Yes, I'm still on the meds, but my symptoms aren't as bad as others.
Actually, non-24 as a recognized diagnosis was just less than ten or so years
ago. It always affected me, although I only noticed it a few days each month
or
six weeks. But, at those times, it wouldn't matter how much coffee I drank, I
had a difficult time staying awake in the afternoon. I know even if I was
awake, I wasn't as focused.
Since it is circadian disorder, it is not affected by activity level. You can
be as active as you want, and practice good sleep preparation, but not be able
to sleep at night if the condition is bad enough. Also, non-24 can affect
other
systems like your metabolic system; it is theorized that this could, along with
a more sedentary lifestyle, be the cause of a higher rate of type 2 diabetes
among the blind.
JoAnne, there are several symptons of Non-24 sleep-wake disorder. You don't
need to have it diagnosed at a sleep clinic; a family general care physician
can
do it if they are familiar with the symptons. But, the guy at Mid-Michigan
Sleep in Okemos is familiar with it; if you think you have non-24 though, you
can call Vanda and they will have a sales rep contact your doctor. Here in
Michigan that guy is Mike, I won't mention his last name here on the list
though. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual Code is DSM5 Code 307.45). I
don't recall the diagnostic code in the ICD manual.
Here is the symptomology:
You have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep.
a.. You wake up groggy or not feeling as if you've gotten enough rest.
b.. You find yourself napping during the day or falling asleep unexpectedly.
c.. You find it difficult to function at work or at school.
d.. You have sleep patterns that are different from most people you know.
e.. You find it hard to concentrate.
f.. Your relationships are strained.
g.. You're irritable due to sleep deprivation.
h.. You suffer from sluggishness and forgetfulness.
i.. The time your body wants to sleep seems to shift over time.
j.. You fight to stay awake during the day, at work or at school.
k.. You're frustrated because no one seems to understand what you're going
through.
l.. You feel like you're in a never-ending battle between sleeplessness and
exhaustion.
You can get a discussion guide to talk with your doc at
http://www.non-24.com/docs/DoctorDiscussionGuide.pdf
Steve
----- Original Message -----
From: Vickie
To: msb-alumni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2016 3:07 PM
Subject: [msb-alumni] Re: NON24
So Steve, are you still on the medication? Or, did you find out about it early
enough in your career to fix it? You know what I mean. Your sleep issues
while
working. I thought this non24 thing was a fairly new revelation with the
studies finally providing a medical solution. I also wonder if its relative to
most of us not being as mobile as some sighted people and not being able to
release energy during the daytime hours, by sitting on our buts and not going
to
the gym or walking several miles like sighted people do. Seems like if you’re
worn out enough at the end of a day, you can sleep regardless. I know back in
school, you were a pretty hyper person. Like Tony was. Personally, I just
hate
to take prescribed medicines. Lord knows I take too many. If blood pressure
can be lowered by exercise, why can’t your ability to sleep at the right time
of
day. Have they studied that part of the scenario.
Vickie Rolison
From: joanne
Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2016 9:56 AM
To: msb-alumni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [msb-alumni] Re: NON24
But I wonder about having had light perception and then losing it. You don't
actually see things or people but you know when lights are on and off. Mine
just slowly went away years ago and I feel my sleep is radically different. I
wish I knew where to get a test to determine if I have this. I'm having just a
general sleep study done this week, but the doctor there said that non-24 isn't
one of the things they check for because they don't have enough info and
haven't
really studied it. If there was a place in mid-Michigan where they were
advanced enough to give a sleep study to show this I'd love to know where it is
and see if I might have this. I know that a prescription to regulate circadian
rhythms is available but I also know that a sleep specialist who doesn't
specialize in it can't just assume a person has it. But I'd take the
opportunity if I could find a place that would test.
----- Original Message -----
From: Marcia Moses
To: msb-alumni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2016 11:53 AM
Subject: [msb-alumni] Re: NON24
The TV commercials also portray people who have lost their sight in Iraq, or
another venue,
Who have all of a sudden gotten Non Twenty-four.
It’s my understanding it isn’t something you get if you’ve had vision most of
your life.
Marcia
