Can't stay awake and feeling faint all the time?

[wintersoldier]

Hey! I've had anxiety and depression for quite a few years now and during the last 10 months everything went downhill. I started to get panic attacks that lasted for hours and my depression took a turn for the worst. I'm anxious about everything. Most of the time I'm only leaving the house about once a month, sometimes not even that. Getting out of bed became too much. My short time memory is pretty much non existent. One thing that got worse and worse over the last few months is the fatigue and the dizziness. I'm sleeping about 10-11 hours every night. It's a bit like I'm in a coma because nothing wakes me up. Even when I have an alarm set I simply turn it off and turn around and continue sleeping, I don't even remember turning it off when I get up some hours later. I can't keep myself awake for longer than 5-6 hours. I always have to take a nap for 2-3 hours. Afterwards I'm staying awake for about 5-6 hours again and then go to bed and have my 'regular' sleep. I'm dead tired all the time. I'm falling asleep standing up. I'm feeling faint all the time. Even when I'm laying down I feel like I'm going to pass out. Even simple things like taking a shower are too much. It feels like the most exhausting thing in the world. My legs feel extremely weak like I might fall to my knees at any given second. When I get out of the shower it feels like the room is swaying. I often feel like I can't breathe. I'm walking down the stairs and I immediately feel weird and dizzy and like I can't get enough air into my lungs. I've mentioned some of this to my doctor once but he simply told me it's the anxiety and depression. I'm not taking any medication. Are those things normal? Is there anything I can do to make this any better?

[jennssm]

I know with my anxiety I do feel tired at times and I also get dizzy spells every once in a while. I think some of yours may be depression as well, especially with the sleeping all the time part. If I were you, I'd get a second opinion. It never hurts and if the second doctor feels the same way, maybe they can get you on some medicine. I know it's done wonders for me. Your anxiety will never go away, you just have to learn how to control it. Go for some walks (I know you have no energy, but MAKE yourself do it), even if it's just a block. It really does help.

[Nowuccas]

Hey wintersoldier,

I can't tell if the following is the cause, but it does provide an alternative explanation for your symptoms: a previous post follows:

"From neurologist Dr. S Gominak, about vitamin D: http://www.vitamindwiki.com/Handout+on+Vitamin+D+%28Hormone+D%29+and+sleep+-+Gominak+2012
I suggest that you read it in full.

"If you have a neurologic problem that is severe enough to see a neurologist, you probably do not heal your body in sleep as perfectly as you once did. Most of us who have headaches, tremor, balance difficulties, vertigo, (dizziness) burning in the feet, depression, body pain, or memory loss have abnormal sleep and, surprisingly, fixing the sleep can fix the neurologic problem. From 2005-2009 I performed sleep studies on most of my patients and used medications or sleep masks to try to help their sleep. In 2009 I accidentally discovered that most of my patients had abnormal sleep because they were vitamin D deficient".

"Vitamin B12 deficiency and iron deficiency are common secondary deficiencies that also affect sleep. I believe B12 helps the brainstem pacemaker cells, the timers of sleep, do their job, and iron is a cofactor in making dopamine, one of the chemicals that run the timing and paralysis of sleep. When D, B12 and iron deficiency all exist together the sleep becomes especially bad. Those two additional deficiencies usually mean that the D has been low for many years. The low D makes the stomach acid production go down. When the acid in the stomach is too low to dissolve meat the B12 and iron go low. Ask your doctor to check your B12 level when you check the D the first time. The B12 level for normal sleep is 500 or greater. (Again you want to know the number). If the B12 blood level is <500 it should be given as a daily pill of 1000 mcg/day to help the sleep normalize. Monthly shots are not as effective as daily pills.

Some other B vitamins such as pantothenic acid may be secondarily low due to the effect of D deficiency on intestinal bacteria, or the use of statins, (which inhibit the action of B5, pantothenic acid). Several of the B vitamins we need are partially supplied by our food but are also made by our intestinal bacteria then absorbed. Changes in the intestinal bacterial populations may result in accompanying B vitamin deficiencies that can affect sleep. If you feel this refers to you take B-50, a B complex that has 50 mg if each of the 8 B vitamins".

