[Hydrophobic1212]

Okay, so I posted before that I'm having a lot of trouble staying awake during my first hour class (and during second and third hour sometimes), and it's still happening, but it seems to be worse. Not only am I tired in the morning, I'm feeling exhausted in the afternoon. I got home from school today and I just wanted to curl up in bed and sleep.

I'm growing a little concerned. It can't be normal to always be this tired, can it?

But that's my question for you. Is this the normal kind of tired that is associated with mental illness? Could it just be that? I take lithium which I know can cause drowsiness, could that be the cause of it too?

Just so everyone knows, my sleep schedule is good. I keep a regular bedtime, though some nights I'm so tired I go to sleep at nine o'clock. It doesn't seem to matter when I sleep or how much I get because I'm always tired anyways.

I just want to better understand this.

Thank in advance for your help!

[Anneinside]

You might want to have a sleep study done. Sleep apnea can cause sleepiness during the day and has a simple remedy, a CPAP machine.

[Secretum]

Are you on any meds besides lithium? Some of them can be quite sedating. I've heard that seroquel is pretty bad. I'm on tegretol, and I've noticed an increase in fatigue while on it. The 3rd day I took it, I slept 17 hours (not all at once)! Thankfully it's gotten better...

It could be the illness. Depression definitely causes fatigue; during my seasonal fall episode last year, I was worried that I had narcolepsy, because I also had sleep paralysis. I wasn't dx-ed then, so that fatigue was purely depression-related. Do you have any other depressive symptoms right now?

Undiagnosed physical illness is yet another possible cause. Annie mentioned sleep apnea, I mentioned narcolepsy...but there are other possible causes. Some of them are pretty scary-cancer and MS are among the diseases that can be energy-sapping. I'm not trying to cause you to freak out- most likely, you don't have anything life-threatening or life-altering other than bipolar. But it's always better to be safe than sorry. So schedule an appointment with your primary care doc.

I hope that you can find a solution for this soon; I understand how frustrating it can be!

[alwaysrejoice]

Ya do what Secretum said. meds can really mess up your sleeping. A lot of people take 300 or 400mg of seroquel at night and some people take 50mg during the day for anxiety. I can only take 50 mg at night and it knocks me out! So doses can vary a lot from person to person. good luck hope you feel better soon.

[AniManiac]

I end up feeling tired all the time when I get depressed, even though I get the same (or more) sleep than I do the rest of the time, so it could just be the illness.

But everyone else has already provided all the answers I would have mentioned, so +1 for what they said!

[dragonfly2]

Definitely rule out regular physical illnesses first. Anemia, mononucleosis, pregnancy (not sure of your gender), vitamin deficiencies, chronic fatigue syndrome...all of these things and more can make you feel exhausted. I'm not sure how old you are, but it could even be something as innocuous as a growth spurt. Teenagers are often very tired as their bodies grow. I think those of us with mental illnesses tend to be a little hypervigilant and overlook regular physical causes.

[AniManiac]

Originally Posted by dragonfly2

Definitely rule out regular physical illnesses first. Anemia, mononucleosis, pregnancy (not sure of your gender), vitamin deficiencies, chronic fatigue syndrome...all of these things and more can make you feel exhausted. I'm not sure how old you are, but it could even be something as innocuous as a growth spurt. Teenagers are often very tired as their bodies grow. I think those of us with mental illnesses tend to be a little hypervigilant and overlook regular physical causes.

Good point, this reminds me - it would be good to rule out hypothyroidism too. I had problems with that when I was on SSRI's and I think I've seen that lithium can have that effect on people. It requires a blood test, but if your thyroid levels are low, it's pretty straightforward to treat and will make all the difference in the world!

[horseontheloose]

The lack of sunlight this time of year can also be a factor. Not sure if that was mentioned, there was so much to read

[Hydrophobic1212]

Thanks all. I wish I could get a doctor's appointment but my parents won't do it just because I'm feeling tired. They'll blame it on depression or medication, because they don't want to pay the money for the appointment. So chances are, I'll not be seeing a doctor even though I probably should. Doctors always seem to know the right questions to ask.

I haven't been depressed recently. I've been happy and if anything, feeling relatively normal recently.

I'm not on any other medications that would cause drowsiness. I would have known about it by now, as I talked to my psychiatrist about this recently.

I'll keep trying to figure something out... Thanks for the help!

[dragonfly2]

Originally Posted by Hydrophobic1212

Thanks all. I wish I could get a doctor's appointment but my parents won't do it just because I'm feeling tired. They'll blame it on depression or medication, because they don't want to pay the money for the appointment. So chances are, I'll not be seeing a doctor even though I probably should. Doctors always seem to know the right questions to ask.

Have you asked your parents to see a doctor this time? Granted, they may respond the way you said they will, but you won't know until you ask. Is this something that you have asked about before? Regardless of whether or not your parents want to pay for the appointment, you have a right to medical care. Try to ask your parents about it. If they do say no, go to your school nurse and tell her they won't take you to a doctor. She can help make sure you get the medical attention you need and also check for some basic things there in her office.

[Secretum]

I'm assuming that your parents want you to do well academically. You should remind them that it is difficult to learn if you sleep through class. That might sway them.

Also, don't let guilt over the cost sway you from pressuring them to take you to the doctor. If you have good insurance it should be affordable. With my parents' plan, a primary care appt. is only $25.

Just to be warned: your doctor may make the same assumptions as your parents, that the fatigue is due to depression or your meds. Unfortunately, a lot of people with MI receive inadequate medical care because some doctors find it easier to blame new physical symptoms on a pre-existing mental illness. Make sure to tell your doctor that you are not depressed. That knocks down one possible easy explanation.

[Sheba976]

I have the same fatigue. I've noticed since I'm on Lamictal and Lexapro it has been improving. I had a work up by my general practitioner first to make sure it wasn't physically related. I've noticed exercising or trying to at least get outside for a 20 minute walk gives me a little extra energy. The foods your eating can make you tired. I swear the Lexapro makes me grave SUGAR all day. If I have a good diet day and not eating junk food, I feel a lot better.

[Hydrophobic1212]

Thanks. I'll try to get them to take me to a doctor. I really don't think it's normal to be this tired. I'd go to a nurse but my school doesn't really have one. So I'll try to get them to take me to a doctor. They were going to take me to a nutritionist so maybe they'll take me to our regular doctor instead.

[Moose72]

see if its your thyroid too. I know it made me crazily sleepy to have low thyroid from lithium.