3 ms·

Just as a secondary data point. Without medication I have about a 32:12 hour cycle. Up for at least 30 hours and sleeping for about 12. I can function on 5 but

Just as a secondary data point. Without medication I have about a 32:12 hour cycle. Up for at least 30 hours and sleeping for about 12. I can function on 5 but I'm grumpy about it for a while. Always been that way. Completely inverted as well. Up all night and my body tries to convince me to sleep during the day but I'm just not able to for another twelve hours. I got fired from several jobs because of it. My folks weren't understanding so I genuinely believed that I was willingly staying up and well... Needless to say I have no professional network and most of my friends thought I was a massive flake and those connections fell apart, too. I wouldn't wish this on anyone. Even diagnosed with insomnia I still feel massive guilt about not being able to sleep like a normal person. I just ruin everyone's plans around me. If I need to be up I have to hope my medication works (when employed) and if it does I need an hour to wake up enough to feel safe doing anything major like cooking or driving. Sorry for the ramble. Appropriately I've been up for like 34 hours and am hoping these OTC meds kick in. Hope y'all have a great weekend.

mrandish 2y ago
Just curious what meds you take for this.
- deprecative 2y ago
  Prescribed or OTC?
Clamchop 2y ago
I relate so much. I'm on some heavy hitting medication to manage it which no doubt will have their own consequences for me. Feels like there's no winning.
- metadat 2y ago
  Yes, what are the "heavy hitting meds" for sleep, please?
noduerme 2y ago
Hey, I feel that. Lots of people think I'm a flake. And I use the word "inverted" frequently to describe my state to my friends/girlfriend/clients when it gets too far outside social norms ;) Just a piece of unsolicited advice: I learned to make a virtue out of it. I'm a solo software dev and I have to maintain big pieces of code that run 24/7. Well, my virtue is that I've been available 24/7 to my clients for the last 20 years. And one of the results of that has been that they've never abandoned me and gone to larger companies to deal with software issues. My own schedule is so variable, it doesn't really matter if I'm asleep or awake or what time zone they're in; if it's not urgent, it goes into my inbox, but if it's urgent, I usually answer the phone immediately. Part of this has been adding layers of support forms so I don't have to wake up to every phone call. But the people who have my cell number get through right away. The result of that is that I basically get paid $300 every time I have to wake up, which is soul-soothing enough to prevent me from being angry. And the rest of the time I can sleep whenever I feel like it. Being on a 32:12 hour cycle could have massive rewards. Clients are extremely appreciative, especially if you break your sleep for something important. Like, don't be afraid to tell your clients about your sleep cycle. Getting through admitting that was probably the biggest breakthrough of my career. My girlfriend loves that I'm still up working and make her breakfast at 4am when she's headed for work some days, or make her dinner when she comes home at night others. It's always a surprise, I tell her. You just have to find people who appreciate the energy you bring. Yes, the "straight world" of people with 9-5 jobs and kids absolutely abhors this lifestyle and thinks it's irresponsible and flakey. But then again, they don't get paid $300 for waking up in the middle of the day ;) My friends (and girlfriends) are lyft drivers, waiters, coders, night shift workers, and other people who spurn daylight society. We are legion.
- authorfly 2y ago
  For a bit of alternate perspective, I had a happy life until a night shift worker moved in next to me, and began setting off alarms, cooking and leaving at variable times while experimenting with their sleep. They explained how they could sleep through everything. Completely oblivious to why the building wanted them to leave(I'm not saying this is the same for you). Maybe that is what this study is capturing.
willy_k 2y ago
Have you tried magnesium l-threonate, sub-milligram melatonin, or CBN? The first two have been very effective for me and the latter seems promising, but I don’t have that much trouble getting to sleep so I’m curious if they’re effective for someone with real difficulties.
- deprecative 2y ago
  I take 1mg melatonin and at no less than 50mg doxy succinate a night to try to sleep. Maybe a few days every few weeks it just won't work so I'm stuck being awake for hours while feeling super tired and groggy and then I'll be awake again the next night like I got a full night's sleep. I have no idea what CBN is. Not intentionally tried the magnesium but I can keep an eye out. I'm between jobs so I can't really afford to get up and buy things too often but I'll add it to my list to look for.
  - willy_k 2y ago
    IIRC first generation antihistamines are not good for your brain when taken chronically in higher doses, I would definitely look into those effects. CBN is a federally legal cannabinoid that is reportedly pretty good for sleep, not causing intoxication or interfering with REM like THC does. I have not tried it, although I do regularly use THC (also not good for the brain) for sleep that, along with a meal, reliably gets me asleep very quickly, although unfortunately without noticeable dreams and with a distinct laziness in the morning, but with these negatives somewhat mitigated when magnesium l-threonate is added.
    - deprecative 2y ago
      Oh, I'm definitely less sharp than I was ten years ago. I struggle with learning new info now. Unfortunately, $10 a month to sleep is affordable. I will look at CBN but CBD doesn't really move the needle much for other issues. I'll check it out all the same. Anything I can do to be rid of them would be great. I've got a prescription for sleep aids but without a job I don't have health insurance and thus cannot afford it. I don't qualify for low income programs, either, so I'm just screwed. Mess with my brain so I can function or be a zombie over half of my waking period.

mrandish 2y ago

Just curious what meds you take for this.

deprecative 2y ago
Prescribed or OTC?

