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[Nefersmum]

I'm becoming concerned that I'm going dotty in my old age.   I think I started the menopause last February.  That's certainly when my last period paid me a visit.  I've tottered on fairly steadily since then but in the last few months each month around when I'd normally get a visit, I find I become really tired, fall asleep when I'm comfortable either on the sofa watching the telly or, much to my embarrassment, at work where I am a medical secretary and spend my days staring at a computer screen and trying to decipher doctors' dictation. 

According to friends and family they discover me asleep and only worry when they find they can't wake me easily.   [One occasion at work I woke to find myself being carted off to casualty with workmates in some distress around me].   Once I have woken up I find I am right as a bobbin, the tiredness that had been dragging at me has disappeared and bizarrely my sense of taste seems to have kicked up a gear along with my colour vision.  Everything tastes so much more intense and my awareness of colours is suddenly so acute - it's quite unsettling - and I suddenly find I have tons of energy where 20 minutes before I was absolutely dropping.

Has anyone else ever had this during the meno?    I'd be interested to hear if anyone else has experienced this kind of thing.

[GypsyRoseLee]

I have read several posts on here about women sudden, intense exhaustion which they think is linked to their cycle.

I do know that sometimes I feel extreme tiredness, especially between 9 - 10pm if I'm comfy on the sofa. The sleepiness comes over me like a wave. I don't even realise I have fallen asleep until DH wakes me up to go to bed.

Strangely, if I fight off this intense sleepiness and stay up after 10pm I often start to feel more awake and can then have trouble falling asleep.

My Mum had a surgical menopause at 42. Ever since she has HAD to have a brief nap every afternoon.

[coldethyl]

Have you been checked over by dr?  The tiredness thing is a meno thing but the suddenly dropping off and the post sensory changes warrant further investigation I'd have thought. X

[Taz2]

I remember you feeling like this from your other thread back in January. Did you ever get yourself checked for narcolepsy? I posted some links about it on that thread. http://www.menopausematters.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,30600.msg485493.html#msg485493  I know that you have had a brain scan to check for TIAs but a brain scan, from what I can gather, wouldn't show up narcolepsy.

Taz x

[Nefersmum]

I saw a Neurologist back in April and he seemed happy that the incident I had in December was a one off.  It was very different to these peculiar episodes.  I had no warning whatsoever there, one minute merrily heading into work, next coming round in an ambulance.   These are quite different in that I am aware that I feel tired and unwell which is new during the last few months.  During last year I didn't have any problems in that respect.  I am waiting to go back to the neurologist but getting an appointment is taking months unfortunately - they are chocablock.   What made me wonder if it was associated with my cycle is that it seems to happen only once when my period would be due.   The rest of the time I'm fine.

It actually occurred today which is what prompted me to post here again.  Once I woke up I was as alert as anything. 

[CLKD]

Did the Neurologist do any tests or simply listen?

Do read the Links that Taz suggests.  I often fell asleep at work around about 2.00 ish, my boss used to leave me  …… it can depend on what we've eaten too. I used to feel sick if I didn't sleep. The body needs to rest in order to digest.  Have you had blood sugar tests?

As a medical secretary one would expect to get instant treatment, however  - do you see your Employee's Health Dept.?

[Briony]

I've never fallen asleep like that at work, but have fallen 'heavily' asleep at home. It's never at night - usually after noon - and afterwards I feel fine. If it occurs at work, I fight it with a can of Pepsi and, if possible, walking around or fresh air. Have seen two neurologists, but nothing sinister found, so concluded it is hormonal. From what I can tell, with me it is surges in progesterone.

[sammy]

I have read several posts on here about women sudden, intense exhaustion which they think is linked to their cycle.

I do know that sometimes I feel extreme tiredness, especially between 9 - 10pm if I'm comfy on the sofa. The sleepiness comes over me like a wave. I don't even realise I have fallen asleep until DH wakes me up to go to bed.

Strangely, if I fight off this intense sleepiness and stay up after 10pm I often start to feel more awake and can then have trouble falling asleep.

GRL, I have that identical thing!  Overwhelming sleep drive.  But if I stay up too late, I don't fall asleep!
My Mum had a surgical menopause at 42. Ever since she has HAD to have a brief nap every afternoon.