SleepLessONE

I think your perception is a bit skewed. All mamals require sleep to live; without sleep basic body functions shut down. Ordinarily I would agree with your statement since it is based on common sense. However, I can assure you that I do not sleep at all.. never an unconscious state. This is also not something that occured without any apparent cause. As I have stated, I have suffered from chronic Lyme disease since 1993 and experienced more then 30 different symptoms, many of them simultaneously. Given the horror of this illness I am grateful just to be able to rest comfortably at night, since I was unable to do so for nearly 9 consecutive years. If I were to doze off like you do, I would have the sensation of coming to. However that never happens. I just lay in bed at night listening to the sounds in the house -- the creaking the planes overhead, cars passing through etc.. I truly wish that I could fall asleep since it is an extremely frustrating experience. I do appreciate your considerate post though. Thank you...

I have been looking for answers as to why I am unable to sleep for years now. I have read that the longest sleep record for a person is about a week or so. And the longest that a person has been unconcious is someone who's been in a coma for 44 years. My situation is different. In 1993 I contracted Lyme Disease. I was misdiagnosed several times and my condition became chronic. In late 1993 I woke up one morning two days after removing an engorged deer tick from my leg. I had the typical flu-like symptoms many Lyme patients describe as their first symptoms, which only got worse in the days ahead. From that day on, the minute that I would start to fall asleep I would immediately stop breathing and get what I would refer to as jolted. Over the years and much long-term treatment for chronic Lyme I would get to the point where I would rarely ever even approach the state of starting to doze off. I would just rest in nap like fashion, without ever falling into a state of unconsciousness. I can rest in this way, but never fall asleep. This has been going everyday for 12 and a half years. I have given up even trying to figure out why my brain will no longer allow me to fall asleep. Although I do suffer from neurolgical damage from refractory illness. All I know is that I am never in an unconcsious state. I go to bed at night like everyone else, except I lay awake all night long. To those who say this is impossible, I say it is not. I am living proof that you can exist without sleep for years on end as long as you give your heart a rest by getting off your feet. I am looking for any other people who have had similar experiences, even if they are now able to fall asleep again. It's exhausting and very frustrating not to be able to fall into a state of unconsciousness. Over the years I have actually had family test me to see if this was true, by coming over to me as I appear to be sleeping. One night I heard one of them say "you see I told you that it was impossible for anyone to not fall asleep for that long." And then I answered them saying but I am not asleep and can hear every word you just said.. They were surprised to say the least. I have no doubt that at this time I have stayed awake longer than any person on this planet. I would just like to find others who have had to deal with this. I have also taken sleep meds in the past and while they make me very groggy have yet to enable me to reach an unconscious state..