Clamchop 2y ago

I relate so much. I'm on some heavy hitting medication to manage it which no doubt will have their own consequences for me. Feels like there's no winning.

metadat 2y ago
Yes, what are the "heavy hitting meds" for sleep, please?

noduerme 2y ago

Hey, I feel that. Lots of people think I'm a flake. And I use the word "inverted" frequently to describe my state to my friends/girlfriend/clients when it gets too far outside social norms ;) Just a piece of unsolicited advice: I learned to make a virtue out of it. I'm a solo software dev and I have to maintain big pieces of code that run 24/7. Well, my virtue is that I've been available 24/7 to my clients for the last 20 years. And one of the results of that has been that they've never abandoned me and gone to larger companies to deal with software issues. My own schedule is so variable, it doesn't really matter if I'm asleep or awake or what time zone they're in; if it's not urgent, it goes into my inbox, but if it's urgent, I usually answer the phone immediately. Part of this has been adding layers of support forms so I don't have to wake up to every phone call. But the people who have my cell number get through right away. The result of that is that I basically get paid $300 every time I have to wake up, which is soul-soothing enough to prevent me from being angry. And the rest of the time I can sleep whenever I feel like it. Being on a 32:12 hour cycle could have massive rewards. Clients are extremely appreciative, especially if you break your sleep for something important. Like, don't be afraid to tell your clients about your sleep cycle. Getting through admitting that was probably the biggest breakthrough of my career. My girlfriend loves that I'm still up working and make her breakfast at 4am when she's headed for work some days, or make her dinner when she comes home at night others. It's always a surprise, I tell her. You just have to find people who appreciate the energy you bring. Yes, the "straight world" of people with 9-5 jobs and kids absolutely abhors this lifestyle and thinks it's irresponsible and flakey. But then again, they don't get paid $300 for waking up in the middle of the day ;) My friends (and girlfriends) are lyft drivers, waiters, coders, night shift workers, and other people who spurn daylight society. We are legion.

authorfly 2y ago
For a bit of alternate perspective, I had a happy life until a night shift worker moved in next to me, and began setting off alarms, cooking and leaving at variable times while experimenting with their sleep. They explained how they could sleep through everything. Completely oblivious to why the building wanted them to leave(I'm not saying this is the same for you). Maybe that is what this study is capturing.

willy_k 2y ago

Have you tried magnesium l-threonate, sub-milligram melatonin, or CBN? The first two have been very effective for me and the latter seems promising, but I don’t have that much trouble getting to sleep so I’m curious if they’re effective for someone with real difficulties.

deprecative 2y ago
I take 1mg melatonin and at no less than 50mg doxy succinate a night to try to sleep. Maybe a few days every few weeks it just won't work so I'm stuck being awake for hours while feeling super tired and groggy and then I'll be awake again the next night like I got a full night's sleep. I have no idea what CBN is. Not intentionally tried the magnesium but I can keep an eye out. I'm between jobs so I can't really afford to get up and buy things too often but I'll add it to my list to look for.
- willy_k 2y ago
  IIRC first generation antihistamines are not good for your brain when taken chronically in higher doses, I would definitely look into those effects. CBN is a federally legal cannabinoid that is reportedly pretty good for sleep, not causing intoxication or interfering with REM like THC does. I have not tried it, although I do regularly use THC (also not good for the brain) for sleep that, along with a meal, reliably gets me asleep very quickly, although unfortunately without noticeable dreams and with a distinct laziness in the morning, but with these negatives somewhat mitigated when magnesium l-threonate is added.
  - deprecative 2y ago
    Oh, I'm definitely less sharp than I was ten years ago. I struggle with learning new info now. Unfortunately, $10 a month to sleep is affordable. I will look at CBN but CBD doesn't really move the needle much for other issues. I'll check it out all the same. Anything I can do to be rid of them would be great. I've got a prescription for sleep aids but without a job I don't have health insurance and thus cannot afford it. I don't qualify for low income programs, either, so I'm just screwed. Mess with my brain so I can function or be a zombie over half of my waking period.