Does anybody else get a "high" feeling from lack of sleep?

Sometime my sleeping gets really out of wack and I go one or two days with out any sleep?



When I only get a a few hours sleep I drag but when I don't get any I feel "high"


Does anybody else experience this?

Actually, I do. I am very sluggish if I sleep for only a few hours, but if I just stay up, I am able to function quite well. Of course, I wouldn't recommend anyone doing this on a regular basis, but if push came to shove, and I saw I only had a few hours to sleep (less than 4) I am usually better off staying awake.

My general opinion is that a boost in energy from lack of sleep is a possible sign of a sleeping disorder. It is being found more and more that children diagnosed with ADD are more likely than other children, to have a sleeping diorder, specifically sleep apnea being the most common. Thsi obviously applies to adults, since sleep apnea is not something we grow out of.

When a person with a normal sleep pattern awakes, they are not groggy, they can get up rather quickly and move about and think clearly. Having a sleep disorder myself, obstructive sleep apnea, and using a CPAP to control that, I know the difference between sleeping properly and sleeping impaired. When I don't use my CPAP, it takes me hours to "wake up". If I have to get out of bed fast, oh my gosh, I will drag the rest of the day. My thinking is not nearly as sharp, my writing deteriorates, my organizational skills head downward, my ability to get dressed and showered and get on the move is imparied. I just move slow, like a snail, and never get my things done that day.

On the other hand, when I use my CPAP, I wake up refreshed, like a actually got some sleep, and its invigorating to get up and get my day started. I head to the coffee maker, make my coffee, take my morning medicine, get dressed or head to the shower, shave, brush teeth, eat some breakfast - maybe even cook some eggs, and get started on my days activities. Its a totally different experience.

Most interesting though, is that I have a messed up sleep schedule. I also go days without sleep somtimes. This was more common before treatment for sleep apnea. Yet it is still a habit I have developed. I use to get energy by not going to sleep, even if I were tired, because it was better than the way I felt in the morning after a night of sleep apnea. So now my pattern is to get energy at night....I think it is a left over from so many years with sleep apnea.

Why do we feel so awake? Because We have more oxygen in our blood 12- 20 hours after we awake than when we went to sleep, which gives us more strenght, clarity in thought, and energy. Why more oxygen? Because sleep apnea momentarily stops our breathing fro 30 seconds at a time, many times a night, many times per hour, we are talking about hundreds of episodes a nite, and by morning time our blood oxygen level is significantly lower than normal. Thats why we feel groggy and foggy when we get up, and tired, despite having slept 8-10-12 hours.

We also experience less quality sleep, because our brains won't allow our mind to go into a deeper sleep known as REM, which id vital to good rest, as long as oxygen levels are lowered...its a survival mechanisim to keep us partially awake and alert all night, so we don't suffocate....so no REM for the sleep apnea crowd, and that means less and less organization skills, unclear thinking, and less control over emotions the next day.

So the answer in a word is you have lots of oxygen in your blood by not going to sleep, and thats why you feel boosted in eenergy. Imagine other people have that oxygen level when they wake up in the morning, and you will understand why treating sleep apnea is so important.

Awesome post, Jon. So much information in a palatable and easily digested form. (am I hungry or freudienly hooked on food?)

Seriously, a simple great post, I learned so much from it. Though some of the information I knew, I wasn't able to put the peices together. I have been quietly wondering for about six years now if I have a sleep disorder of a physical nature. I have had bouts of insomnia since childhood, was recently diagnosed BP2 on top of my AD/HD, etc. I have always woken very slowly, slept deeply, been a sleep walker, sleep talker, etc. It's common knowledge in my house that when i wake, you have to wait an hour to really have conversation with me. BUT the real kicker is when I got pregnant with my last child six years ago I developed a snoring issue as soon as I hit about the sixth month( I swear If any one tortures me about this i will just die.......I hear enough jokes at home) It has never gone away fully. And having regained a few pounds ( ok a few more than a few) it has resumed.I assumed it was my horrific sinuses and chronic allergies and known tiny nasal passages. But now I will bring it up to my medical doctor and see if she cant help me. Thank you .

>I will bring it up to my medical doctor and see if she cant help >me. Thank you .

Crissy,

I hope your doctor is able to help you. Did you know sleep disturbance is estimated to affect 20% of the population? It is one of the most underdiagnosed and untreated illnesses. Unfortunately for those who have sleep apnea, it can cause severe physical problems if it goes untreated, enlarging the heart muscle due to the strain to increase oxygen in blood, which is not good because that can cause congestive heart failure, increased risk of heart attack, increased risk of diabetes, increased risk of high blood pressure, increased risk or depression, increased risk of developmental interruption, and as we know increased risk of problems with concentration and a profound effect on emotions. It's too bad the average general practitioner is not looking at this more closely and diagnosing 1 our of 5 patients with this illness. If your practitioner says he rarely sees sleep apnea, then you know he is underdiagnosing. My suggestion is to see a Cardiac Pulminologist, a Neurologist, or an ENT specialist for starters. I would get more than one opinion as well. If you are wondering why I am telling you all this, it is because I have spoken to so many people over the internet and in person who have sleep apnea but had a hell of a time getting diagnosed.

Good luck and be pesistent

Jonathan

I feel very tired when i first wake up, although near the end of the day i feel much more awake. ive attributed this to being able to focus and concentrate better the longer i am awake. that is like a 'high' to me, being someone with adhd and who has extreme difficulties concentrating.

I am going thru this right now...I did get four hours sleep but that was after being up more than 50. But, I am working on a puzzle. I need the last piece of my life and I will finally be able to really start healing. I'm tired yes but OMG I can't even explain it thing's I never thought were important I can see how they have had a major impact on my life after all. My mind is hyper focused what ever I'm searching for is right there in front of me. I know it is. It's like a puzzle it fascinates me and excites me and scares me. The emotion's jump from one to the other and I love it. lol But, I KNOW this is part of MY healing process and I NEED it am driven toward it. And I totally lost were I was going or if I'm even on track here. Sorry!!!!!!!!!!! big smile.