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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Deneb on July 4, 2006, at 2:23:05
I'm sure I have it. People with this disorder cannot go to bed at a normal time. They are only able to sleep after 2 a.m. and wake up in the late morning or afternoon. There's something wrong with my biological clock. It's out of sync with society.
Right now I cannot fall asleep until at least 4 a.m. and I sleep until 2:30 p.m. I think I have hypersomnia as well right now. Some days I sleep until 5 p.m.
Anyone here have delayed sleep phase syndrome? What kind of treatment are you getting for it?
I wish I had a light box. That's supposed to be helpful when used at the right times.
Should I try melatonin? Will that make my hypersomnia worse? I'm going to try something called chronotherapy. Sleep is delayed for 3 hours each "night" until a normal sleep schedule is attained. I'll have to sleep at some pretty weird times for a while.
Stupid sleep problems. I'm missing out on life because of them.
Deneb*
Posted by llrrrpp on July 4, 2006, at 7:40:55
In reply to Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome, posted by Deneb on July 4, 2006, at 2:23:05
Hi Deneb*
I have bad sleep problems too. First I had insomnia. I would wake up after only sleeping 4 hours and be unable to fall asleep again. pdoc prescribed me seroquel, which I take at bedtime. It's quite sedating. It also augments my antidepressant.In the last few weeks, I've been suffering from excessive daytiem sleepiness. I would get up at a reasonable hour, buut then take 2 naps before noon, another in the afternoon (often leaving work early) and struggle to stay awake until a reasonable bedtime. Now doctor has me on a stimulant called provigil. I took it for the first time yesterady at lunch time. Unfortunately, I'm still wide awake, and could not fall asleep last night (despite seroquel).
I think I will try a half-dose this morning, and see if that works better than a full dose. ugh. Don't like being up all night. I feel like a vampire. I can see what you mean about how life passes you by.
it's very possible you have a biological reason for having strange sleep cycles. You can treat your biology either through tweaking your chemistry directly (taking meds) or indirectly behavioral & light therapies. A lot of people report successfully changing their sleep cycles by simply maintaining a strict schedule that moves them in increments towards the desired pattern. This approach requires discipline though, and a tolerance to feeling icky for a week or so while your body sorts itself out. For instance, the last time I travelled from Asia to N. America, I was waking up in the middle of the night because my stomach was hungry for the big meal of the day. Took quite a bit of discipline to tell my stomach to shut up and wait for cereal and yogurt in a few hours. Exercise and light can help with resetting the clock.
I hope you find something that works for you :) sleep problems can really affect your mental health (and your physical health too!). Don't be afraid to tell your pdoc/T that you need help.
your friend,
-ll
Posted by coley on July 18, 2006, at 12:12:53
In reply to Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome, posted by Deneb on July 4, 2006, at 2:23:05
I am living exactly the same way. Good to know others are in my boat!
Posted by cloudydaze on July 18, 2006, at 17:43:55
In reply to Re: Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome, posted by coley on July 18, 2006, at 12:12:53
I have similar problems too. No one believes me that I haven't had a good night's sleep in 10 years...
But its true...I remember not sleeping well since about age 13...maybe before.
first of all, I can't fall asleep. On a normal night it's at least mignight before I even start to wind down. Then I lay there for hours not able to fall asleep. This is a problem especially when I'm in school the next day (I have to get up at 6am to get my daughter & myself ready for school).
I also tend to wake up a lot during the night. So i'll lie down at 12, lie awake till 2 or 3, then wake up at 4...and not be able to really get into a deep sleep again...in fact i don't think i ever get into a deep sleep. I rarely dream too.
I've tried meds: Trazadone, Serequel, Ambien, and not Rozerem...and probably others I forgot about.
Nothing works. I'm tired all day, sometimes i find myself nodding off while studying at school...but at night i cant seem to make it happen.
Posted by Wildflower on August 6, 2006, at 20:51:05
In reply to Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome, posted by Deneb on July 4, 2006, at 2:23:05
There's a good chance I have this too. I can't seem to wind down enough to sleep. If I am lucky enough to fall asleep, I wake up a few times a night and then I'm tired the whole next day.
Just out of curiousity, do you encounter strange dreams at night? I always wondered if the two are tied together...
Posted by Deneb on August 7, 2006, at 17:45:45
In reply to Re: Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome » Deneb, posted by Wildflower on August 6, 2006, at 20:51:05
> Just out of curiousity, do you encounter strange dreams at night? I always wondered if the two are tied together...
I remember more dreams when I over-sleep. I don't think they are particularily "weird". I think most dreams are weird.
Deneb*
This is the end of the thread.
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