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[Nefersmum]

Hi guys,

Some months ago I asked for advice on whether or not an incident that had happened to me could be anything to do with the menopause.  At the time the thinking was that it might have been a TIA but having attended the TIA clinic it appears that was not the case and we are back to square one. 

Since then the same type of thing has happened again.   Yesterday I was at home with the family, feeling extremely tired and drowsy, early evening, watching the telly and felt myself dozing off.  Nothing unique about that but when I woke my poor mother was quite anxious as she said she hadn't been able to wake me.   A similar thing happened a few weeks ago, again at work, when I felt worn out at work and suddenly realised that I was surrounded by work mates and colleagues trying to haul me off to casualty for the same reason.  I spent the afternoon being put through various tests which found absolutely nowt wrong.  I was so embarrassed at the exhibition I'd made of myself.       Each time afterwards I've felt absolutely fine, like I've had a nice nap and woken up okay but those around me have been panic stricken because they claim they couldn't rouse me. 

I still wonder if this is menopause related.   My last period was in February although I had a minor show in March but barely worth mention.  Since then, nothing.   My biggest problem is extreme tiredness which I'm struggling with.  I have had arthritis and fibromyalgia pretty much all my adult life and tiredness is a component of both of these so feeling like I'm running on empty isn't unsual.   This, however, is of a different calibre.  I regularly feel utterly exhausted and as I am a medical typist I spend my days listening to doctors droning on through my headset and it is hugely soporific.   I have now reminded my line manager that I am entitled to screen breaks and and more diligent about taking short breaks in my long day away from my screen which does seem to be helping at work. 

Is it at all possible that this extreme tiredness is as a result of menopause?  I have had tests for all kinds of other things and nothing else seems responsible for these embarrassing incidents. 

[countrybumpkin]

My main question would be have you in your tests ever had a brain scan?  If the answer is no then personally I would push for a neurologist consultation and a brain scan just to totally rule out one possible cause of your brief periods of being unrousable.

If you have had a brain scan then you can be reassured.

[BrightLight]

Hi Nefersmum - I now that tiredness at menopause is definately common.  It sounds as though you feel this is more extreme and it does sound like it.  Were you advised by GP to check back in with them, what are they explaining these episodes as?  It must feel embarrassing but really, try not to think like that because the main thing is for you to feel well.  I guess they have checked for things like sleep apnea or other sleep disorders, that would be my first area of thought with excessive sleepiness and deep sleep.  I hope you solve the mystery x

[Taz2]

Hi Nefersmum - this does sound really upsetting. I wonder if you have been tested for narcolepsy a condition where you feel excessiveness drowsiness during the day and can fall asleep suddenly with no warning? You can also have something called Cataplexy which is linked in to it and this can cause stroke like symptoms such as the jaw dropping on one side. http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Narcolepsy/Pages/Symptoms.aspx   Menopause is shown as a possible cause http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Narcolepsy/Pages/Causes.aspx

Taz x 

[BreadFruit]

I ditto what Taz said. I read about that condition not too long ago online. Maybe google it.

[Nefersmum]

Thanks for your advice guys.  I did have a brain scan back in the early part of last year.  It was clear and the neurologist I saw in April was fairly confident I'd either had a one off incident or simply fallen asleep.  More recent incidents have been quite dramatically different to what happened last December in that recently I've been very much aware of feeling sleepy for a while beforehand rather than just switching off which was as in December.   At Mum's this week I was drowsing on the sofa for a good twenty minutes and as far as I am aware I just fell asleep which I am fairly sure is what happend on the last occasion at work. 

My own suspicion is that left to my own devices I would simply wake up naturally and carry on but of course, folk about me get worried and I wake to find myself being carted off to casualty  [I work in a hospital] with my friends adamant that they couldn't wake me.  My colleagues insist that I memorably woke up and promptly started typing again while they were trying to haul me into a wheelchair for the ride to the casualty department. 

I have had all kinds of tests revealing nothing of note.    I've had problems with tiredness for many years as I have arthritis and fibro too so it does drag me down.  In the last year it seems to have gone up a notch though and I wondered if it had to do with the meno largely because in the same time span my periods have departed.    It just seems a bit of a coincidence. 

I've done a few practical things, taking screen breaks as I am a medical typist and never seem to look up from the keyboard, cutting back on caffeine etc in hopes this will help.  Unfortunately the medics I have seen are all happy to tell me what it isn't but I'm not getting any suggestions as to what it is. 

I'm grateful for your helpful suggestions as they do give  me other suggestions to make when I do see the GP again. 

[Taz2]

Hi again - a brain scan wouldn't show up narcolepsy.

Taz x

[Dorothy]

I do get extreme tiredness linked to my hormones (to the point where I can fall asleep standing up) but people have always been able to semi-wake me up, although all they would usually get is a grunt!  Yours does sound more extreme, so maybe look at narcolepsy.

When people say they have tried to wake you, what do they mean?  Do they talk, shout, or shake you?  I wouldn't wake unless someone shook me.