In bed all the time

[Billydude]

It seems like all I want to do is go back to bed.   I sometimes take two naps a day and the first is just after getting up and having breakfast.   I'm also having a terrible time with depression.   I wonder if I'm wanting to go back to bed because I'm depressed or if my being so tired all the time is making me depressed.   Its one of those delima's of which came first the chicken or the egg.

[wally]

I know what ya mean. I do think that for me it is a combo....fatigue and depression. I AM getting used to my new sjogren's "nap schedule". I just try to plan my day around it if I can..... hang in there....you are NOT alone!    Wally

[irish]

billydude, I guess that I would go with depression causing the fatigue and increased need to sleep. That is one of its more obvious symptoms. When one is dealing with depression and having need to sleep more there is a need to go to the doc and either consider an antidepressant ot have your meds renewed and maybe try a different antidepressant.

The interesting thing with depression is that it is not unusual to need a different antidepressant with the next bout of depression. There are numerous chemicals that are involved and each drug works on differenet chemicals. Hope you can get this beast under control as it sure ruins your ability to get anything done. Good luck Irish

[c991]

It seems like all I want to do is go back to bed.   I sometimes take two naps a day and the first is just after getting up and having breakfast.   I'm also having a terrible time with depression.   I wonder if I'm wanting to go back to bed because I'm depressed or if my being so tired all the time is making me depressed.   Its one of those delima's of which came first the chicken or the egg.

I can sure identify with the fatigue, my new rhuem (#3) says fatigue and brain fog are the two greatest complaints of his patients with sjogren's and unfortunately the least treatable. There's nothing wrong with naps, I'm sure you have productive days, maybe weeks and then end up like you are now. Things will get better, maybe just not on the schedule you choose.

I went through about every anti-depressant, mood stabilizer, etc. before I faced the truth that my depression comes after pain, fatigue, etc and does not cause those symptoms. The reverse is also true, if I wake up with reduced pain, etc, etc, etc I feel better. It seems all doctors want to call all depression primary, but when have you heard of arthritis or other autoimmune diseases being caused by depression or mania.

In my case the poor drs, counselors, psychiatrists, psychologists never had a chance. A med would only work until my sjogren's changed its activity or symptoms and then they would back to square one again. I know some folks get real long term measurable results from psych meds, but that's not how it works for me. Now, if a dr recommends any treatment I tell them the only thing I'd be willing to try is ect, they shut up quick when I say that. Funny thing is, ect works well for many people and is more humane than most other approaches, in my opinion anyway.

[Billydude]

C991???    What is ect?

[LeoLady]

Billydude:

Fatigue, depression, fatigue, depression - it's a vicious cycle.  For sure go to your doctor for advice.  There are so many anti-depressants out there now and many have been on the market for 20+ years.  I was lucky that my GP gave me Celexa years ago, mainly because it's been around so long and has so few side effects.  It gave me some gastro issues for about 2 weeks then it went away.  I remember sitting at work one day and that dreaded feeling came over me like I wanted to cry - only I didn't!  It was so strange, but also a relief after feeling so down for so long.  We all hope you find your way to feeling better soon.

Take care.    LeoLady

[Autoimmunity]

I take Nuvigil, has anybody tried it??  I have complained for years about fatigue and they just mark it in my chart and do nothing.  Finally I got my endocrinologist to listen to me.  He wanted to do a sleep study which I declined because of my current situation, but he ran some genetic tests which came back positive for narcolepsy.  I don't think that's 100% proof positive of narcolepsy - just like any other lab tests - it's just one part of the puzzle, but he put me on the nuvigil and I can at least get through my work day.  Before, I was falling asleep at my desk, napping in my car on breaks and at lunch, then running home after work to take yet another nap    Might ask your doctor about it.  I sure know it's no kind of life to be sleeping most of the time.

[c991]

C991???    What is ect?

Sorry, electro-convulsive-therapy

[c991]

I take Nuvigil, has anybody tried it?? 

You must be a Canadian, aeh? I take 800 milligrams of provigil a day. I do have narcolepsy and sleep apnea confirmed by 2 different sleep labs 10 years apart. It doesn't give me more energy, it just lets me stay awake when i want to (during normal daytime hours). I used to know every trick for sleeping on the job, although sometimes there's no way to hide a loud "clunk" when your head hits the desk

[Autoimmunity]

I take Nuvigil, has anybody tried it?? 

You must be a Canadian, aeh? I take 800 milligrams of provigil a day. I do have narcolepsy and sleep apnea confirmed by 2 different sleep labs 10 years apart. It doesn't give me more energy, it just lets me stay awake when i want to (during normal daytime hours). I used to know every trick for sleeping on the job, although sometimes there's no way to hide a loud "clunk" when your head hits the desk

No, not Canadian???  The Nuvigil, as you prob. know, is made by the company who makes the provigil, they didn't want to lose their patent, switched the drug up a bit.  Works pretty well for me, I take 250 mg a day.  I notice if I don't take it on the weekend, nothing gets done.  It's amazing what I can get done if I do take it.

[c991]

No, not Canadian???  The Nuvigil, as you prob. know, is made by the company who makes the provigil, they didn't want to lose their patent, switched the drug up a bit.  Works pretty well for me, I take 250 mg a day.  I notice if I don't take it on the weekend, nothing gets done.  It's amazing what I can get done if I do take it.

Oh, i thought nuvigil was the Canadian version. I might have to read up on it, i'm maxed on provigil and it just works, nothing else.

[Autoimmunity]

Yeah, read up on it.  Some say it works better than the Provigil, I don't know as I have never tried that.  However, if you are doing well on the provigil, no reason to change.

[Billydude]

I had a terrible reaction to Provigil.  I had a bit of a breakdown....took a handful of pills and ended up in ER.  Later I looked up Provigil and there was a huge warning that it can cause suicidal tendencies.   Once I went off it I was much better.   
Someone mentioned a test for narcalepsy.   I didn't know one existed.   I had to give up driving except around my small town due to excessive falling asleep at the wheel.   I had a sleep study done and passed it so its not sleep apnea.   This is still the one mystery part of my puzzle.

[Patze]

Hi Billydude,

Sending you lots of gentle

( ( ( ( ( H U G S ) ) ) ) )

my friend and I hope that your doctors can find an answer for you soon!

Take care of yourself -

Patze

[Blue Kat]

I completely understand you, Billydude.  On weekends I take several naps a day, the first one being after I have breakfast, just as you said.  I do try to deal with the fatigue and pain on weekdays since I have to work, but sometimes it's pretty tough.  I've had chronic depression for years but medication has made a big difference and I don't think I'm depressed at the moment...believe me, I've had moments in the past of contemplating suicide and I'm not feeling anything like that now.  For me, it's "just" the Sjogren's affecting me.  The past few days my body feels as if I have been competing in a triathlon.   

Feel better soon, Billydude!