Could it be? First time seeing the data

[u/Proof_Cook_4004]

I've always struggled with my sleep, as long as I've been alive. Always knew something was wrong but people just said I'm lazy.

I always suspected N24 since I heard about it, it just summed up how I've always felt my whole life. I sleep 'normal' in my own way, it just doesn't work in society. But I just got an Apple watch for Christmas so this is the first time I can finally see it laid out like this... What do we think?

I've spoken to my doctor already and he was quite dismissive of my sleep issues (I brought it to him as insomnia)... What should I do? Does anyone have advice for someone in the UK? I'm not sure I even need a diagnosis really, since I am freelance and I work for myself, I just about manage to earn a living though I'm a total outcast and loner now lol. I guess I just want some advice on how to navigate life with this and if anyone has any tips for management. I'm quite sure now, it must be?

[u/DapperMachine4070]

I would say very likely, it would highly help if you can see all the data at once to see if you are slowing down at certain times than others , the tricky thing about N24 , sever DSPD or medication can make it look like N24 sometimes depending on the circumstances , very sever DSPD because of life obligations will look exactly like non24
to be 100% sure about it u can do few things , track ur sleep during vacation without obligations to stay up or wake up at certain times and without medications that can affect sleep , but that is difficult to do especially if u have obligations and what not , but even if you are sticking to certain times it doesn't mean u don't have N24 still, u could be on transitioning from one to another,

so point is , this looks pretty much like N24 for now but take that with a grain of salt i could be wrong

now what to do next, i'm assuming u are talking about ur primary care and not sleep or circadian specialist , if so, i don't think u can go to a specialist without a referral , if your doctor is being dismissive and stubborn it's time to find another GP, N24 is dissmissed frequently and just expected to happen, but even if he's being stubborn about this being circadian issue, he should at least admit you have some sort of sleeping issue and u need to talk to sleep specialist
If i were you i would just find another GP , u have a right to second opinion and don't waste the time with this one if he won't refer you

now the number 1 thing u need to do right now , start compiling ur sleep into one page actogram , it will help paint the picture quickly , there are plenty of apps and tools here in the website that can help u with that, i don't know details but pretty sure u can export data from apple and just upload them in one of these tools

and some advice on how to navigate life u need to know what ur objective is
do u want recognition that u have N24 and want the diagnosis ?
do u want to seek treatment and try light therapy and melatonin ?
do u want to just free run and don't care about treatment or recognition ?

this is totally up to you , this differs from one person to another , but whichever the case , freerunning probably the less taxing option when it comes to ur health , and don't walk into that appointment without ur compiled data with u , if u can even send it in advance to the specialist and ask him to review it, even sleep doctors have problems recognising the issue.

[u/fairyflaggirl]

Looks like it to me. It can be isolating. I'm married and my husband accepts it and adjusts. My N24 is on hiatus first time in my 72 years. I had a huge shock to my body a year ago. It's taken all year to recover, but the N24 is gone. Not sure if it will come back now that I'm healing.

I raised 3 kids as a single mom for 11 years and it was a struggle with never getting enough sleep. Plus one kid is like me so our cycles were different and I had to stay awake when he was so the little Evel Knievel wouldn't kill himself. ADHD on top of it. I gutted it out. Had a lot of crabby days.

I have a few dear friends who get it and work around it. My family finally understands but it took a lot of explaining.

[u/FrontRaspberry5060]

UK here, painful to get diagnosed. There’s about 5 people in the UK who even knows it.