For this holiday of rebirth and in honor of the season of renewal, I couldn’t resist this little guy snuggling up to an adorable, fluffy, bunny. Don’t you want to snuggle up to him, too?
Halfway through the list! So far, I’ve learned some things require patience more than motivation to get done. Some things, just not super important to me. Others, I still really want to do, and am keeping them on the list. Thanks for hanging in there with me as I evaluate!
So, the title of my blog got a lot less ironic today. I’ve been dealing with mounting exhaustion for a while now. Each day it has been harder to extract myself from bed. I started falling asleep during favorite TV shows and movies. Not when I stayed up too late, or figured I would watch TV as I drifted off, but during things I wanted to see. I began to sleep away entire weekends. I would fall dead asleep, even if I had plans or somewhere I needed to be.I stopped running, or really doing any activity because I was just. Too. Tired.
So, I brought it up at my last annual exam, and made an appointment around the same time to see my neurologist as a precaution. My regular doctor ran every blood test known to man, including some that were highly, highly improbably. The gamut ran from checking white blood cells and my thyroid to every STD in the book. (If any of the STDs came back positive, I would have been floored. It’s just me and the hubs, and he’s clean. Where would it have come from??) All came back perfect, and I gave myself a pat on the back for taking my vitamins every day. So, on to the neurologist. He gave me a once over, and said that I might have some sleep disorder. He explained some of the possibilities, such as sleep apnea. “I can’t have sleep apnea,” I thought, “I’m not obese!” It turns out that sleep apnea isn’t exactly what I thought it was, and thin people can have it, too. So, I was set up for a sleep study. It’s really strange to make a doctor appointment that occurs at night. When the receptionist asked if I was available to come in that day at 8:30, I managed to stop myself before actually saying, “But it’s already 9!” D’oh. I made my appointment, and per the instructions I took the following day off work. I thought that seemed a bit much just to watch me sleep for a night, but whatever. They are the experts…or at least I hoped so. Otherwise, it just seemed weird to let them watch me sleep. Upon finding out that I would be sleeping in a top-of-the-line Select Comfort bed and that I could watch anything I liked on their HDTV with satellite service, I told both my job and the hubs that I might need to take a few sleep studies. You know, just to make sure.
So, I took the sleep study. I had packed my best pajamas, since I was gonna be on camera, and the novel I was currently reading. It said to bring all your toiletries and such, but I figured I would just do my thing when I got home the next morning. I brought my medicines and purse, and that was about it. I was checked in, and taken to my room. It looked like a classy hotel room that happened to have a weird machine in it. I was told to change into my pajamas, and they would be back to hook me up. I changed into those fancy pajamas and a very nice lady proceeded to wire me up. There were wires everywhere. Electrodes were pasted to my legs, arms, chest, back, neck, head, face, feet…if there is a part not listed, don’t worry, there was probably a wire leading to it. Then, I got to try a CPAP machine. She brought one of each mask type, excluding one that went up my nose on account of my nose ring. I was really hoping I wouldn’t need one, because once the air was turned on for the CPAP, I felt like I was going to choke on the air. Then, I got a rundown of where everything was located. Remote, channel guide, all the bed settings, how if I needed someone just to speak since they would be listening. Finally, I got to settle in. I could read, watch TV, whatevs. I just had to give them a five minute warning of when I would fall asleep so they could hook my myriad of wires to the machine they would be monitoring me through and turn on the camera. I took my meds, tested out all the bed options (My sleep number is 80, if you are wondering. 85 was too much, and 75 wasn’t enough.), and turned on HGTV. When I felt like I had some potential to go to sleep, I sheepishly said something. It’s really weird to speak out to the air and assume someone will hear you. However, they did and a voice from above said someone would be there in a moment. She came in, and hooked my bundle of wires to the machine. A mic was put under my nose to monitor snoring, sleep talking, that sort of thing. Then, I was instructed to lie on my back and await further instruction over the speaker. She left the room, turning out the lights on her way. I then heard instructions to do things so they could check the equipment. Things like breathing in and out, blinking, and speaking. After that, it was sweet sleep time.
