Problems hearing alarm and waking up

[dfwtexas]

I asked my neuro on my last appointment and he didn't feel with was connected to my epilepsy. However I am at a loss and don't know what else besides my epilepsy could be causing this problem. I am on a lot of meds, but only change has been a few months ago when Keppra was increased.
This happens at least once a week. My alarm goes off and I hear nothing. When I come to, I don't feel confused like I do with a seizure...it just feels like I have been unconcicous when I come to and the alarm has been going off for 30 minutes...this morning it had been going off for an hour.
Has anyone else had this problem? I really don't know how to get past this and it is so frustrating!!!

 

[Loopy Lou]

I don't have a problem hearing my alarm, but i tend to hear it, and when it stops i fall asleep again and then completely forget it ever went off. Luckily it goes every 5 mins, so i can get it the next time.

I've taken to picking the most obnoxious rock song i have on my mobile, putting it on other side of room and then it usually makes me SHOOT out of bed.

Mind you, my phone goes REALLY loud.

Sometimes if you hear the same alarm tone every day, it becomes easier to ignore it and not notice it going off.

 

[epileric]

I used to have that problem when I was on 3 different AED's. I'd always assumed it was the medications.

I remember trying to get up early one weekend. I woke up to my parents & brother standing over me really upset that my alarm woke them on the weekend. I felt so tired I just turned off the alarm & went back to sleep.

P.S. (my memory is pretty bad too, did I already tell this story?)

 

[Nakamova]

You could just be knocked out by meds and exhaustion. A friend of mine could sleep with music blaring so loudly that the neighbor called to tell her to turn it down. Of course she couldn't hear the phone either.

 

[dfwtexas]

When this problem first started a few months ago, I changed to an alarm clock that is deafening!
Epileric, this Sunday morning, I woke up to my son standing over me. My alarm was going off full blast. My son is very heavy sleeper and he said he was so concerned as the alarm actually woke him up and he was afraid for me.
Maybe it is seizure meds....I NEVER had this happen prior to being diagnosed. I am so concerned that it seems to be happening more.

 

[Crystal11]

Something I use is a "Shake-awake" for the deaf since I'm not able to hear my alarm. It has a disk that you put under your pillow or mattress. When it goes off, you will be up so quick. It basically will scare you awake- or startle you.
Go to Harris Communications website and look into it. Some people, even if they are not deaf or hard of hearing will use those.
Or you can look into getting a really loud alarm clock for hard of hearing people.

Just some suggestions,
Take care

 

[valeriedl]

I don't know if you have the alarm set to beep or music, but maybe try setting to something different. On mine I can also put a CD in it to have that music wake me up. You may get so used to hearing the same thing that if you are in a deep sleep you are just used to hearing it so it doesn't do anything for you. Also turn it up loud!

As for falling back asleep after you turn it off, put the alarm clock somewhere in the room were you have to actually get out of bed to turn it off. Then you will be up and don't get back in bed.

You could even get a back up like I have. I have two cats that get fed when the alarm goes off. If they hear it and I don't get up they start going crazy! They start crying and pawing at my face until I finally get out of bed and give them breakfast. This one is a sure thing to make sure I get up!:roflmao:

 

[dfwtexas]

Thanks for suggestions. my 3 dogs sleep with me and I know on days where I am groggy, they will wake me up....so I don't know if they are trying and I can't remember...but they are all good size dogs, so I don't think I am missing it. I know my sleep lately has not been good, it has been a long cold winter in Dallas. I don't do good in the cold due to the trauma to my arm. Maybe that is affecting me too.

 

[CathyAnn31]

When this problem first started a few months ago, I changed to an alarm clock that is deafening!
Epileric, this Sunday morning, I woke up to my son standing over me. My alarm was going off full blast. My son is very heavy sleeper and he said he was so concerned as the alarm actually woke him up and he was afraid for me.
Maybe it is seizure meds....I NEVER had this happen prior to being diagnosed. I am so concerned that it seems to be happening more.

Thats some scary stuff. What would happen if the fire alarm went off during one of those episodes!!! Hang in there lady, and I hope it sorts itself out real soon.

 

[occb]

I wouldn't be surprised if it had to do with the increased medication. I don't have any experience with Keppra, but I have seen how meds can change a person's sleep. My partner's sleep changed dramatically after doing a course of gabapentin. He used to be a very light sleeper, and would wake up to any sound, but while on gabapentin, he slept like the dead. Nothing could rouse him, and that deep sleep has continued even after the gabapentin was stopped.

 

[dfwtexas]

I think you may be right about it being the Keppra. I know I spent night at friend's house a few months ago and she said she had a hard time waking me up....she was afraid something was wrong because it took her so long to wake me. Until I got diagnosed with E, I was always the one who woke up at every little noise.

 

[mickeydhobbs]

not waking up to alarm

I am a mother of a 24 yr old daughter that has TBI and epilepsy. She just complained of not hearing multiple alarms go off and could not figure out why this happened. I just read your post and see she is not the only one with this problem. Also I noticed when I called her and woke her up from a deep sleep she answered the phone in almost like a drunken slur. I could not understand her for a minute or two. I don't know if this is because of meds or epilepsy. She was late to work because of it and I am worried if this keeps happening she may get in trouble at work. She does not live with me for me to help her. Any suggestions?

 

[acshuman]

Not Hearing Sounds When Sleeping

I have to say that I have a problem the exact opposite way. I am woken up by the lightest sounds. I have been wearing ear protection(the type worn by construction workers), when I sleep, so that I am not woken up by something as simple as a car passing my house. This can be a huge problem for me because my house is on the intersection of the street my house is on and one of the busiest streets in town!:huh:

ACsHuman

 

[skyfire322]

You could just be knocked out by meds and exhaustion. A friend of mine could sleep with music blaring so loudly that the neighbor called to tell her to turn it down. Of course she couldn't hear the phone either.

I couldn't agree more with this. 90% of the time, I usually can hear my alarm but end up hitting the snooze button and won't wake up until three or four hours after.

Some days are better than others, but lately it has been the norm for me.

 

[BIGMAN131307]

There are plenty of specialty alarm clocks available. They may seem like novelty items, but may be worth looking into.

clocky - Is an alarm clock on wheels. When the alarm goes off, so does clocky. There is no snooze button here. This alarm doesn't stop until you catch him and turn him off. No falling back to sleep either, because you're up and about now.

puzzle alarm clock - This clock looks subtle, but not quite. When the alarm goes off, so does the top. The top literally flies in to pieces. You need to put the pieces back together to stop the clock alarm.

bed shaker alarm - This alarm is a twist to the basic alarm. The alarm itself is a bit louder.
But the main feature is a special pad that you run under your pillow. It kinda works like a vibrating phone, but buzzing and shaking your pillow.

__________________________________________________________

As for me I'm a sound sleeper, when a sleep. But when I just go to sleep, or have slept several hours, the slightest noise can wake me. I use the standard alarm clock. For me the trick is to keep it out of arms reach. So I need to get up to turn it off.

 

[Elsie]

I don't hear my alarm either. If I need to be up early in the AM for something I often don't sleep well through the night because I know I need to get up and won't hear the alarm. I also talk with my DH and don't remember a thing I've said. I no longer let anyone bring a coffee in to me because I fall asleep and spill it. Darn meds...

 

[valeriedl]

Is there any way you could possibly have someone call you when it's time to get up?

My husband's at work in the morning when I take my meds. He used to give me a phone call when it was med time just to make sure I heard my alarm go off and I took them. Now I send him a text to let him know I took my meds. If he doesn't get the text then he'll call the house to make sure I've taken them.