Possible to have extended body clock?

[EsnettensE]

Hi there, I've had an weird sleeping issue ever since I can remember (probably mid high school is when I can first realised it) where I feel like my body clock goes beyond a normal 24 hour day. Most people sleep 6 - 8 hours and are awake for about  16 - 18 hours but for me its always been different. I've pretty much have a constant habit of now sleeping a normal 6 - 8 hour day but then am awake anywhere from 26 - 30 hours minimum. At first I thought it was insomniac like symptons but I truley feel normal. When im asleep I sleep well, when I'm awake my fitness and energy levels would be evenly correlated to that of a normal 16 - 18 hour sleeper. However my internal body clock never sustains a single day cycle within societys defined 24 hour spectrum!

I'm very fortunate in that I am a electronic music producer so this does not affect my profession at all, if anything it probably helps it! It just does make me wonder why my body clock chooses to function like this. Is this a cause for alarm, common occurance or am i just reading to much into perhaps some unkown thingy?

I'm male, 25, I live in Sydney, Australia. Temp averages around 24c, I don't do drugs but I took Marijuana during my first year of university in 2000 and have not touched another type of drug, I smoke an average of one packet of cigarettes every 4 days (normal 24hour days!), I havn't taken prescription medication or over the counter medication for perhaps over a year now as I hardly do get sick and I hate those people that go popping asprins on the first sign of any sympton. I am fit and am very active, I play Cricket (kinda like baseball but better!) , Indoor Cricket and Golf on average of 4 times a week asw ell. I'm bout 5"11 and weigh 92kg. I do not have any allergies. I get feel the cold more then the heat and like long walks on ... err wait :)

Sorry for the essay but I figure its better off to list all the variables I can think of rather then none at all.

Once again thank you for taking the time to read this post and also for contributing your medical knowledge for the world to prosper in.

Regards

Amzy

PS. 32.5 hours and finally feel tired! Nite nite.

[PettyOfficer]

Chronotherapy itself is a poor treatment option. Here's basically what my research has found on chronotherapy and what my neurologist himself told me. Chronotherapy is approximately 40% successful however, you have to stick ridigly to the schedule for the rest of your life. This means no late nights with a sick child, no traveling at night or across time zones or anything that would extend you past 10pm for any reason or wake up prior to 6am. If you do, you will need to repeat the week long treatment to get your body back in check. This has yet to be proven successful for anyone over time, from what several researchers have published. So basically, chronotherapy is a short term treatment is far from the answer.

[noops01]

Hi,

You are indeed suffering from non-24 hr sleep wake syndrome. I would like to inform you that chronotherapy and light therapy have been used with success to reset the circadian rhythm to the desired pattern.If you want you can consult a neurologist about it.

[PettyOfficer]

You could have some form of insomnia mixed with a disorder such as Non-24 Hour sleep wake syndrome. Depending on your profession, it could be very debilitating. You have stated isn't has affected your career so I wouldn't be too alarmed from that aspect. I would suggest getting a medical referral to see a neurologist and having a polysomnogram done. There is also another method that I cannot remember the name where they give you a watch type thing to wear for a week and it monitors things like your oxygen level, pulse, blood pressure, and sleep cycle. You neurologist should know what I am referring to. It is very helpful in diagnosing any type of disorders.