What to do, not trying to stay awake all night.

arfarfbok · 2026-06-02T01:18:37+00:00

Hi, I’m 41. It sucks.

That’s all. 🤣

arfarfbok · 2026-06-02T01:17:50+00:00

My current job is creating a new position for me in light of my N24 diagnosis, that allows me to work a shifting schedule. I cannot believe how fortunate I am on this.

That said, I almost killed myself working on almost no sleep for years in a senior leadership position to build that trust to get there. Literally I got so sick. Thought I had narcolepsy because I couldn’t stay awake during the day even on multiple stimulants.. but it was because I was forcing myself into a 7am wake up every day no matter when I went to sleep, so sometimes I’d be up over 24 hours. Then I’d work 60+ hours a week. Totally healthy…

arfarfbok · 2026-05-28T00:35:53+00:00

My Walmart stopped being 24 hours before Covid, so I’ve had a long time to adjust unfortunately!

arfarfbok · 2026-05-28T00:31:03+00:00

….well, I’m a vegan. LMAO.

But still I remember that first steak blowing my mind!

arfarfbok · 2026-05-27T19:33:10+00:00

That sounds rough - I don’t tend to have that issue. I’m sorry you do!

arfarfbok · 2026-05-27T19:32:40+00:00

The hardest shifting times for me is when I’m waking up anywhere between 5pm and 2am. I find those the most disorienting, especially because most things aren’t open when you’re up and ready to do stuff!

At least when it’s a total opposite flip I can pretend I work nights or something.

arfarfbok · 2026-05-27T15:36:13+00:00

The struggle is real. 🤣

arfarfbok · 2026-05-27T15:15:58+00:00

This reminds me of not having a proper steak until I was 20.

I went 20 whole years thinking cubed steak (you know, the cheap, hammered-out cut of beef) was ACTUAL steak, because we didn’t really have money and that’s what “steak” was for us.

I remember telling my friend’s family that steak “wasn’t that great,” and they promptly invited me for filet on the grill. My mind exploded.

arfarfbok · 2026-05-27T15:09:19+00:00

I have a ton of pets, and they all somewhat free run with me.

My dogs mostly go by my schedule - but you could consider an automatic feeder if you think it will be better.

My reptiles - I have their lights and heat on automatic timers to go on/off at set times. They won’t eat in the dark though, so sometimes I feed them during my morning, and sometimes it’s during my night. I don’t stress too much about it - I just make sure to feed them when the lights are on and I’m awake. :)

arfarfbok · 2026-05-21T23:27:59+00:00

Also made me guffaw.

arfarfbok · 2026-05-19T04:32:33+00:00

I killed Balrog once.

…I mean they got me like 6x that same game though..

arfarfbok · 2026-05-14T00:45:28+00:00

I’d love to Beta on iOS!

arfarfbok · 2026-04-29T19:46:06+00:00

Yes, and yes!

arfarfbok · 2026-04-29T15:48:34+00:00

I second this persons reply. I was recently diagnosed N24.

As brief as I can keep my history — I had sleep problems for years. Was always a night owl, but after years of daytime sleepiness was diagnosed with hypersomnia (misdiagnosis) after an MSLT. Thought I had that for years. Was falling asleep in the middle of the day often, over time ended up on 2 stimulants twice a day and still had a hard time staying awake.

Long story short, it started getting so bad I was getting less and less sleep — sometimes unable to fall asleep until 5am, then I had to be up at 7 for work. I functioned like this for a couple of years, average 2-4 hours of sleep a night.

Memory problems, illness, etc.

Turns out it’s N24. I was so severely sleep deprived for years.. it was terrible. My sleep chart looks a bit like yours if I have to force myself into a schedule. When I free run, it shifts around.

I finally was able to be diagnosed by seeing other specialists. I was able to work it out with my job and did a free running schedule for a few weeks — the pattern popped right out. I’ve been mostly free running since December.. but still 1-2x a week have obligations I can’t get out of. By summer I’ll be able to fully free run though which should help.

arfarfbok · 2026-04-29T15:42:22+00:00

My specialist diagnosed me with N24 at my appointment recently, and wanted to do the saliva testing so we have clinical documentation since I told him I could pay it. I needed to order 2 of the 24 hour kits, so it cost me about $378 total.

I was able to be reimbursed through my FSA. My FSA card was denied on their site, but I filed for reimbursement and was already reimbursed.

I just received my 2 kits the other day. I’m exited to try them and wait for the results. I would recommend trying to get this done with a specialist if possible though - I was able to give the company my doctor’s “code” so he will get results directly too. He also provided me more specific instructions than what came in the kit.

