6 replies to this topic

[Perplexed]

Trying to start coping with the whole narcolepsy thing and not let myself sleep my life away...one of the recommendations is to take mini scheduled nap breaks throughout the day. My problem is if I try to take a mini nap I end up waking up 4-5 hours later! Anyone else have this? There are days I sleep up to 20 hours! I also suffer from migraines, which both of the issues came about after getting whiplash in a car accident with rear and front/side impacts. Tried Nuvigil..it worked ok for wakefulness for about the first couple of weeks, but did not help with energy. Now taking 20 mg adderall, which I function better on most days..but there are just some days that that nothing seems to work. Is it possible I'm overloading my body on "good" days so that it gets to a point it just wants to crash? Thanks for your feedback!

[Asleeper]

Have you tried napping on the living room floor. It has worked for me and I've heard others do it also. It is uncomfortable enough that you can't stay down for too long and being on the floor reminds you that you are not down for the night.
It also helps to set a timer. I usually set it for 20-30 minutes. Any longer I get groggy and it is had to wake up again. There also seems to be less to be gained by sleeping too long.

[sueno]

I have always napped for long blocks. I nap for at least an hour and a half, that is the minimum. 4.5 hours seems to be closer to the maximum time for my naps. If planning I will allot 3 hours per nap, however, it always varies.

[TiredAgain]

Some times I wish I could sleep for long periods of time. My naps are like 10 mins, wake up lay, there because I'm to tired to get up, and then another 10 mins, and that will go on for 1 1/2 to 2 hrs. Then I feel so groggy I have to force my self up.

[angeline]

I find that when the naps are 3 hrs or more and I am still sleepy, I may have eaten too many carbs, esp potatoes or certain cereals. Wheat bread makes me very lethargic and overly sleepy. Too many sweets day after day sets off long naps too. Pinto beans, black beans, kidney beans, crowder peas, split peas, humus all give me the same effect. If I have raw vegetables at least every other day I am less comatose, I still need the naps but I am not as comatose when I am mindful of what I eat.

[Perplexed]

I find that when the naps are 3 hrs or more and I am still sleepy, I may have eaten too many carbs, esp potatoes or certain cereals. Wheat bread makes me very lethargic and overly sleepy. Too many sweets day after day sets off long naps too. Pinto beans, black beans, kidney beans, crowder peas, split peas, humus all give me the same effect. If I have raw vegetables at least every other day I am less comatose, I still need the naps but I am not as comatose when I am mindful of what I eat.

Funny you mention that, I noticed that too. I've read about how gluten (wheat or derivatives of it) can cause drowsiness, so I've gone to gluten free, which helps cut down on sugar too, at least for me...I noticed it does help in making me have more better days, but when I nap, I'm still down for the count. The good thing is gluten free helps limit those days to just a couple a week instead of all week!

[Perplexed]

Have you tried napping on the living room floor. It has worked for me and I've heard others do it also. It is uncomfortable enough that you can't stay down for too long and being on the floor reminds you that you are not down for the night.
It also helps to set a timer. I usually set it for 20-30 minutes. Any longer I get groggy and it is had to wake up again. There also seems to be less to be gained by sleeping too long.

No, I have not tried that...i do knowif I'm sleepy and can't get comfortable...I tend to get very irritable... I'll try the timer thing...got my daughter one of those alarm clocks that jump off the night stand and roll around the room till you shut it off...maybe that'll work!