My Support Forums - View Single Post - Sleep-Cycle Flip

lynn09 · May 04, 2012, 09:06 PM

Thanks, jimrat. My internist and rheumatologist told me in the early-1980s that I have a sleep disorder, and had had it since childhood, but it was never evaluated beyond that - never given a name. I just took a look at Circadian Rhythm Disorder-Delayed Phase Sleep Disorder or Type, and it describes me pretty accurately. Usually, 2-3 nights a week (more if I'm really stressed) I have insomnia and can't sleep at all until the afternoon of the following day. I have always slept best in the morning and early afternoon, and I function best mentally and physically in the wee hours - most definitely an extreme nightowl. I also had terrible night terrors throughout my childhood.

I had a birth defect in my lower spine that caused some neurological damage - wasn't discovered and treated until I was 20 - and I also have had widespread degenerative arthritis in all my joints since my teens. So, I have Chronic Pain from those, plus fibromyalgia, restless-leg symptoms, CFS, etc. I have also been diagnosed with Adult ADHD/ADD, Major Depressive Disorder, PTSD from physical and psychological abuse both as a child and as an adult, and immune-system problems (severe chemical and environmental allergies and hypersensitivities), plus asthma - all of which contribute to a host of sleep disorders according to my research.

I remember the rheumatologist that treated me for about 11 years saying that they didn't know if the sleep disorder caused a lot of my other problems or if the combination of all those other conditions caused the sleep disorder - that chicken-or-egg-first thing. Guess it really doesn't matter - they all exacerbate each other. Like I said, it's not such an issue now that I can no longer work - but it still interferes with "normal" functioning and flow. Explains a lot about the difficulties I have had for so many decades!

I don't tolerate medications, other than antihistamines, at all well because of the immune-system problems, but it's good to have some idea of what's going on, and I can use some of the suggested techniques for dealing with it.

Appreciate the input, jimrat! lynn09