Message posted by Becky Blake ( f1help@vnet.net) on 9:9:15 9/18/97
Message: To Whom Sleep May Concern, I have recently been diagnosed with Idiopathic Hypersomnolence. An unexplainable need for sleep. I am a 34 year old female, who for the last 5 or 6 years has begun sleeping more and more. I got to the point where I was sleeping 16 hours per day. I recently went to a sleep clinic and they found that I slept sound, didn't move my legs, breathe normally, didn't snore, dream during daytime naps, etc. It took me three days of almost round-the-clock sleeping to recoup from that experience. I swear, if I didn't have to eat and use the restroom to stay alive, I would probably sleep non-stop. They have put me on Ritalin, which I'm not too crazy about. I have heard a lot of bad things about Ritalin but at this point I was willing to try anything just to stay awake and hopefully not feel like a rung out dish rag when I awake. I have been on the medication for three days and I am currently not napping at all during the day, sleeping great at night, and waking shortly before the clock alarms. It is wonderful to live again! I have energy to do normal things again, like housework, grocery shopping, etc. If anyone is interested in exchanging stories and maybe forming our own little support group, since this seems to be a condition that the medical community is still guessing at, please send me some email with your full name and the state you live in. I would be very interested in hearing your stories. Please email me at f1help@vnet.net I have a web site that has gotten a lot of exposure and I could dedicate a page to people like us and maybe help someone who doesn't get to experience life because they are always asleep. Maybe it would provide some answers to those who are being treated for depression and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome who actual have Hypersomnolence and have been misdiagnosed. Sleepless is Seattle? Let's all move to Seattle! Thank you for your time. Becky Blake, NC, USA