B12 Deficiency and being a Night Owl - Pernicious Anaemi...

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B12 Deficiency and being a Night Owl

GracePV profile image
20 Replies

Does anyone else here with B12 deficiency prefer to stay up late and sleep late?

I am reading about circadian rhythms and all the experts seem to be convinced that so called "normal" wake/sleep cycle is neccesary for long life and well being.

I know that my body likes best going to bed at 4am and waking at noon. I have done this for years. I was even miserable as a child having to get up early. I also suspect because of mutations that I had a B12 deficiency all my life.

I sleep very well, no sleep problems at all. Fall asleep easily, wake refreshed, great dreams.

But I am nervous and considering maybe it's best to try and force myself into a "regular" sleep in the night and up in the morning. I just think I will really hate this.

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GracePV profile image
GracePV
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20 Replies
Jillymo profile image
Jillymo

How strange because I am completely the opposite. I find especially now we have the darker nights I am ready for my bed at 6pm. I dont go straight to sleep but normally snoring by 7-7.30. I awake to spend a penny maybe watch an hour of tv then drift off again. I can sleep for hours but never feel refreshed ! I manage to stay awake a little longer in the summer months or have the odd time when I am more awake but at this present time I feel as if sleeping my life away.

topazrat profile image
topazrat

I'm usually in bed by 10.30 pm and get up at 7 am. My daughter (non P.A.) stays up until 2 am and sleeps in till 10 am.

Thrones12 profile image
Thrones12

before I found out I had P.A and started injections I could have slept till the cows came home , I never had a regular bedtime as such I just grabbed every opportunity to sleep, I moved to Spain and that stopped my body just loved the sunshine and I did well there,came back to the U.K. and the p.a really ramped up and my sleep patterns went to pot again my cortisol wouldn’t even chart ,it was rock bottom and I had all sorts of testing done but no resolution to how my body was behaving,it was all way above my head then. I was just too tired to battle any more and never followed anything through except the p.a. I started my loading doses and the usual nhs and nes and decided to self inject and it really did change everything about me..

I now have a decent bed time of 11pm till 8am ,if that gets broke ie when I got the teething puppy lol,it wrecks me,as long as I try and stick to that routine i thrive..

I firmly believe now that gut and sleep are the answers to Ill health . As long as I have that routine of cook from scratch and get restful sleep I am a happy bunny. I suppose a lot depends on your personal circumstances too,I could never sleep till noon as I have too many furry friends reliant on me I’d get nagged to death lol. Do whatever works best for you would be my answer and if that regime keeps you well, do it. Best of luck xx

palmier profile image
palmier

Thyroid stimulating hormone has a circadian rythm and peaks at 2-4 am. Perhaps that has something to do with it?

deniseinmilden profile image
deniseinmilden

I've just naturally woken up - 5.30 am - but will happily be ready to sleep again any time after 5pm. If I'm not asleep by 7pm then I'll need to sleep during the day to extend my "awake" hours available because I'm always awake in the morning!

In 9 years on this forum and other B12 groups, I haven't heard of any pattern among us, other than maybe we might be inclined to be extreme "owls" like yourself, or "larks" like me - but there are plenty who run more normal hours too!

MrsTuft profile image
MrsTuft

No I’ve always been an early bird. Correlation isn’t causation.

Narwhal10 profile image
Narwhal10 in reply toMrsTuft

Great answer MrsTuft.

Hockey_player profile image
Hockey_player

I have been an incorrigible night owl my whole life. My mom reports I was even like that as a baby. I am not going to fight my natural rhythms. I just use my fitbit to try to be aware of times when I am not getting enough sleep. I am retired now so I can keep my own hours. I often get up early to play ice hockey, but can compensate with staying up late by taking a nap later.

lifegems profile image
lifegems

if it suits you and your happy then don’t worry!

Kazania profile image
Kazania

Hello, why change what works for you, I go to bed at 2am and get up around 10am, but I’m not really alert until midday (I always say that at 12 noon a switch in my head turns on and then I’m ready to function) Like you I’ve always hated getting out of bed early. I am Hypothyroid and have PA. Do your own thing😂

My sleep pattern varies for no reason I can think of. Years ago I'd go to be at a "normal" time and be awake all night till around 6 a.m. when I'd fall asleep and stay asleep till noon or later.