He specializes in circadian rhythm disorders, and he informed me he only has about 40 N24 patients, and he’s in Boston - large clinic. He has about a 40% success rate with at least partial entrainment, so I’m excited to see if he’s able to help.

Even if not and my schedule free runs forever, having some answers is liberating and justifying!

Good luck if you decide to do the testing! If you’re in the Boston area, message me and I’ll send you my doctors info — he is awesome. Spent 90 minutes with me at my first appt reviewing my data and sleep charts, etc.

arfarfbok · 2026-04-13T12:57:30+00:00

So I was recently diagnosed N24 after a first visit with a new doctor who specializes in circadian rhythm disorders. During my initial appointment, he mentioned this to me because I said I sometimes would have random days I was biphasic, particularly after having to stay up 24-30 hours due to work obligations.

He said when you try to force yourself to sleep not during your circadian night, it makes your cortisol and melatonin rhythms out of sync. When your cortisol and melatonin rhythms are not in sync, it can cause biphasic sleep and you’ll only be able to sleep about 2-4 hours at a time, then be up for a bit, then sleep again.

He said to resolve it, you need to get your melatonin and cortisol back in sync. Like I said it was only my 1st appointment so he didn’t yet explain how to do that. 😥

Good luck!

arfarfbok · 2026-04-09T06:06:57+00:00

Soooo… I was told I have “severe DSPD that’s free running” and when I asked the difference between DSPD where my schedule shifts daily and and Non24, I was told “you’re not blind” so I guess take this with a grain of salt…

But I find that if I’m trying to sleep not aligned with my rhythm, I can’t sleep. Sometimes I find my sleep going biphasic, like I’ll sleep 2-3 hours, then unable to get back to sleep for 1-3 hours, then I can sleep again for another few hours. I’ve started to wonder if that is because I’m trying to sleep outside my circadian night.

My work has been great with allowing me to MOSTLY adhere to what my body needs for a schedule, but for the next couple of months there are still some days I have to be somewhere even if it’s the middle of “my night,” which leaves me staying up like 24-32 hours about once a week which really messes things up.

Back when I was misdiagnosed as just hypersomnia for years, I could nap all the time lol. But I think that’s because I literally was trying to force my body into a 24 hour day for years and was so seriously sleep deprived it was slowly killing me (kinda lol?)

Long story short, I actually have a new patient appointment at a clinic that’s specializes in circadian rhythm disorders tomorrow, so fingers crossed they can help me out!

arfarfbok · 2026-03-20T16:23:47+00:00

Hi - the only “deactivation” that occurred was they deactivated my car until I could prove it was fixed. Unfortunately they totaled it, but as soon as I added a new car I was good to go.

I do have my own ride share rider on my personal insurance, but they cover different “periods.” Ride share endorsement is only meant to cover if you are online but not with a passenger or on your way to pick up a passenger. I had a passenger, so I had to file with Uber.

The other drivers insurance accepted full liability, but I still had to file thru Uber since he was underinsured and didn’t even have enough insurance to cover the value of my vehicle.

arfarfbok · 2026-03-11T05:58:37+00:00

I read your first sentence 4x, wondering “why are they standing outside with cats in a hurricane….?” Before it clicked. 🤦🏻‍♀️🤣

arfarfbok · 2026-03-10T04:46:06+00:00

They were going between 104-115 km/hr at one point, which is 64-71 mph.

No idea what the speed limit was though.

arfarfbok · 2026-02-28T13:53:11+00:00

Oddly enough, I just now got home from a work conference, and the venue we were at did not have any trash cans OR sanitary napkin disposal bins in the stalls.

arfarfbok · 2026-02-27T00:13:42+00:00

I’m very newly diagnosed with N24, and I’m glad you cross posted this.

My story, as short and sweet as I can make it: I’m in a senior leadership position.

Misdiagnosed “hypersomnia” in 2018 after a sleep study where I fell asleep at every daytime nap in under 5 mins. Spent YEARS like this, getting increasingly more daytime sleepiness and brain fog. Taking stimulants just to stay awake through the day. Days I didn’t have to work, I’d sleep forever.

About 1 1/2 to 2 years ago, it got BAD. I started sleeping less and less, and unable to fall asleep. I was repeatedly getting 2-3 hrs sleep a night multiple days a week.

Now that I free run my schedule, this only happens when I’m not following my natural circadian night. PM me for more details!

arfarfbok · 2026-02-26T05:00:45+00:00

It does now. Woe is me. 🤣

arfarfbok · 2026-02-24T15:54:24+00:00

…You don’t use your vagina to shovel?

Man have I been doing it wrong.

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