Erratic sleep patterns?

wasapi · 22nd March 2011, 09:10 AM

For as long as I recall, my sleep patterns have seemed to be differant than most. However, in the past few years the erratic pattern as been even more extreem.

It goes something like this:

Night #1 - 10hrs
#2 - 13hrs
#3 - 2hrs
#4- 5hrs
#5 - 7hrs
#6 - 11hrs
#7 - 2hrs

And so on. I tried Google to see if perhaps this is more common then I think, but couldn't really find anything, other then reference to erratic sleep in teens sometimes a symptom of mental illness.

Is anyone familiar with this?

Thanks.

casebro · 22nd March 2011, 03:11 PM

You didn't mention your age. If you are a teen...

Dancing David · 23rd March 2011, 05:50 AM

The main questions in starting a sleep assesment:
-Do you feel rested?
-Are you fatigued during the day?
-Do you nap?
-What is your work schedule?
-What stimulants do you take?

Different people have different sleep patterns.

quarky · 23rd March 2011, 07:11 AM

mine are utterly bizarre

wasapi · 23rd March 2011, 09:44 AM

Originally Posted by quarky

mine are utterly bizarre

How so?

No, I am far from being a teenager!

Michael Mozina · 23rd March 2011, 10:24 AM

Originally Posted by wasapi

For as long as I recall, my sleep patterns have seemed to be differant than most. However, in the past few years the erratic pattern as been even more extreem.

It goes something like this:

Night #1 - 10hrs
#2 - 13hrs
#3 - 2hrs
#4- 5hrs
#5 - 7hrs
#6 - 11hrs
#7 - 2hrs

And so on. I tried Google to see if perhaps this is more common then I think, but couldn't really find anything, other then reference to erratic sleep in teens sometimes a symptom of mental illness.

Is anyone familiar with this?

Thanks.

I have two teenagers in the house and that's not all that "abnormal" frankly. Half they time they are up late doing homework (or watching TV) and some nights they crash early and sleep *FOREVER*. They both tend to sleep in on the weekends. I'd say that's probably not all that unusual actually.

Even at 50+, if I stay up programming and get by the next day with only 2 hours of sleep, I usually crash early the next night a sleep more than 8 hours. I wouldn't worry about it, particularly as a teenager. It's more common to need additional sleep because teenagers tend to be more active and they tend to be growing.

Emet · 23rd March 2011, 11:43 AM

Quote:

How Aging Changes Sleep Patterns
(...)
Dr. MARY CARSKADON (Director of Chronobiology, Brown University): Sleep tends to be more fragile, in general, as we age.

http://www.npr.org/templates/transcr...ryId=111415462

Halfcentaur · 23rd March 2011, 11:45 AM

The last ten months or so I've been staying up for around 20-25 hours, then sleeping for 10-13 hours. For many years I only slept 3-5 hours, so this has been a strange change.

quarky · 23rd March 2011, 12:21 PM

Originally Posted by wasapi

How so?

No, I am far from being a teenager!

Well, I'm in my 60's. The last 3 nights I slept maybe 2 hours a night.
I now long for a couple of 12 hour sleep nights. I may or may not achieve that. More likely not. I thrash around a lot in bed. I kick off the covers and stuff.
I am very bad in bed. I get apnea. I have vivid and symbolically significant dreams. They usually wake me up. I pee 6 times over night. That also wakes me.

I doubt if I have been unconscious for 20 minutes (in a row) in the past 40 years.

Dancing David · 24th March 2011, 05:59 AM

Have you had your apnea evaluated?

fuelair · 24th March 2011, 06:17 AM

Originally Posted by quarky

Well, I'm in my 60's. The last 3 nights I slept maybe 2 hours a night.
I now long for a couple of 12 hour sleep nights. I may or may not achieve that. More likely not. I thrash around a lot in bed. I kick off the covers and stuff.
I am very bad in bed. I get apnea. I have vivid and symbolically significant dreams. They usually wake me up. I pee 6 times over night. That also wakes me.

I doubt if I have been unconscious for 20 minutes (in a row) in the past 40 years.

If male, have prostate checked (PSA test) re the 6X per night - that's a symptom (not a guarantee, could be other things like IBS).