UVB light hits the skin and, (if above the minimum threshold intensity) changes 7 dehydrocholesterol to D hormone; cholecalciferol, which is vitamin D.

For this to occur, it also requires adequate levels of its cofactors, magnesium, (see http://www.naturalnews.com/046401_magnesium_dietary_supplements_nutrient_abso rption.html ) zinc, boron, and vitamin K2, and of course, calcium and cholesterol.

Google: "How To Make Sure That You Are Getting Enough Vitamin D; Dr. Ben Kim", then: "My 1 hr free lecture on vitamin D; Dr. Mercola".

Maintaining optimal levels of vitamin D (59% of Americans have levels that are depleted, or deficient; 95% for those with greater melanin pigmentation) will better enable your body to function well.

The govt. RDI of 400 IU daily is long outdated, and based on misinformation, according to http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/05/10/vitamin-d-recommended-dietary-allowance.aspx?e_cid=20150510Z3_SNL_B_art_1&utm_source=snl&utm_medium=email&utm_content=art1&utm_campaign=20150510Z3_SNL_B&et_cid=DM76064&et_rid=946767914 and Dr. John Cannell, at vitaminDcouncil.org, and Dr. Weil, at drweil.com, Dr. Ben Kim, at drbenkim.com, Dr. Axe, at draxe.com, Dr. Gominak, a neurologist at drgominak.com and Dr. Mercola, at mercola.com all agree that an RDI of 5000 IU daily is not excessive, although higher levels may be required as people age, and / or put on weight. My doctor, on the basis of several peer reviewed studies, also agrees that an RDI of 5000 IU daily is not excessive, and it is virtually impossible to get the required amount from dietary sources, without the risk of toxicity.

The NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) specified by the Institute of Medicine is 10,000 IU/day. Around 1 person in 300 is allergic to it, so start out with only 1,000 IU on the first day, if supplementing.

Dr. Gominak now recommends optimising vitamin D levels in the range 60 ng/ml to 80 ng/ml, and Dr. Mercola recommended 60 ng/ml or 150 nmol/litre, which is now my target level.

Vitamin D is not a true vitamin, but a hormonal substrate that is vitally important for the activation of almost 3,000 genes in the body.

You could enhance your microbiome (mainly the beneficial bacteria in your digestive tract, which produce a large proportion of your neurotransmitters, and some vitamins; the harmful ones are considerably less affected) by regular consumption of fermented foods, such as sauerkraut, tofu, natto, and take a probiotic, preferably a yogurt containing Shirota, or one with an enteric coating; Google supplies, or mercola.com have some.

Adopt a diet with minimal sugars and / or highly processed grain products, with more non starchy vegetables, protein, some complex carbohydrates, such as legumes, (beans, peas, lentils and chickpeas) and brown rice, some sourdough rye bread or seed and nutloaf, and 2, or 3 pieces of fruit, as well as probiotic yoghurt; see http://www.google.com/search?q=mercola+probiotic&hl=en&gbv=2&oq=mercola%3B+&gs_l=heirloom-serp.1.5.0l10.600390.608268.0.613200.11.4.0.0.0.0. 1594.2683.5-2j8-1.3.0.msedr...0...1ac.1.34.heirloom-serp..8.3.2682.dGRp4lhiUH0

Xylitol, from health food, or vitamin stores, or stevia, (from supermarkets) are completely natural replacements for sugar, and are suitable for diabetics. Avoid artificial sweeteners like aspartame; check out http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=mercola+artificial+sweeteners&gbv=2&oq=mercola%3B+artificial+sweeteners&gs_l=heirloom-hp.1.1.0l2.7914.28631.0.31965.30.26.0.0.0.0.1478.2 994.4-1j7-2.3.0.msedr...0...1ac.1.34.heirloom-hp..27.3.2993.3Ce1jolQ7Mg

