Attention deficit support - "Reving up" near bedtime

Author

"Reving up" near bedtime

Iowacookiemom

2004-08-15, 11:22 am

My almost-12-yo son seems to have developed a new habit that I've come to
describe as "reving up" just at bedtime. Around 9:30 or so he literally starts
running around the house, often laughing and joking in an animated way. He's
extremely hard to calm down when this happens. It's right before bedtime, just
when I'd like him to begin calming down. He's never had much hyperactivity,
he's mostly been an add without the "h" -- but this new behavior strikes me as
quite hyperactive.

He also develops a big appetite at that time. We've limited sugar and caffeine
after 9 p.m. but that has not helped much.

Once, on vacation a few weeks ago and after a long day of travel, I made him
lie down with me while I read -- even though he was trying to sleep (and
especially after he did drift off) his body kept twitching and jerking for
about a half hour before he finally was still. That convinced me that he's not
doing this out of spite or intentionally, but his body seems to literally
*crave* movement at that time of night.

I'm wondering whether any other parents have noticed this and if so, what they
have done. Also wondering if any adults out there with ADD can relate, and if
so -- what do you do?

We're transitioning from our summer schedule, where we followed the advice
we've seen and heard from experts and let him mostly revert to his "natural"
clock -- he tends to stay up very late (2-4 a.m.) and then sleep until past
noon. But with school starting, we need to get into a more typical routine.

Thanks in advance for any help,

-Dawn
Mom to Henry, 11

RadVet

2004-08-16, 7:19 am

<<Once, on vacation a few weeks ago and after a long day of travel, I made
him lie down with me while I read -- even though he was trying to sleep
(and
especially after he did drift off) his body kept twitching and jerking for
about a half hour before he finally was still. That convinced me that
he's not
doing this out of spite or intentionally, but his body seems to literally
*crave* movement at that time of night. I'm wondering whether any other
parents have noticed this and if so, what they have done. Also wondering
if any adults out there with ADD can relate, and if so -- what do you
do?>>

I am also on Straterra and have noticed an increase in foot cramps. I
have had problems with foot cramps after exercise, but now they occur at
night. I have spoken to the dr. and she reccommended more bananas since
we aren't sure if it is perhaps exercise related or drug related (I bumped
up my martial arts training).

The other thing I have noticed is "jerking" right when I am on the edge of
sleep. I did have this happen prior to meds, but it does seem more
noticeable now. I have also noticed a slight increase in "waking" myself
up in a middle of a dream becasue I am acting out part of my dream! Not
sleep walking, but "sleep-moving". Ever since I was small though I can
have a coherent conversation in the middle of the night and not recall a
thing in the morning!!!

As far as "reving up" before bed and running around the house--sounds like
my Border Collie! Maybe ask Henry if is muscles feel "jumpy" before he
starts to run around the house--I get this way after driving for about 2
hours...

I have had some sleep issues with Straterra--although inconsistent. I too
am a night-owl by nature so sometimes it just happens to be night-time
when I feel like starting on something and then get hyperfocused. I'll
share some suggestions from my Dr.:

--Warm bath before bed
--Warm beverage before bed
--when the body temp lowers from these activities it signals sleep

--No TV in the bedroom (Darn!) or if waking up in middle of night
--TV light is very similar to daylight

--Bedroom is only for sleeping and sex (obviously not an issue in your
son's case *smile*)

--Bedtime routine--the last hour of the day is for "self-time": some
activity that is your son's favorite. For me it is reading or playing
guitar.

--No strenuous exercise 2 hours before bedtime
--I don't follow this one

Good luck!

Wally

2004-08-29, 2:11 am

The 'natural' circadian rhythm of the body is to awake with the light and
sleep with the dark. Because he is beginning to enter puberty, he probably
is leaning to more activity in the dark. Our society favors persons who are
more active in the day. Cortisol is the light hormone, and melatonin, the
dark. Changes are his cortisol levels are high when they shouldn't be, due
to his going asleep so late. The best thing to do is to readjust his
internal clock by getting him up early every morning. His hormone levels
should adjust naturally. If he keeps having the twitching problem, you may
want to talk with your doctor about giving him some low dose melatonin
before bedtime. At least until his natural hormone levels adjust.
-Good life!

"Iowacookiemom" <iowacookiemom@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20040808235543.11381.00001954@mb-m23.aol.com...
> My almost-12-yo son seems to have developed a new habit that I've come to
> describe as "reving up" just at bedtime. Around 9:30 or so he literally
starts
> running around the house, often laughing and joking in an animated way.
He's
> extremely hard to calm down when this happens. It's right before bedtime,
just
> when I'd like him to begin calming down. He's never had much
hyperactivity,
> he's mostly been an add without the "h" -- but this new behavior strikes
me as
> quite hyperactive.
>
> He also develops a big appetite at that time. We've limited sugar and
caffeine
> after 9 p.m. but that has not helped much.
>
> Once, on vacation a few weeks ago and after a long day of travel, I made
him
> lie down with me while I read -- even though he was trying to sleep (and
> especially after he did drift off) his body kept twitching and jerking for
> about a half hour before he finally was still. That convinced me that
he's not
> doing this out of spite or intentionally, but his body seems to literally
> *crave* movement at that time of night.
>
> I'm wondering whether any other parents have noticed this and if so, what
they
> have done. Also wondering if any adults out there with ADD can relate, and
if
> so -- what do you do?
>
> We're transitioning from our summer schedule, where we followed the advice
> we've seen and heard from experts and let him mostly revert to his
"natural"
> clock -- he tends to stay up very late (2-4 a.m.) and then sleep until
past
> noon. But with school starting, we need to get into a more typical
routine.
>
> Thanks in advance for any help,
>
> -Dawn
> Mom to Henry, 11

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