How much does your 17 year old sleep?

[Anonymous]

This is not a "my teen is lazy" post. I'm actually worried and no one around me seems as concerned as I am. Several times a week I'll come home at 7:00pm and find my DS sleeping. I have to try really hard to wake him up and make him go to bed at 10 or 11 and he sleeps until I wake him up at 7:00 am. I've also been getting messages from his teachers that he falls asleep in class. I get sleeping in after staying up late on the weekends, but this is a lot, right? I asked his pediatrician to run bloodwork, which she reluctantly did and his vitamin D is 13, which is very low. I'm wondering if I am out of line to be worried and keep pushing to find what's actually going on.

[Anonymous]

I think that’s fairly normal when one’s sleep schedule is messed up. His afternoon naps are replacing his overnight sleep right before school. It would be concerning if he’s asleep before 7pm and can sleep to the next morning

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think that’s fairly normal when one’s sleep schedule is messed up. His afternoon naps are replacing his overnight sleep right before school. It would be concerning if he’s asleep before 7pm and can sleep to the next morning

But that's exactly what he does, as I stated in my OP. That's why I'm concerned.

[Anonymous]

My 16yo does this sometimes. Sleeps for 12 hours straight. Or more.

[Anonymous]

Is he on any meds? A friend’s teen does this but is on a couple different meds for anxiety and depression.

My own teens (boy and girl) don’t do this. Getting them to go to sleep before 10 is impossible. They typically go to bed around 10:30-11:30 and are up for school around 6:30. No naps. Weekends they get up around 8 or 9 naturally.

[Anonymous]

Cicardian rhythm. Teens sleep doesn't kick in until at least 10 or 11pm or later. It's amazing how public schools do NOT pay attention to science and teen and young adult development. No wonder country has a huge problem on so many levels (e g. anxiety as one) and America on opioids. Get blood work. Possibly appt with nutritionist. Appt with psychologist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is he on any meds? A friend’s teen does this but is on a couple different meds for anxiety and depression.

My own teens (boy and girl) don’t do this. Getting them to go to sleep before 10 is impossible. They typically go to bed around 10:30-11:30 and are up for school around 6:30. No naps. Weekends they get up around 8 or 9 naturally.

Yes, he is on meds for anxiety and depression, but has been for a couple of years without any changes. The excessive sleeping is more recent. I've brought it up to his psychiatrist the last couple of times and she didn't seem overly concerned. I also asked him if he is feeling depressed because I know that could be the reason for sleeping too much and he insists that he is not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is he on any meds? A friend’s teen does this but is on a couple different meds for anxiety and depression.

My own teens (boy and girl) don’t do this. Getting them to go to sleep before 10 is impossible. They typically go to bed around 10:30-11:30 and are up for school around 6:30. No naps. Weekends they get up around 8 or 9 naturally.

Yes, he is on meds for anxiety and depression, but has been for a couple of years without any changes. The excessive sleeping is more recent. I've brought it up to his psychiatrist the last couple of times and she didn't seem overly concerned. I also asked him if he is feeling depressed because I know that could be the reason for sleeping too much and he insists that he is not.

It’s likely the meds and/or just part of his psychological conditions and how they are manifesting now.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like my daughter. She has long covid. The sleep thing is real. If you're concerned (and if there are other signs - like unexplained sickness, brain fog, worse allergies etc) it may be worth talking to your pediatrician and/or Children's Hospital. It's a long slog trying to figure this one out.

Otherwise, how's his screentime? Does he have his phone/TV/gaming/computer in his room that he'll wake up in the middle of the night and play so he's exhausted the next day?

[Anonymous]

Vitamin D makes a huge difference. If it’s low get him to supplement

[Anonymous]

So he's routinely sleeping 12 hours at night and falling asleep in class? Yes, I would be concerned and I would push for a sleep study.

[Anonymous]

If vitamin D is low, it's part of the answer. Give him vitamin D. It's especially low in springtime. That said, you can also supplement with quercetin for immune system: we're just moving out of winter with all the illnesses circling around the school. My 16 yo also sometimes takes naps and I let him sleep in on the weekends, we have to wake up at 6.30 on workdays.

[Anonymous]

Narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia are rare but also usually have onset in teen years. Narcolepsy also often looks different than the stereotype of it. Take a look at all of the symptoms involved and see if any fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia are rare but also usually have onset in teen years. Narcolepsy also often looks different than the stereotype of it. Take a look at all of the symptoms involved and see if any fit.

Sleeping from 7 pm to 7 am is not narcolepsy at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia are rare but also usually have onset in teen years. Narcolepsy also often looks different than the stereotype of it. Take a look at all of the symptoms involved and see if any fit.

Sleeping from 7 pm to 7 am is not narcolepsy at all.

It certainly isn’t necessarily narcolepsy but sleeping 12 hours a night plus falling asleep in class certainly should be looked at for a sleep disorder. I have narcolepsy and this is pretty much how I experienced high school undiagnosed at the time.