22nd March 2011, 09:10 AM	#1
wasapi Master Poster Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 2,384	Erratic sleep patterns? For as long as I recall, my sleep patterns have seemed to be differant than most. However, in the past few years the erratic pattern as been even more extreem. It goes something like this: Night #1 - 10hrs #2 - 13hrs #3 - 2hrs #4- 5hrs #5 - 7hrs #6 - 11hrs #7 - 2hrs And so on. I tried Google to see if perhaps this is more common then I think, but couldn't really find anything, other then reference to erratic sleep in teens sometimes a symptom of mental illness. Is anyone familiar with this? Thanks.
wasapi Master Poster Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 2,384	__________________ Julia

23rd March 2011, 11:45 AM	#8
Halfcentaur Philosopher Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 5,965	The last ten months or so I've been staying up for around 20-25 hours, then sleeping for 10-13 hours. For many years I only slept 3-5 hours, so this has been a strange change.
Halfcentaur Philosopher Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 5,965

23rd March 2011, 12:21 PM	#9
quarky Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 20,454	Originally Posted by wasapi How so? No, I am far from being a teenager! Well, I'm in my 60's. The last 3 nights I slept maybe 2 hours a night. I now long for a couple of 12 hour sleep nights. I may or may not achieve that. More likely not. I thrash around a lot in bed. I kick off the covers and stuff. I am very bad in bed. I get apnea. I have vivid and symbolically significant dreams. They usually wake me up. I pee 6 times over night. That also wakes me. I doubt if I have been unconscious for 20 minutes (in a row) in the past 40 years.
quarky Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 20,454

24th March 2011, 05:59 AM	#10
Dancing David Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 34,729	Have you had your apnea evaluated?
	__________________ Hell, dynamiting fish in a barrel is more challenging. - Ladewig I suspect you are a sandwich, metaphorically speaking. -Donn And a shot rang out. Now Space is doing time... -Ben Burch You built the toilet - don't complain when people crap in it. _Kid Eager

24th March 2011, 06:17 AM	#11
fuelair Cythraul Enfys Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 28,961	Originally Posted by quarky Well, I'm in my 60's. The last 3 nights I slept maybe 2 hours a night. I now long for a couple of 12 hour sleep nights. I may or may not achieve that. More likely not. I thrash around a lot in bed. I kick off the covers and stuff. I am very bad in bed. I get apnea. I have vivid and symbolically significant dreams. They usually wake me up. I pee 6 times over night. That also wakes me. I doubt if I have been unconscious for 20 minutes (in a row) in the past 40 years. If male, have prostate checked (PSA test) re the 6X per night - that's a symptom (not a guarantee, could be other things like IBS).
fuelair Cythraul Enfys Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 28,961	__________________ There is no problem so great that it cannot be fixed by small explosives carefully placed. Wash this space! We fight for the Lady Babylon!!!

22nd March 2011, 03:11 PM	#2
casebro Philosopher Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 6,799	You didn't mention your age. If you are a teen...
casebro Philosopher Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 6,799	__________________ Please pardon me for having ideas, not facts. Some have called me cynical, but I don't believe them. It's not how many breaths you take. It's how many times you have been breathless that counts.

23rd March 2011, 05:50 AM	#3
Dancing David Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 34,729	The main questions in starting a sleep assesment: -Do you feel rested? -Are you fatigued during the day? -Do you nap? -What is your work schedule? -What stimulants do you take? Different people have different sleep patterns.
	__________________ Hell, dynamiting fish in a barrel is more challenging. - Ladewig I suspect you are a sandwich, metaphorically speaking. -Donn And a shot rang out. Now Space is doing time... -Ben Burch You built the toilet - don't complain when people crap in it. _Kid Eager

23rd March 2011, 07:11 AM	#4
quarky Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 20,454	mine are utterly bizarre
quarky Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 20,454

23rd March 2011, 09:44 AM	#5
wasapi Master Poster Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 2,384	Originally Posted by quarky mine are utterly bizarre How so? No, I am far from being a teenager!
wasapi Master Poster Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 2,384	__________________ Julia

23rd March 2011, 10:24 AM	#6
Michael Mozina Banned Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 9,362	Originally Posted by wasapi For as long as I recall, my sleep patterns have seemed to be differant than most. However, in the past few years the erratic pattern as been even more extreem. It goes something like this: Night #1 - 10hrs #2 - 13hrs #3 - 2hrs #4- 5hrs #5 - 7hrs #6 - 11hrs #7 - 2hrs And so on. I tried Google to see if perhaps this is more common then I think, but couldn't really find anything, other then reference to erratic sleep in teens sometimes a symptom of mental illness. Is anyone familiar with this? Thanks. I have two teenagers in the house and that's not all that "abnormal" frankly. Half they time they are up late doing homework (or watching TV) and some nights they crash early and sleep FOREVER. They both tend to sleep in on the weekends. I'd say that's probably not all that unusual actually. Even at 50+, if I stay up programming and get by the next day with only 2 hours of sleep, I usually crash early the next night a sleep more than 8 hours. I wouldn't worry about it, particularly as a teenager. It's more common to need additional sleep because teenagers tend to be more active and they tend to be growing.
Michael Mozina Banned Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 9,362

23rd March 2011, 11:43 AM	#7
Emet Illuminator Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 3,395	Quote: How Aging Changes Sleep Patterns (...) Dr. MARY CARSKADON (Director of Chronobiology, Brown University): Sleep tends to be more fragile, in general, as we age. http://www.npr.org/templates/transcr...ryId=111415462
Emet Illuminator Join Date: Jun 2010 Posts: 3,395