i have a routine everyday where i get up at 730! it helps if u get into a routinex

Well i tend to get up everyday between 7.30 and 8.00. There can be days when i get up about 9.30-10.00.

i get up early most mornings too, even when i've not managed to fall asleep until 3am!! Thats what happened to me last night and this morning i feel strangely refreshed. How does that work?

stefunny i will join you starting next saturday! I think getting into a routine would be a big help to us. one question.. what is DS? lol

I also think it is better to get into a routine,although i find it very difficult,and usually only rise when my carer gets here,10.30.I'm in so much pain i can't get up much earlier.wishing you luck with your new job. ladybarbara

annauhe - DS is Daily Strength. It can also mean Dear Son, but I think she meant the former. :)
Stef - what's ur time zone?

ohk.. g shoulda got that one shouldnt i? lol. stefunny i will get up wit u if u let me know what time n wen u wanna start :)

I am new to the community, but not new to the illness. I have an incredibly difficult time maintaining a routine. Some nights I fall asleep at 9pm, other nights not at all. If I am up all night, like I was last night, I will have to sleep today becuase I become completely overwhelmed with sleepiness. Has anyone found a way to help ensure regular sleep? I take Ambien and Klonopin at night but sometimes that doesn't help at all - it just makes me stupid.....

I'm new to the community too. Recently been diagnosed CFS. Take Prozac. Like Reply 8 I often am unable to sleep at all, followed by final exhaustion where I get one reasonable night. Never ever feel refreshed. Probably get some sleep once a week. Can anyone out there offer any help? I try to go to bed and rise around the same time. Often end up skulking all day in bed at weekend because I'm done in after working all week.

Siewart...have u ever had a sleep study?

I had a sleep study and they couldn't find a reason for my non-restorative sleep. They recommended getting up at the same time every day regardless of my previous night. They said we have a "circadian" rhythm set in our brain that likes routine, even on the weekends [that's why travelling across different timezones gets jet lag].

I tried putting my light on timer to shine when I awoke, and I tried putting a potato in the oven on timer to be done when I awoke so there'd be a motivating smell. Wake up calls are a good idea too, to get the brain engaged.

But if all you do still isn't working after a while, I think, it may be that your body/condition is just not ready for it. My doctor is familiar with CFS and he's seen people get worse when they push themselves, and get better when they adapt more to their particular energy level.

nduring64

Never had a sleep study. In fact haven't heard of such a thing??

I don't know about any of you but I HATE mornings! I have a hard enough time getting up to begin with, now with this illness, it makes it 10 times harder. I do have to be at work at 8am so I try to prepare everything the night before so i can get that extra few minutes in. good luck in your new job!