Posted by Medlengough (12.90.100.125) on December 13, 2001 at 21:05:25:
Just a few personal thoughts since the topic of the hypothalamus came up. I've had several studies done on mine since I have several other hypothalamic problems. One being a sleep disorder called DSPS, delayed sleep phase syndrome, which I've actually had longer than the clusters. My biological sleep wake clock is out of phase. I wake at circa 2:00p.m. and don't get sleepy till about 2:00a.m. or later. It's been that way since my teenage years. When I finally can get to sleep, I can sleep for 12 hours straight, and usually am in REM. I have long, vivid, Hollywood movie style dreams which I can remember when I wake. It's when I wake that the problem starts.
Within one hour of awakening, 70 per cent of the time these days, the pain begins. My stupid "pet" theory is that I've used up all of my serotonin with the REM dreaming, so when I wake....Bam!
Sleep Disorder Clinics, doctors, light therapy and medication hasn't explained it or changed it any for the better. Some meds I was given were suppose to keep you from entering REM, but just made me sleep that much longer, up to 18 hours.
But just thought I mention the sleep disorder as a springboard.....