Strange Sleep Patterns

I am never able to sleep past 3:30 or 4:00 am and get up and start the day. When I sit down to read the newspaper I fall asleep for 20 or 30 minutes.

Anytime during the day that I sit and get quiet I fall asleep. Aftre dinner I can't watch a whole 30 minute TV program without sleeping.....I have even gone to sleep at stop lights.

I am chronically exhaustetd -anyone else with strange sleep patterns

Try putting yourself on a sleep schedule....go to bed and get up at the same time each day. Also, don't take naps if possible. I do this and it works well for me. Sometimes I will take a power nap...15 minutes...but rarely.

Here is a link that gives good ways of doing this. I sleep 7-8 hours a day and you really shouldn't sleep more than that. It's not healthy from what I've read. Hope this helps you.

http://www.prevention.com/health/sleep-energy/24-hours-your-best-nights-sleep

Sherrine

I was like that at one time. When I went to bed I was up every 1 1/2-2 hours all night long. Sometimes I couldn't get back to sleep so I would get on the computer for awhile until I thought I could sleep again. Because of my lack of sleep I would doze off as soon as my butt hit a chair. That is when I put myself on a sleep schedule. So you might want to try this first before going for a sleep study.

Sherrine

Another element that affects me and my sleep besides the obvious sleep-inhibitors (which would be not keeping a normal routine and schedule, sleeping in too late, stressing in the late evening, looking at computers screens too late).

Food! I noticed that certain foods seem to inhibit my ability to stay asleep throughout the night. Dried fruits cause me to wake up over and over (added sulfites, perhaps?), msg, and other chemicals I'm sensitive to. They seem to warp my neuro-endocrine system. I also try not to eat too close to bed for this reason. Not all FM people are food sensitive but I am and I know if affects sleep quality sometimes.

Also, I swear by the power of white noise machines and earplugs. I love the soft, soothing hum of my air filter and I ONLY put it on at night to "train" and condition my body to sleep when it hears the sound of it. It drowns out other noises which is great.

Sleepytime tea is really good before bed.

Tart cherry juice has proven to help people sleep longer, some studies show. I drink that too sometimes.