Looking for suggestions- Adjust sleep cycle

For some reason my body just does not understand a 24 hour day/night sleep cycle. I would love to be able to sleep for more than two to three hours at any time of the day or night. It just does not happen. I have had periods where I sleep for a total of 2 hours over a period of 72 hours and turn right around and go for another 72 hours after 2 hours of sleep.

At other times I will sleep 2 to 3 hours every 24 hours. I never feel rested at the end of my 2 to 3 hours of sleep. If I am real lucky I will get 2 sessions of sleep in during a 24 hour period.

I have done the overnight sleep studies, sleep logs, 24/7 - 2 week monitor and do not smoke or use caffene. I think my doctor has had me try every medication on the market.

I am currently trying to limit my "sleep/rest period" to the hours between 11PM and 5AM. Between 5AM and 11PM I am trying to stay active (no problem there) My problem is figuring out what to do during the time that I should be sleeping but am wide awake.

Depending on what you do when you are awake during the day, I'd do "more" of that? I read, study, work on the computer, shop (online and have several 24 hr. stores near me, grocery included), etc.

How long do you try to get back to sleep? I wake 2-4 times a night but, especially if I don't feel rested or it's not 5:30 or 6:00 a.m. yet, I stay in bed and doze/rest/toss and turn :-) It may take 2-3 hours but I get back to sleep for another 2-3 hours so I'll get 5-7 or 8 hours sleep. It is much better if I take a Pepcid Complete (helps my breathing) or an OTC sleep aid or children's allergy med that causes sleepiness. I do have sensitivities to my cats and bedding/carpet, mold, etc. and those and my asthma and thyroid probs combine to make nighttime a bit of a harder time for me than it use to be. So I occasionally treat one or another of those more aggressively before going to sleep.

all I can say is i relate to you.

I get about five to ten hours every 48 hours myself.

This past night, I slept four hours---bet. 9pm and 1am and then wide awak again.

I hear you about that body not understanding 24 hours thing!

Billi