Anyone else become a Night Owl?

[Meld256]

Here I am again, it's after midnight, and I think I'm in for an "all-nighter." 

I'm just curious as to how many of us became night-owls after we became ill?

For years, I worked a 8-5 type of job.  Got up about 6:30 a.m. To bed by 10:30 or 11p.m.  Now...well, it's anyone's guess.  I am lucky because I don't need to be up early taking care of children, going to work, etc. Just me and my husband, and he's still working (a day shift).  I try to sleep at a "normal" time, but it just can't be done.  My adrenaline kicks in about 11 p.m. no matter what.  So odd...

It used to really annoy me.  I felt it was "unnatural" somehow.  Now, after fighting it, and of course that not working, I learned to {embrace} the all-nighter.  It's quiet, it's dark, so no sun shining in my eyes, I can do what I want.  Sometimes I read or sew for hours and just enjoy the peace and quiet.  I sleep when I'm able and it all works out.  Anyone else like this or is it just me? 

[waterbby100]

It's three in the morning and I am up. I've been up since one and I need to be at work in the am. I am stuck in the limbo of still working some and trying to manage this disease. It has become very difficult in the last year and I seem to continue to cut back on my work hours. I have not learned to embrace my situation yet, but I am working on it.    I would like to get to the point where I just accept what is and I am ok with it. I am still trying to live up to my"Healthy" expectations and I am not able to do it anymore.

[engy]

My body's rhythm got way off to when all this AI started. I feel better at night too. I got cortisol levels done & they were all fine except my adrenals were producing the hormones at the wrong time.

My doctor said that it actually is not good for your body. She put me on PS at night & an adrenevive in the morning & I'm starting to turn my sleep cycle back to normal. I do have a small child & work which is hard because I used to be a morning person & now I hate mornings!!!

Good Luck if you try to turn it around or enjoy the peaceful dark that I miss! Lol

Carie

[Meld256]

waterbby100,

First of all, if I haven't welcomed you to the forum, let me say "Welcome!"    We're glad you're here and hope you find loads of good information and support.

I know what your limbo is like; I struggled for over a year trying to get enough rest to be able to go to work.  So fatigued, I would sleep a few hours, be up for hours, about the time I had to get up for work I felt like I could sleep all day. Then I would drag myself into work in pain.
Trying to live up to our "healthy" expectations of ourselves is very difficult.  Just a thought for you if you decide to cut work hours; I first thought of it for myself as "giving in" but then I realized instead I was "taking action" by doing this.  Gave me a sense of control and that I was doing what was best for me.
I hope you can find the right balance for you.
Keep posting. We look forward to hearing more from you. 
Melinda

[Meld256]

Hi Carie,

Interesting that your doc said it wasn't good for your body. I'm glad to hear you've been helped getting your days and nights back to some normalcy.  I can imagine how hard it is to deal with a sleep problem when you have work and a small child to care for, too.
I wish you luck, and restful sleep!

[Scottietottie]

Hi 

I've been a night owl all my life but - yes - it has got worse. I often don't go to bed until after 3a.m. and that's hard when I'm working - OK during the holidays.

As sunlight isn't too kind to us being nocturnal makes a lot of sense!

Take care - Scottie 

[A66eyroad]

Just the opposite with me --- I used to be up haunting the house all night long.  Now I fall into bed (actually, onto couch) at about 8 and sleep until about 6 a.m.  I miss being up all night.  I used to love Johnny Carson (oops, telling my age!) and Saturday Night Live. 

[Joe S.]

Meld256, have I told you that meditation can provide what need when you can not sleep?
Find a comfortable position and close your eyes.
With your eyes closed look to the top of your head.
Breathe in and think "I am", Breathe out and think "calm"
The air should flow into your tummy, not your chest and it should roll in and out like waves on the ocean.

It is best to do this without other distractions like TV when you first start. I find that I can do it now when the TV is no. I try not to do it when I am driving.

