Stargardt's macular degeneration and sleep cycle issues(self.Blind)
submitted by DisgustedBroccoli
I've got Stargardt's — and I've struggled with my sleep cycles for as long as I can remember.
I am currently nocturnal which is kind of annoying. Sometimes I've got a normal sleeping pattern, but then it just slowly drifts out of phase with day/night cycles and I end up awake when everyone else is asleep.
I've read about non-24 hour sleep-wake disorder, however on Wikipedia it states that it typically affects people who are \*totally\* blind, whereas I do have a bit of remaining peripheral vision left.
erizmoon2 points3y ago
Hi, it's possible that you have a sleep phase delay, which is causing your circadian cycle to kick in too late. This is most common during adolescence, and then our bodies readjust during adulthood. It could also still be a non-24 sleep issue, it's just most common in individuals who are blind. Blindness isn't a required factor though. I would ask your physician about using 5mg of melatonin about an hour before bed to help advance your sleep phase. For some people it really helps, for others it does not. You can also consult a sleep psychologist or sleep specialist to see if there are behavioral factors at play. Best of luck!
aman98182 points3y ago
Is there any medication for this ? I know first hand how sleep disorder can mess up every thing . Having a task you need do to early in the morning gives me anxiety attacks and the only solution I can think of is not sleeping at all so that I can do the morning task . It sucks , generally when this gets out of hand I don't sleep for a whole night and find myself getting sleepy early the next day I try to not sleep untill it's 10 pm and that does the trick for me I wake up at 6 or 7 am the next day and try to go back to sleep at 10 pm that night.
DisgustedBroccoli [OP]1 points3y ago
Literally what I'm doing right now. The second day awake always feels extremely terrible.
meeowth1 points3y ago
I'd recommend trying melatonin 30 mins before what you would consider a reasonable bedtime, as other's have suggested. Note for australians: melatonin isn't sold here, you have to import it. The stuff at the chemist has a fraction of a nanogram in it and is literally a placebo pill (homeopathic)
DisgustedBroccoli [OP]2 points3y ago
Yeah might have to try this. I'm in NZ and we can't get it here either. Hopefully importing it is possible. Doctors can only prescribe it to people over 54 years old or something stupid,
meeowth1 points3y ago
I just get the cheapest big bottle through iherb.
DisgustedBroccoli [OP]2 points3y ago
Just submitted an order to give it a shot. Fingers crossed it doesn't get caught by customs!
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