Is it normal for my dad who is 85 to sleep all the time?
He is always saying how he doesn't feel good, but when I take him to the doctor they say there is nothing wrong with him. Could it be something else or is this normal?
My hubby is 65 and if he isn't actively at work he is asleep. He slept from Friday night at 7 pm until Sunday night at 6 pm when the grandkids came over. They left at 9 and he was sound asleep before I could even pick up after the kids.
He's been this way since he did chemo after his Liver transplant 11 years ago. He has severe depression, which he is just now treating, but I don't see a big difference since he began the meds 2 months ago. He just loves to sleep more than anything else. He can't wait to retire and sleep all the time. It is incredibly sad for me, but I have created a life without him.
I nap, most days, for an hour or so, if I can. I get being tired, but I will never understand this "need" for the sleep he gets. It's mind boggling. I've seen him sleep for over 100 hours straight, getting up only to stumble to the kitchen for a bowl of cereal, to the bathroom and then back to bed.
Yes, his drs know about it, but they don't believe me.
FF makes a good point about the aging change in absorption of vitamins. Age related issues are specifically the reason why we've given up on PCPs and will see a geriatrician as well as the specialty doctors we've had for over a decade.
Napping is also an opportunity to get not only physical rest but mental rest, which I think most elders need more as they age and life becomes less pleasant.
LHN, when someone is in their mid 80's it is pretty normal to sleep a lot. When you think about it they have lived a very long life, they are tired. It will happen to all of us once we advance in age. It hit me when I was in my late 60's.
One thing the doctor can do is take a blood panel for vitamins. As we age we tend not to process certain vitamins such as B12 which is good for energy, and Vitamin D which is good for immune system as we are not outside much any more sitting in the sun. It won't stop the napping but maybe your Dad might feel better.
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He's been this way since he did chemo after his Liver transplant 11 years ago. He has severe depression, which he is just now treating, but I don't see a big difference since he began the meds 2 months ago. He just loves to sleep more than anything else. He can't wait to retire and sleep all the time. It is incredibly sad for me, but I have created a life without him.
I nap, most days, for an hour or so, if I can. I get being tired, but I will never understand this "need" for the sleep he gets. It's mind boggling. I've seen him sleep for over 100 hours straight, getting up only to stumble to the kitchen for a bowl of cereal, to the bathroom and then back to bed.
Yes, his drs know about it, but they don't believe me.
Napping is also an opportunity to get not only physical rest but mental rest, which I think most elders need more as they age and life becomes less pleasant.
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One thing the doctor can do is take a blood panel for vitamins. As we age we tend not to process certain vitamins such as B12 which is good for energy, and Vitamin D which is good for immune system as we are not outside much any more sitting in the sun. It won't stop the napping but maybe your Dad might feel better.