that he is not to call you lazy nor is he to allow his mother to do so.
It is terrible to feel so badly and have no one believe you.
MAybe someone here has some advice for you. I wish you well.

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I am a Certified Doxie Lover(Weinerdogs)

yesterday I woke up at 9am and after getting everyone breakfast was asleep again until noon - I got up and made lunch and went back to sleep until about 4 - by 8pm I was dozing in my chair. I went to bed at 9, and my husband and I watched a show on TV then I went to sleep until 5am. 3 times my husband has woken me in my chair this morning, my youngest son just got up and i got him breakfast and will more than likely tell him to wake me up when he's ready to go to grandma's next door.

I have a lot of things to do today, somehow I have to get to the grocery store, mail some things, pay some bills and work on the house and supper.

Here is an interesting thing. Yesterday morning after eating breakfast and a cup of decaf and some milk, I went back to bed. Within 5 minutes of laying down, I had to run to the bedroom to vomit. The rest of the day I was sick to my stomach and dizzy. I cried a lot yesterday, I cry a lot - a lot.

Noone else is sick in the house either.

((((((Diabetic1965))))))
I'm so sorry for what you are going through. I have lupus and find I need to sleep every 2 1/2 hours or so to be able to function. I know exactly what you are trying to deal with. If there was nothing wrong with us, we couldn't sleep that much if we tried! I'm really sorry that you are getting so little support from your family. You are dealing with so much, and coping with being that sick is hard when you are suffering from life-altering exhaustion. If you had a diagnosis than everyone would be more understanding, but it sometimes takes years to get a diagnosis. Have you seen any specialists? Rheumatologists? Infectious Disease? Pulmonary? Unfortunately, when you are so sick, it is hard to get to many appointments -- not to mention the cost. I would suggest bypassing general practitioners. If it doesn't instantly fit a mold, most of them will not pursue it (unless your insurance requires a referral, forcing you to see them first). Since it seems to involve your breathing, maybe a pulmonary specialist would be a good place to start? Since you seen to catch a lot of illnesses that are going around, an infectious disease specialist (ID) wouldn't be a bad place to start either. Don't give up! Keep coming here for support. Remind yourself that you are very courageous and strong -- because that's what it takes for us to get through each day. You are ill, you just don't have your diagnosis yet. We're here for you!

I have seen a pulmonologist, and ID, an oncologist a neurologist. Once they can't identify one thing, they all fall back on the Polycythemia and the "we don't know why you're so sleepy" diagnosis of hypersomnulence.

It's like my husband is, out-of-the blue "getting it". Sunday, after finding me asleep on the couch, in my chair, across the bed, sitting on the floor folding clothes he sat down and sighed and said "there's just something wrong isn't there honey?" We married late, at 40 and he had been married to a little powerhouse of a woman before, who just ran non-stop all day long. This is out of his scope, his Mom is like that too, she never sits down more than like 5 minutes at a time, I can never keep up with her, even when I feel well. He's not particularly peppy himself.

My depression sinks lower and lower all the time. I spent most all day yesterday crying, and started again about as soon as I got up, but there was a little tussle about him missing a pair of pants too.

I just feel so bad for them, and wonder at times if it wouldn't be better for them if we divorced because I am not apleasant person to be around, because I'm so crabby and weepy.... I brought it up once and he told me I was silly, but that was early on. I wonder if now he'd feel the same way?

I was wondering how someone finds a diagnostician. Does anyone know? Maybe at a specialty hospital like Johns Hopkins or NIH? I wonder if you could get an appt at a place like that. Maybe you should try a rheumatologist. It could be autoimmune.

Try not to compare yourself to anyone else's. I know it's hard when our society is so geared to what you do and how productive you are. I spend a lot of time crying over this myself. You just have to know you are doing what YOU can -- and not overextending yourself either, as that will only make things worse. It sounds like your husband might be catching on. It's hard to be chronically ill. Most people don't have a frame of reference for it. They just expect you to get better, as we expect ourselves to get better, at least for the first 5 years or so! LOL. Let him know how much you appreciate any support and help he gives you, and take it one day at a time. There is a good book (I got it at the library) called 'A Delicate Balance: Living with Chronic Illness' (or something like that) by Cheri Register. She talks about trying to cope with being ill, and also the struggles people face when they don't have a diagnosis. You might find that to be helpful (as would your husband) -- I did.

Hang in there! Hugs!

Sounds like a neurological issue to me... Diabetes can affect the nerves, too. Maybe a Naturopathic Physician can find a diagnosis...they tend to view the whole person instead of just looking at one body system (such as just the skin, or just the endocrine system, etc.).

Good luck,

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-Razzle

Hi Diabetic1965

You are not alone.

All the above for me too. Thanks for putting it out there. This is a lonely place
to be on the train track, unable to cope with life, and no one else is on the track.

The track with the red bone marrow train coming right for you and only you.

I am learning, it is just a me thing.

My wife's head can pop off from me being like this but it won't change the facts.

I would look for other lines of support and establish boundries with
the family there.

I hope you are taking SSRI or something to deal with your depression.

Also, Adderrall helps people with PV gain back some energy.

Medication for attention and concentration issues.

I will keep checking back.

I had my second sleep study last night.

Those are so creepy.

Have you checked you heart?

WHen I told my doctor I was tired all the time he said lets look at sleep apnea and your heart.

I had a significant blockage so they put a stint in .

The dentist chair hurt more than this proceedure.

If you heart has to work hard for whatever reason you are are going to be draggin ass.

Mine was less draggy after the surgery.

Peace