[A66eyroad]

Joe, you crack me up!

[Meld256]

Joe, thanks for the reminder about meditating.  I do something similar a lot of times, and it does help.

I'll second A66ey; I'm glad you don't meditate while driving. 

[Bucky]

Yep, count me in too!  I think my night owl tendencies started after our son was born.  I had to have the mommy radar on to listen if the baby was crying or whatever since my husband is a sound sleeper.  I'm a light sleeper, so I hear everything.  So, even if I'm trying to sleep and hear things, I'm up and down all night.

Also, once our son was in bed, that was MY time.  Me time without having to answer to everyone elses needs.

Husband can fall asleep anywhere - not me.  It's got to be quiet (no tv, no radio, no noise), dark, and have my fan on (white noise).     The boys can fall asleep with the tv on, ear buds in listening to music, etc., not me.

Many times, I'm up in the wee morning hours doing what?  Playing games on the internet!     Love my games.  It's not uncommon for me to do laundry at night too, just as long as I'm done by 2 a.m. before the water softener recharges.

Some people get up and read for a while - that doesn't work for me.  Some times I'll look through my emails and delete stuff, sort through my papers on the dining room table (aka . . my desk), or just enjoy the peace and quiet.  All is well in the kingdom . . . everyone is home, the boys are sleeping and Momma is on night duty watch.   

For the last nine months I've been working nights on the weekends.  I come home from work and am too wound up to go to sleep.  Even when I'm dead tired, I end up tossing and turning, tossing and turning with the evenings events playing through my mind.  I toss for a while, then get up.  Can't sleep, might as well play some games!   

Especially in the winter time, I like to just look out the window in the wee morning hours and look at the stars, the moon shining, or the cell tower light blinking in the distance.  When it's snowing, it looks so peaceful.  I've caught our outdoor cats playing in the wee morning hours too - wrestling with each other and running after each other. 

~~ yawn ~~ . . . okay, now I'm tired!   

Bucky

[Meld256]

Now that I've been feeling a little stronger lately, I also do laundry at 2 a.m. sometimes.  Or clean something. I have the best energy in the middle of the night. It's crazy...

Or bake cookies; one night I put a pork roast in the oven for the next day.    (Another benefit at night- the house is a bit cooler.)  Bless my husband, he's gotten used to my odd hours.  He tells people he never knows WHAT he might find when he gets up for work at 4 a.m.  The night I cooked the roast, he came out of the shower and asked "honey, why do I smell meat?"  Told him I had a roast in the oven and he just said "Of course, you do! 

If anyone asks me why I'm like this now, I just tell them I am happy for feeling like doing anything, and if the mood strikes me in the middle of the night, I'm going to go with the flow.  You may just not catch me tomorrow afternoon; I'll be sleeping. 

[Jorja]

Joe,
Your deep breathing  has helped me keep food down that is trying it's darnest to come back up.  Still fight nausea but at least I'm keeping it down.  It also helps when the pain in my chest is bad.  I did change it a bit to breathe in and think "I AM" breathe out and think "BLESSED".  This helps remind me that no matter how bad I feel, others have it worse. 
Thanks again,
Jorja

[engy]

Meld256,

I have no clue why my doctor said that about being up all night, unless she meant because I wasn't sleeping during the day either! I didn't ask, just had to switch it around.

I was a morning person my entire life and I loved getting up at 5am before anyone else and didn't care if I went to bed at 8!  Then when I became a night owl I hated mornings (still do) and even though my rhythm is "back to normal" now I really miss my late nights.

Oh well 

Peaceful dreams to all whenever you have them    Carie

[Joe S.]

I appear to be burning the candle at both ends. Often I get to rest at 11pm or midnight and I am up by 3am or 5am. With my being home all the time now I try to go back to rest until 9am. If what Jan is watching on TV is boring or I have seen it I will pass out until it is over.