IUBio

Help!! I need advice. I might be having blanks.

Doug Ruth druth at kdcol.com
Tue Dec 10 00:35:02 EST 1996


On 08 DEC 96 00:34:53 EST, perhaps from inspiration because of the
gravitational field of the moon, "Sit Ubu sit!! (Good dog)"
<W9MK000 at MUSICB.MCGILL.CA>, wrote:

>Hi, I'm a student at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec.
>   I have always wondered whether I might have something wrong:
>Whenever I'm in class or tired,  I experience extremely brief
>periods of discontinuity.  Sort of like the teacher is talking about
>something and then suddenly is at the end of his sentence.  I
>always thought that it was probably because I was tired or I
>was daydreaming- however- I couldn't remember what I could have
>been daydreaming/thinking about.
>     I have always had this feeling as far as I can remember- but
>simply ascribed it to daydreaming.
>     I recently found out that a cousin of mine, a young girl,
>has a problem in which she experiences lapses, her eyes go blank
>and time stops for her during that time.  The only thing is that while
>hers last about half a second, mine probably last less.  She takes
>medication.
>     This happens less when I am hyper or alert.
>Anyone have any idea what it could be?  So far, no one has noticed it
>except for me.  Could it simply be daydreaming?  Is it natural?
>Maybe I'm not paying enough attention...
>
>If you can help, please email me at w9mk at musicb.mcgill.ca immediately.
>
>Thanks.
>
>Miguel Frias, 21 years old, Languages and Literature
>
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Some people always seem to know the answer.  I'm willing to admit that I
>don't even know the question.

Dear Miguel:

It is interesting that you have posted this message in
alt.sleep.disorder!  But it could very well be a sleep disorder.

If you have a sleep disorder, such as sleep apnea or narcolepsy, then
many strange things can happen.  Under sleep deprivation, you will
actually sleep while you are awake.  You can phase into, say, REM
sleep for microseconds at a time, and phase back out, virtually
without your awareness.  Perhaps the best way to determine a sleep
disorder is if you feel tired and sleepy MOST OF THE TIME.  If your
problems are isolated only to a distinct moment here or there, then
you have probably gotten enough sleep.

You may have some low-level epileptic or otherwise seizure also.  What
you may want to do is see a sleep specialist who is a neurologist
(they are typically either pulmonologists or neurologists).

good luck


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
While yearning in nostalgic dream
to touch the rose aglow,
I knew a part of me was lost
to where no roses grow.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Doug Ruth..........druth at mail.kdcol.com



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