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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Sinusitis / December 2005Extreme Drowsiness
I have had a lifetime of sinus problems. At different intervals in my life, i have had some serious episodes of drowsiness. These episodes have happend in high school classes, in business meetings, and while driving. I learned through trial and error that cigarette smoke and red wine are triggers. I have also had to deal with these drowsy episodes as a delayed reaction with an allergen trigger. I have been punished in classes for "dozing off". I have been laughed at for the same reason. 35 years ago I rolled a car after an evening at a bar exposed to a lot of cigarette smoke and drinking the equivilent of one glass of red wine. I live in Denver. I used to go up to the mountains to ski. I would drive home and would have extreme drowsy attacks. The culprit was hot spiced wine - a Burgandy with spices and sugar. This was not enough to get drunk but more than enough to have serious drowsy issues. I have been fired from jobs for "nodding off" in business meetings where several people were smoking. The positive is that I have a lot of control over a lot of these issues. I don't go into smoky bars by choice. I avoid red wine. Other than a few allergens such as some pollens in the summer months, I am relativly drowsy free. I do carry some afrin and a nasal steroid in my car when I need it. If I have a drowsy episode while driving, I get off the road. After 20 minutes, the symptoms pass and I continue driveing. I have not had to pull over for several years now because I can use my nasal sprays before I have any severe symptoms. >I have had a lifetime of sinus problems. At different intervals in my >life, i have had some serious episodes of drowsiness. These episodes [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] >pull over for several years now because I can use my nasal sprays >before I have any severe symptoms. You may well be right. The cause and effect could also be the otherway around. You may not be sleeping well due to unexplained factors, and that lack of sleep may be causing the sinus probelems. That would be my guess...... I have thought of that. I do have sleep apnea. I cannot wear a cpap mask. I have not had any of these drowsy episodes for quite some time now. I am very careful about the red wine thing and cigarette smoke. The result is a minimum of these drowsy attacks. There is a difference between sleepiness and drowsiness. If it was a critical sleep deprivation, I would still be a very dangerous person on the road. I do think that there are others that have this sinus drowsy problem. There is the issue of self medicating for this. Many will reach for a cigarette for a Nicotine rush. Also there are those that will have a caffinated beverages to knock out the drowsiness. Even Codine in low dosages will knock out the drowsiness. The irony is that every drug that I mentioned comes from a plant alkaloid that people use to self medicate against drowsiness. >I have thought of that. I do have sleep apnea. I thought that might be the case. > I cannot wear a cpap >mask. I have not had any of these drowsy episodes for quite some time [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >deprivation, I would still be a very dangerous person on the road. I >do think that there are others that have this sinus drowsy problem. Yes but it deos not have to be anywhere near critical before lack of sleep will affect you sinuses. Unfortuantely there are some "vicious circles" here - each factor making the other worse. You will have to try to get out of that circle one way or another (losing weight might be one easy way to help with the sleep apnea in some cases - I am sure there are others....) >There is the issue of self medicating for this. Many will reach for a >cigarette for a Nicotine rush. Also there are those that will have a >caffinated beverages to knock out the drowsiness. Even Codine in low >dosages will knock out the drowsiness. The irony is that every drug >that I mentioned comes from a plant alkaloid that people use to self >medicate against drowsiness. On 12/5/05 1:06 PM, in article 1133816794.407647.169840@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com, "Fred" <fenisz@aol.com> wrote: > I have thought of that. I do have sleep apnea. I cannot wear a cpap > mask. I have not had any of these drowsy episodes for quite some time [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > that I mentioned comes from a plant alkaloid that people use to self > medicate against drowsiness. Don't misunderstand me, but you are trying to understand your sleep apnea, whereas doctors spend a year or more of special education to get an understanding of what sleep apnea is and what it does and how it affects different persons. Self treatment is OK for a common cold, but that is not what I am hearing here. On 12/5/05 12:32 PM, in article 1133814750.025540.232390@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com, "Fred" <fenisz@aol.com> wrote: > I have had a lifetime of sinus problems. At different intervals in my > life, i have had some serious episodes of drowsiness. These episodes [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > pull over for several years now because I can use my nasal sprays > before I have any severe symptoms. Again, I don't think it is allergy but it is simple to make a test. You can take the product you think is a cause and have a brain wave test - EEG done. But first, rule out sleep apnea. Of course Afrin wakes you up it is a stimulant. |
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