Doctors Answers (5)
Our Sleep Staff Physician recommends: You go to our website www.sleepcenterotr.com and take our sleep survey. Daytime sleepiness and fatigue are the typical symptoms of sleep apnea. Too many possibilities without further physical examination, and additional information.
You obviously have hypersomnia which is "excessive daytime sleepiness". You have uncontrollable sleepiness in the daytime. If you re getting 7-8 hours of sleep and that is your normal requirement then you need a sleep study to assess the quality of your sleep (sleep stages, arousals, leg movements, etc.). Narcolepsy is to be excluded.
You may have sleep apnea. You need a comprehensive sleep evaluation including an upper airway examination by an otolaryngologist-sleep medicine specialist. An overnight sleep study is also indicated to determine if you suffer from sleep apnea. If that is the case, the severity of the sleep apnea as found on the sleep study, your sleep evaluation and upper airway examination will determine your recommended treatment plan.
Hypersomnia is a symptom. It has a very broad differential diagnosis. Most commonly it is from lack of sleep, in appropriate sleep schedule, medications or drugs, a sleeping disorder such as sleep apnea, shift work, etc. It is best to see a sleep physician who can help you determine the cause of your excessive sleepiness and do proper testing and make management plan.
Based on your information you could have pathologic sleepiness or hypersmonia. You should be evaluated with a thorough history and physical exam by a sleep specialist in the office and answer questions on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. This may lea to a formal sleep study to evaluate your sleepiness complaints
