Circadian rhythm disorders anyone?

[RockysMom]

Hi all. My hubby worked 3rd and 2nd shift for 15 years although he was laid off four years ago. Now neither of us work and I'm stuck on 3rd shift hours (I always kept his hours when he was working them).

Anyone else battling with this? I am consistently stronger from say 2-5am but terribly weak the rest of the day regardless of how much sleep I've had. But I need to be able to go to the doctor and can't do that at 4am!

I'm having such a horrible time with this! I wonder if taking melatonin may help me reset my clock so I can get to the doctor! I use a power chair all the time now and really need to see the neuro!

[aspen]

I saw a sleep specialist. He set me up with a program to reset my circadian rhythm. He recommended no drugs; that can actually make things worse. He pretty much guaranteed that it would work in 2 weeks. He also guaranteed it would be the hardest thing I've ever done. He was right on both counts.

I purchased a UV light (mine was called a LightBook). I was to go to bed at the same time every night, with a regular bedtime routine of reading. If I woke up during the night for more than 15 minutes I was to get up and read, then go back to bed and try again when i was tired. When I woke up for good, I was to spend half an hour in front of the full spectrum lamp so my brain understood it was now time to wake up. I could also do this during the day if I hit a low - have-to-sleep point.

Additionally, during the day, NO laying down, no naps, no "rest time" in a prone position.

I was extremely circadian rhythm challenged ... I would wake up and not be tired again, even if I'd only had 1.5 or 2 hours sleep. I lived on about that for four days. Then slowly, my sleep improved.

By 10 days, I was sleeping 6-7 hours a night consistently (no wake time in the middle whatsoever).

So he was correct. But it was BRUTAL for the first week. I had a relapse of sorts as well due to lack of sleep, plus could barely function.

He told me prior to starting that I had to get the circadian rhythm problem in order, because chronic poor sleep would make "everything else" worse.

I am glad I did it. Now. Perhaps you could find some guidelines online? Otherwise I would recommend a referral to a sleep specialist.

Best of luck as you pursue ideas .

[Kimba22]

Hi all. My hubby worked 3rd and 2nd shift for 15 years although he was laid off four years ago. Now neither of us work and I'm stuck on 3rd shift hours (I always kept his hours when he was working them).

Anyone else battling with this? I am consistently stronger from say 2-5am but terribly weak the rest of the day regardless of how much sleep I've had. But I need to be able to go to the doctor and can't do that at 4am!

I'm having such a horrible time with this! I wonder if taking melatonin may help me reset my clock so I can get to the doctor! I use a power chair all the time now and really need to see the neuro!

Hi RockysMom,

Here's a link that might also help answer your questions. http://sleepcenter.ucla.edu/body.cfm?id=53

Good luck

[RockysMom]

Thank you

Thanks to you both for your replies, ironically, my neuro is a sleep specialist. I have an appt in several weeks and maybe he can help me.

Aspen, I'm bed ridden most of the day so I know that will make it harder for me. Oh well. I'll keep trying.

[aspen]

I'm sorry, yes, that may make it more difficult. Hopefully neuro can help you (there may be different techniques out there and I was just given the standard one).

It's good that he is a sleep specialist though! Hope you can get some help at your appointment, RockysMom .

Thanks to you both for your replies, ironically, my neuro is a sleep specialist. I have an appt in several weeks and maybe he can help me.

Aspen, I'm bed ridden most of the day so I know that will make it harder for me. Oh well. I'll keep trying.

[palmtree]

Are people who are awake in the day better people? You feel the best in the middle of the night. Why change? In the night it's cool and we have electricity so light isn't a problem.

Putting yourself through the rigors of "the reset" could cause an MS relapse. So why?

I am completely nocturnal by nature and by choice. If I have an appointment during the day I just set my alarm, get up and go. Then go home and go back to bed. Daytime means sun and heat and that dragged out feeling, not to mention traffic and long lines. A good way to handle appointments is to make them in the early morning. Then the rest of the day is free.

But I know that wasn't your question. You want to change. I wish you the best.

[Tawanda]

Are people who are awake in the day better people? You feel the best in the middle of the night. Why change? In the night it's cool and we have electricity so light isn't a problem.

Putting yourself through the rigors of "the reset" could cause an MS relapse. So why?

I am completely nocturnal by nature and by choice. If I have an appointment during the day I just set my alarm, get up and go. Then go home and go back to bed. Daytime means sun and heat and that dragged out feeling, not to mention traffic and long lines. A good way to handle appointments is to make them in the early morning. Then the rest of the day is free.

But I know that wasn't your question. You want to change. I wish you the best.

Thanks for this post, Palm Tree! I have never been a morning person, but a night owl. The MS has only exaggerated what I already was, and yes...for some reason I have always felt inferior to morning people and apologetic for not being a part of their club.

Hard to explain, but your post took me by surprise this morning (as I get ready to go back to bed as DD just left for school) with it's total logic. Thanks for taking some of the weight off my shoulders. My aversion to morning is physical, and to quote Lady Gaga "Baby, I was born this way!" Apologizing for it (or any "inconvenience" MS is causing in my life) is like apologizing for having green eyes!

[RockysMom]

Night owl who wants to be morning person

Thanks Palmtree for your thoughts and I would love it if I could always be a night owl but I cannot just 'get up & go' if I haven't had any sleep. I did like being a night owl when I was healthy but the lack of sunlight pitches me into deep, deep depression & I have no sense of balance in the dark so I could never go outside, as it is, I have only been out of the house once since May.

But I'm happy to say that I am getting turned around pretty good but getting hubby on board with it is hard & he's having trouble although usually he can fall asleep anytime anywhere.

And my birds wouldn't like it if I kept them up at night instead of the day, they're so good for my soul, I need to do this for them & me, too.

[palmtree]

Maybe you need to get a bat for a pet. They stay up at night.

[Tawanda]

Bat, Possum and Raccoons! Oh my!

Maybe you need to get a bat for a pet. They stay up at night.

I love and identify with bats (we both hate mosquitoes!)! Can you put them on a leash?. Lucky for me, I have a dog and 2 cats who adapt to whatever schedule I keep. God bless 'em!