When all the others were just stirring awake I'm trying to trick myself to fall asleep again

[cupcake_goth]

(I'm telling you, bandom lyrics for everything.)

Today was the consultation appointment at the sleep clinic. It went a lot better than I expected: the NiceSleepDoc actually read everything I had written in the online forms! He didn't automatically suggest meditation, cutting back on caffeine, and melatonin! (Every medical practitioner I've ever seen has made those suggestions about my insomnia, and then I explain (again, in minute detail) about the life of a chronic insomniac who's sleep has been steadily getting worse as the years go by.)

NiceSleepDoc agrees that I almost certainly have Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder, and there's . . . not a lot that can be done about that. There are some things we can try to make it so that it'll be easier to fall asleep when my body clock says to, and some things to make my sleep more restful. But switching my body clock to a more "normal" schedule isn't really possible, and thank goodness I don't have to. (I love my work-from-home tech job. SO MUCH.)

NiceSleepDoc does want me to come in for a sleep study. At first he didn't think there was any need to, but during the exam he decided that my combination small jaw/deep overbite means there could be a restricted airway issue. It's not terribly likely, but he wants to double-check.

So! I have a new handful of supplements that I will be taking at bedtime, I need to start wearing the tiny robot nanny again to get info for a sleep diary, and I am supposed to go outside in bright sunlight for 30 minutes a day when I first lurch out of bed. ::hissssssssss:: (I made a face at that, and NiceSleepDoc said that using one of the blue LED SAD lamps would be acceptable, too.)

Like I said, a better appointment than I expected.

Comments

[notthebuddha.livejournal.com]

go outside in bright sunlight for 30 minutes a day when I first lurch out of bed.

assuming there will still *be* bright sunlight then, or any at all !

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

Left to my own schedule, I'm usually up by 11-11:30am. So there's still accursed orb.

[staxxy.livejournal.com]

yay LED light okay.

YAY better than expected!

[oldhalloween.livejournal.com]

Sleep doc must have missed the bursting in to flames part. My blue light box is no longer in production. Make sure you read how close your eye has to be to the box. Some of the cheaper ones require 6 inches from your eyes! Bonus with blue light is its works wonders for SAD too.

[bork.livejournal.com]

Where is your sleep study being held at? My doc recommended one to me, as I do this snorfle thing at night, and randomly fall asleep during the day. I'll probably arrange it when I'm back on BCBS insurance.

[-dante-sparda-.livejournal.com]

This sounds more like sleep apnea o.o which you should absolutely get looked at.

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

At Sound Sleep Health in Northgate.

[inaurolillium.livejournal.com]

Can I have the name of your sleep doc, for later? Someday, I will need to get my sleep disorder diagnosed (it is probably also DSPD), and having one who listens would be nice.

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

Gandis G. Mažeika, MD, at Sound Sleep Health in Northgate.

[sistawendy.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you don't have my upstairs neighbors. You'd be psycho by now.

[ashbet]

Kira jokingly calls her SAD lamp a "sad lamp" . . . but it proved to be helpful at banishing the sads during long Ithaca winters, as well as useful for insomnia treatment. (I can't find the exact lamp that we got her online.)

Josh has a Verilux, which he likes. A friend of ours has this model: Philips HF3431/60 goLITE BLU Energy Light

*squishes*

-- A <3

[missmorte.livejournal.com]

As I have the same disorder I would caution against any doctor who tries to change your sleep cycle. I went through that and it just ended up being a waste of time, money, resources, and make me super cranky.