Low cost vitamin D blood spot testing is available; click on the top of the webpage at http://vitaminDcouncil.org A sensible approach is to begin optimising vitamin D levels with 50,000 IU of vitamin D3 daily, for a week, then 10,000 IU or possibly even more, daily, once the test results have come through, until at the desired level. It takes several weeks for the levels to stabilise. Test again after 8 weeks, then at least twice yearly, until confident of being in the required range, but still test annually. 50,000 IU capsules are available; Dr. Cannell at vitaminDcouncil.org recommends biotechpharmacal.com (they also have vitamin K2 + vitamin D3, and mercola.com have vitamin K2) or you could use Amazon.com.

Note that most doctors would regard as acceptable lower levels of vitamin D than those recommended by Dr. John Cannell of the vitamin D council, or Professor Michael Holick, a former member, and an expert in vitamin D.

Read: "Why are doctors reluctant to accept vitamin D", at:
http://www.vitamindwiki.com/Why+are+doctors+reluctant+to+accept+vitamin+D and in particular:
"Would you be opposed to my getting more vitamin D", at:
http://www.vitamindwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page_id=3162

The highest ratio of UVB : UVA occurs between 11am and 1 pm, solar time (not daylight savings time). Even a slight haze reduces the UVB by a large proportion".

See: "Many reasons why vitamin D deficiency has become epidemic", at http://www.vitamindwiki.com/tiki-index.php?page_id=1586

~~~

Assuming that a deficiency of vitamin D has resulted in secondary deficiencies of iron, B group vitamins (check out https://www.google.com.au/search?client=opera&q=sleep+problems%3B+fatigue+and+the+dizziness&sourceid=opera&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8#q=sleep+problems%3B+fatigue+and+the+dizziness%3B +vitamin+%2B+mineral+deficiency ) and possibly magnesium (up to 80% of Amercians may be deficient in it) it would explain your symptoms. It can also cause / exacerbate anxiety, which causes panic attacks.

I'd be interested to know your vitamin D level. My target range is now 60 ng/ml (150 nmol/lit) to 70 ng/ml (175 nmol/lit) as recommended by Drs. Gominak and Mercola. To ensure sufficient cofactors (magnesium, boron, vitamin K2, and zinc; most people get enough calcium) I also take a multivitamin, mineral, amino acids, ubiquinol, etc. supplement called Total Balance, Men's version, from xtend-life.com, although a high quality one like Suisse, would suffice, from pharmacies, or supermarkets.

You could try supplementing vitamin D at 50,000 IU weekly with some oil, fat, or butter, (daily dosing is probably superior, for those who don't mind taking multiple capsules) until test results come through, then adjust accordingly. Also supplement magnesium, vitamin B complex, but not iron without tests and medical advice, although you could eat beef liver once weekly (highest natural source) and beef steak once, or twice weekly Perhaps seek a second opinion, and mention the possibility of vitamin and mineral deficiencies causing your problems.

ANXIETY or PANIC ATTACKS: See my post at http://anxietyforum.net/forum/showthread.php?33197-Do-I-have-anxiety-disorder-or-something-worse&p=220006#post220006

DEPRESSION: http://anxietyforum.net/forum/showthread.php?32707-has-this-happend-to-you&p=216510#post216510 (people with the lowest vitamin D levels are 11 times more likely to be suffering from depression)

GENERALISED ANXIETY DISORDER: http://anxietyforum.net/forum/showthread.php?33964-New-to-the-site-and-looking-for-help&p=223989#post223989

There is a long thread about vitamin D, anxiety and depression at http://anxietyforum.net/forum/showthread.php?12695-Vitamin-D3-Cured-my-Anxiety-Depression-and-Panic-Disorder&highlight=vitamin

[wintersoldier]

Thank you! I've been thinking about starting medication for quite a while now. I think it might really help me but it also honestly scares me a lot. I have a dog who I used to walk every day (my mom walks him now) and I'm going to try and start doing this again.