Then all of a sudden, I was going to bed at the "normal" time and falling asleep immediately and staying asleep for 8 hours at least.

I also have Seasonal Affective Disorder, and that's caused problems, depending on where I was living, and what direction my bedroom faced. I'm currently sleeping in a south facing bedroom, and the deep hibernation type sleeping doesn't affect me so much.

mchimes profile image
mchimes

That’s understandable. Sleep researcher Matthew Walker says people have different chronotypes and that not everyone has to adhere to the dawn dusk cycle. Says it goes back to our ancestors when someone had to be up at night for safety and protection.

I got an Oura ring for Christmas and after 30 days it suggests your chronotype based on the data it picks up throughout the day. Pretty fascinating stuff.

Bellabab profile image
Bellabab in reply tomchimes

The body locks to day light hours by and large yet not all have the same pattern. Using "daylight" light bulbs can simulate daylight and I find that helps me set my day to where I want it. In free run my body wants to go to bed at 11 pm and get up about 10.30 am.

GracePV profile image
GracePV in reply tomchimes

Ill read up on what Matthew Walker says. Thanks for the info. For sure I would be the one staying up late and protecting the babies. In fact, we got robbed once and it was me staying up all night waiting to see if the criminal would return, while my husband slept like a baby! I've been wanting to get the Oura ring. This gives me a reason!

MindfulSquirrel profile image
MindfulSquirrel in reply tomchimes

I’m not sure if it’s that’s immutable from person to person. I always used to be a night owl but work, children and a need to develop a good sleep routine so I could actually fall asleep has definitely changed my sleep patterns.

And now I’m on proper treatment for my PA I’m beginning to get less interrupted sleep. 🙂 Which goes against the “elder in the tribe” hypothesis that was previously reassuring me about waking every 90 minutes, and rather shows why evolutionary psychology should be viewed with caution.

WIZARD6787 profile image
WIZARD6787

In 1966 I read about good sleep hygiene. It has not changed substantially. I thought I was 'good' at sleep as I followed what I had read. In 1980 I found I was good at functioning at a high level exhausted.

If I can sleep and really sleep that is what I do. No matter what the time. It varies depending. Go figure.

MrJustatip profile image
MrJustatip

Hello, FracePV, I was thinking about posting something similar to this. I try to go to sleep around 10-11 each night, but inevitably I fall asleep around 1:00 am or so. I have now resorted to taking melatonin about 30 min before bedtime. sometimes it helps me fall asleep, sometimes not. Now and then I'll take a "simply sleep pill" to help. I like to sleep til around 8-9ish. I'm trying to regulate myself to fall asleep around 10:00 or so, so my wife and I can eat breakfast together, but it's hard as PA seems to cause insomnia I believe. Sometimes I can't get to sleep until 4:00 am as you say, I think it's also work and a racing mind as well. Probably PTSD from childhood maybe. Good luck. MJat.

mauschen profile image
mauschen

Sounds like a habit rather than PA related.

You could try reversing the situation gradually.

I am not judging you, if your sleep pattern suits your lifestyle, then go for it. However, when it’s bright and cheerful outside, it’s a much more pleasant place to be. You could be missing out is all I am saying.

PolyannaYorkshire profile image
PolyannaYorkshire

Yes I have this problem but trying to address it as my day is spent tired or in bed!! 4am going to sleep is no good really.. I check the time too which is supposed to be a bad habit.. & my muscles have disappeared so find it v. difficult getting in & out of bed too!I take vit b12 drops.. good luck with your sleep probs. Judy 🤗

Nackapan profile image
Nackapan

Very difficult in paid work if able.That's why so many are forced into sleep patterns that don't suit us.

I've changed over the years.

Especially since this illness wake around 5 whatever time I go to bed .

When first ill needed at least 12 hours of darkness. Awake or not.

Mostly bedbound .

Progressed to getting downstairs to eat.

Now can't stay awake beyond 930-10p.m

Often go earlier but it may be the lights thus time of year. ( light sensitive to artificial lighting)

Suits me to wake in the dark but I don't put artificial lights on as a bad start for me .

Can't do paid work now.

Retired anyhow.

When had to be at work by 8 . A struggle

When I had to do night shifts ect. 4am just an awful time for me to stay alert .

I think without time constraints of paid work we all have different natural sleep patterns.

I used to be an Owl.

Not even a lark now

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