I slept and had some crazy dreams. I know I woke up a few times, and a couple of those times were so brief that I wondered if they would notice I was even awake. Finally, I woke up and had to pee. I had no idea how long I’d been asleep. I wondered if I would be bothering anyone by asking to go to the bathroom. I pondered for a bit. However, I really had to pee. I quietly said that I needed to use the restroom. A voice said she would be there in a moment. Sure enough, a knock on the door. I said to come in, and the door opened. A different woman came in, and turned on the light, warning me that it would be bright. She unhooked the wires from the machine and clipped them to a lanyard so I could go to the bathroom. When I was finished, I had her come back into the room. She asked if I was ready to get up for the day. I asked what time it was. She responded, “You want to know what time it is? Two o’clock in the afternoon.” Yup. I guess I should be ready to get up. I was told they got some good data, and she suspected I would need to stay for a nap study. She also mentioned that she got me a turkey sandwich from Panera. Yay! Oh wait. I can’t eat turkey. A moment later there were balloons and confetti floating from the ceiling. “CONGRATULATIONS!!! YOU QUALIFY FOR A NAP STUDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!” What did I win? “FOUR OR FIVE TWENTY MINUTE NAPS! DINNER FROM PIZZA LUCE! HELPING YOURSELF TO ANYTHING IN THE KITCHEN*!”
Okay, so there was no confetti nor any balloons and no exclamations. However, I totally qualified for that nap study and got to order anything I wanted from Pizza Luce. I had to change out of my pajamas, though, and there were significantly fewer wires involved. Basically, the run down was to stay up for two hours (no napping/drifting off allowed), then they would come in, plug in my remaining wires, do a couple of checks and tell me to nap. In my free two hours between naps, I ate a bagel, drank some water, watched random HGTV, read a couple of chapters in my book, and ate my pizza. I took four naps, and I slept for all of them. What can I say? I know how to sleep.
Or rather, I don’t. I nervously made and attended my follow up appointment. I was expecting them to ask me if I remembered ripping all the wires off and running around the hall naked or something. I mean, that would totally explain everything. Am I right?? It was not so interesting, though. The rundown was that during my insane sleep, I wasn’t really sleeping. I roused thirty three times. An hour. Normal is six or seven times. A night. Also, those nap studies? I really shouldn’t have been able to fall asleep so soon after sleeping for over 14 hours. Much less in three minutes that first nap. I certainly should not have hit REM sleep in 8 minutes much less during a 20 minute nap. On the bright side, it took me longer during that second nap? (Normal would be hitting REM during a NINETY MINUTE nap.) So, all the classic symptoms of narcolepsy. So, there were a couple of options. We started with the hope that the narcolepsy was caused by the not sleeping (and not the other way around). So, I left with a plan to change my prescription that I take at night to the morning to see if that was the problem, halving the dosage, then starting a sedative. I did each of those things, and the problem still continued to worsen. I was still waking up despite the sedative, and still getting more exhausted during the day. So, today I met with my sleepytime doctor. Anyone guess I have narcolepsy? If you did, you get a gold star!**
Now, I admit to not really knowing much about narcolepsy. I’ve heard the term, I know it has something to do with falling asleep easily. However, it’s pretty different than what I thought. It’s less I’m typing this blog pokjaf dkaroiyhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhnCS
What? Huh? Where was I before I passed out and ruined my keyboard with drool?
It’s that you can fall asleep quickly and reach REM quickly. It’s that your sleep centers are screwed up and despite being exhausted and getting to sleep so easily, you can’t necessarily stay asleep or rest.
So, the short of it is, I will wean the sedative and add a stimulant in the morning. The idea is that the stimulant will suppress the sleepiness during the day, it will wear off in the afternoon, and because I wasn’t sleepy all day I will sleep at night. Right now I am operating at a major sleep deficit. So, I’m hoping this is the magic trick!
I’m also hoping that my blog title wasn’t a self fulfilled prophecy. If I start sprouting soft grey hair and a tail, I am changing my name to Fabulous Tilda Swinton, STAT.
