Years ago I had a noticeable improvement in energy and wakefulness after the sun goes down, regardless of what time it was. That's usually when I would go nuts trying to get things done. As time goes on, I have less and less "windows of opportunity" to do that.

Mornings have always been really bad and they still are.

I cannot take sleep aids or most pain killers since they seem to aggravate my problem with Restless Legs Syndrome - makes me feel like I'm ready to jump out of my skin.

I stay in bed until I can't stand the pain; I stay up until I can't stand the fatigue. So the schedule that works best for me is to go to bed about 10PM, get up at about 2 or 3AM, go back to bed around 5 or 6AM and then get up again around 9 or 10AM and maybe grab a nap mid-day. Unfortunately, that schedule really doesn't work with anybody else's. I need to be up helping everybody else to run out the door.

I'd really like to know more about this. I've had chronic fatigue for about 4 years and honestly for myself I've found it helpful not to fight the fact that I only get energy at night. It's easier now that I can sleep (I had insomnia for about 2 years, which was somewhat alleviated by taking melatonin). But honestly, though it is obnoxious I am just happy to have any energy at any time. I've played around with sleeping schedules and when I force myself to get up/go to sleep earlier I don't feel a bit healthier. I'm sure some of this for me is related to my adrenals, as my endocrine system seems to be out of balance (I'm currently being treated for something to do with my thymus, and have been treated for adrenal fatigue in the past), but I've found this to be so common in so many people with CFIDS that I feel like the answer may be more complex.

Anyone else have any insights?

It must be CFS because I usually feel better at late night also. I go to sleep around 11:00 PM to 12:30 AM. If I try and go to bed earlier I just wake up earlier. About 5 to 6 hours I wake up no matter what. I need at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep to feel any energy in the mornings or I just lay around till I get tired of lying around and get up for short periods the rest of the day, it varies from day to day but that is the routine for me. I usually feel bad in the mornings till I eat something, and then get better between 11:00 AM and 12:00 PM. I start to feel bad again between 3:00 PM and 6:00 PM. After 8 or 9 PM I feel good till I go to sleep most nights. I take a sleeping pill most every night now but I am going to stop that for a while and see what happens.

After glancing through the posts it confirmed that we each have to find our best schedule and try our best to get through each day and every night.

Whenever you have energy I think it's a good thing. We all have to remember to BALANCE our bouts of energy so that we don't try to do too much when we have a little bit of it and then crash.

If you have some energy, read or write or do something creative if you can. Enjoy it!

My best restful sleep is around 5 pm until around midnight - then I feel my best during the rest of the night - of course I am very sleepy then all day - even if I nap - but I don't rest from daytime naps.

i totally agree with you. i always feel better at night. if i had a night job i would be doing much better. i dont know why this is and i even take sleeping medicine. sometimes it works but alot of the times it does nothing. i thought i was the only one or there was something terribly wrong with me. i am glad i am not the only one. thank you for this topic i really appreciate it.

I know what you mean. I can barely get up in the morning and drag myself around all day and then by the time my husband gets home from work I get my little bit of energy for the day... kind of inconvinient when you try to explain how horrible your symptoms have been all day lol. I wonder why this is.....

Maybe it just takes us this long to "wake up" and now at night we are wide awake and can't sleep.