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Exactly how important is sleep?
Sun, 04/03/2005 - 00:45
I have had epilepsy for four years now. It just started out of the blue when I was 19, and they still don't know what is wrong. I have had the right temporal lobe surgery, and all that did was lesson my seizures. Which I'm not complaining, but... But, ever since my seizures did start all I ever heard was how important sleep is and how sleep deprivation is the number one cause of a seizure and so on. So, from day one I always took a nap during the day. Even on the days that I wasn't too tired. I take somewhat of a lot of meds, so I can get tired around the afternoon time anyway, so I just normally take one then. They are usually at least an hour. Sometimes up to two hours. Then by the time I get up, the day is half gone, and so are all my plans. I ALWAYS have to schedule my plans around my stupid naps. That's just how I have always known how it should be...but would it kill me if I didn't take naps? It's such a pain most of the time, I tell you. I hear a lot of you talk about having full time jobs and so on, so I take it it must be somewhat ok. But, how much sleep do you usually get at night, about? Please let me know anything, because the last four years planing my life around my naps, it's just getting old, and if it doesn't have to be done, that would be great. So, please, I'll take any info. Thank you and take care. Cheryl
Comments
RE: RE: Exactly how important is sleep?
Submitted by bandcher on Mon, 2005-03-28 - 12:56
Hi there, how are you doing? Well, thank you very much for giving me some of your info. Yours really helps a lot actually. Nobody else was taking naps so I started thinking I was just weird. But, I'm glad I'm not alone. So, you too take naps. But, on the days that you can't doesn't automatically give you a seizure? Or do you just have to not stress out and that sort of stuff. I mean, I know it wouldn't automatically give you one, but...you know what I mean? Well, does it make everything real sensitive? As in the other things that triggers you, is it really easy for that to set it off? You know? Well, thank you again for responding. Like I said yours helps me out alot. Have a good day and take care. And if you would like to talk sometime, I am always glad to chat. Take care,
Cheryl
e-mail= [email protected]
Hi there, how are you doing? Well, thank you very much for giving me some of your info. Yours really helps a lot actually. Nobody else was taking naps so I started thinking I was just weird. But, I'm glad I'm not alone. So, you too take naps. But, on the days that you can't doesn't automatically give you a seizure? Or do you just have to not stress out and that sort of stuff. I mean, I know it wouldn't automatically give you one, but...you know what I mean? Well, does it make everything real sensitive? As in the other things that triggers you, is it really easy for that to set it off? You know? Well, thank you again for responding. Like I said yours helps me out alot. Have a good day and take care. And if you would like to talk sometime, I am always glad to chat. Take care,
Cheryl
e-mail= [email protected]
RE: Exactly how important is sleep?
Submitted by frogman137 on Wed, 2005-03-30 - 03:03
I've had epilepsy for about 15 years now and I live a perfectly normal life,at least where sleep is concerned.I hit the rack for at least 7 hours a night and that seems to work for me.Of course every body is different and you may require more sleep than the next guy or maybe less.Sleep itself I've found is integral in controlling my seizures.If I have a spurt without my 7hrs./night that lasts for more than a week I can almost bet that it's going to happen.Your sleep needs may be different from mine but only you truly know how much sleep you really need.If you find that you can get the needed sleep without your naps than do away with them.That's aquestion only you can truly answer.The reason I said my life is normal where sleep is concerned rather than overall is that I do a job that most with our problem wouldn't dare do,I'm a high-pressure water blaster.Me versus 36000LBS water pressure.Most people without our problem won't even get close to such a job but I do it 40-60 hrs./week.I refuse to let this disorder run my life.
Good luck figuring out your sleep balance,
frogman137
I've had epilepsy for about 15 years now and I live a perfectly normal life,at least where sleep is concerned.I hit the rack for at least 7 hours a night and that seems to work for me.Of course every body is different and you may require more sleep than the next guy or maybe less.Sleep itself I've found is integral in controlling my seizures.If I have a spurt without my 7hrs./night that lasts for more than a week I can almost bet that it's going to happen.Your sleep needs may be different from mine but only you truly know how much sleep you really need.If you find that you can get the needed sleep without your naps than do away with them.That's aquestion only you can truly answer.The reason I said my life is normal where sleep is concerned rather than overall is that I do a job that most with our problem wouldn't dare do,I'm a high-pressure water blaster.Me versus 36000LBS water pressure.Most people without our problem won't even get close to such a job but I do it 40-60 hrs./week.I refuse to let this disorder run my life.
Good luck figuring out your sleep balance,
frogman137
RE: Exactly how important is sleep?
Submitted by gsness on Sun, 2005-03-27 - 14:30
Hi!I have trouble sleeping at night (mostly due to nocturnal seizures), BUT a lack of sleep is one of my seizure triggers. I am fortunate to be able to flex my work hours, so I start work at 5:00 every morning, am off work usually at 1:00, then head home for a nap. Mine last for about an hour or two as well. I really have a hard time going any day without a nap…. I start seeing double by 7:00 in the evening if I don’t take one.I empathize with you. There is the old saying about “early to bed, early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.” Unfortunately, to converse is also true: “Early to rise and early to bed makes a man healthy; but socially dead.” Oh well, I hope you can strike the right balance. I know a lot of us have.Blessings!gsness