*That wasn’t brought in by an employee to eat for lunch. So, no Trader Joe’s Indian for this lady.
**Not a real gold star. A virtual gold star you can keep in your mind to remember this moment.
Happy Monday!! I know the weekend was too short, but grab your coffee, relax for a minute and let these links keep you busy until you wake up!
This first link is amazing to me. I mean, how long has wine been around and this has only just been done? Wine in individual servings already in the glass. Now you can be classy anywhere!
Maybe it’s the wine talking, but how does one steal an entire bridge?
Those bridge thieves were clearly crafty, but were they as crafty as these art thieves? At Gawker, the FBI admits they still haven’t solved this 23 year old art heist.
The polls appear to be closed, but I think it’s still worth a peek over at Typefight. Graphic artists are pitted against one another to see whose typography reigns supreme.
Over at Bill Cosby’s site, the polls are still open! Go vote on your favorite Cosby sweater! I was surprised to see less Coogi than I expected.
The Iraq war was already a decade ago. The Atlantic looks at the war ten years later.
On a possibly happier note, the Star Tribune looks at the Twin Cities this year versus last year. Yeah, I don’t think we’ll be rocking bikinis anytime soon.
Finally, this wouldn’t be Narcoleptic Squirrel, if I didn’t share at least one furry little guy! This video combines squirrels and cats in the best possible way.
Part three of evaluating my attempt at making <a href=”http://dayzeroproject.com/”>101 goals to do over 1001 days</a>. Check out part one <a href=”http://narcolepticsquirrel.com/2013/02/05/1001-days/”>here</a>, and part two <a href=http://narcolepticsquirrel.com/2013/03/13/101-things-part-two/>here</a>.
Another feature! I know, a lot of blogs have a post of links as a feature. I love these posts. I love finding out what people are interested in, finding new things to do or read, learning something, reminiscing, and so much more. So, every Monday, I would like to share with you what I’m enjoying, reading, learning, discovering. Some I’ve found through others, some I’ve found while surfing, but I want to share all of them with you for one reason or another. I thought Monday would be a great day for this. That way, when you drag yourself into work first thing Monday morning and you are still waking up with a cup of coffee (or three) you can look busy for a few minutes and have some things to help get you through a Monday morning, and maybe the rest of your week. So, here’s my first installment! Enjoy!
It has been nearly 76 years since the Hindenburg disaster that made traveling by zeppelin a blip in history. This 75th anniversary article provides a history of the successful years of the Hindenburg, zeppelin travel, and photographs of the marvel.
Speaking of history, it was only 100 short years ago that women marched on Washington to work for the right to vote. The Smithsonian covered this incredible event.
Now to the future! The LA Times speculated what 2013 would look like, 25 years ago.
In 1967, Walter Cronkite visited the home of the future! The living room is quite lovely, and I would like us to get on that kitchen of the future now.
Love Game of Thrones? Check out School of Thrones. If you are behind where the show is, there may be spoilers. I still think it’s delightful.
Been keeping track of the worst fashions of your favorite celebrity? The Fug Girls released this years Fug Madness bracket, with the Madness beginning tomorrow.
Finally, the best thing I saw over the last week. Cracked is great at dispensing knowledge laced with humour. However, this look at the beloved Fred Rogers manages to be sweet and sentimental. If you watch the videos, you’ll want a box of tissues handy.
Here’s to a happy Saint Patrick’s Day! A couple of tips for imbibing this holiday: 1) Choose wisely. Sure you can just have a Bud, but perhaps choose something a little more delicious and Irish and, well, special. B) Make sure you have a sober driver, whether you choose to have a friend drive the car, catch a bus or hail a taxi. Cheers!!
I know I was gonna bang this out over one week, but my blog freaked out and I couldn’t.
Just as well. I learned how long it will really take to bang this out and how long it is to read. So, I am cutting down to ten (or 11, in some cases), and posting them each Wednesday so you all don’t get too bored! Here’s part two, keep your eyes out over the next few Wednesdays for parts three through nine!