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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

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Original poster

Teenager sleeping too much

25 replies

Mumj09 · 01/02/2021 13:02

Hi, im aware its normal for teenagers to sleep a lot but my 17 yr old son sleeps all night and then is impossible to wake it the day, hes missing meals due to being asleep, when i try and wake him up he says hes awake then he goes straight back off to sleeplike he hasnt slept in days, when he is finally awake 3pm onwards hes lethargic and like hes not really with it, he doesnt drink alcohol, smoke or take drugs, he doesnt leave the house either, we are on the waiting list for a possible autism assessment, even as a child he wasnt energetic and i never had a problem with him going to bed. Doctors tested fir thyroid problems but keep fobbing me off when i say somethings not right, hes tall and thin, i dont know what to do.

OP posts:

Premium5 · 01/02/2021 18:41

Could he be on tech in the night then sleeping in the day?

Windy1234 · 01/02/2021 18:42

Is he thirsty or losing weight? Wondering about type one diabetes x

MechantGourmet · 01/02/2021 18:48

Is he depressed? One of the first signs, and it's been a difficult year for people his age

MechantGourmet · 01/02/2021 18:49

Could also be post-viral syndrome- not all viruses have obvious symptoms (as I think we've all learned!)

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 01/02/2021 19:06

Does he eat well?

It's probably worth a phone call to the Drs, he might need his bloods checking.

Tangledtresses · 01/02/2021 19:16

Mine gets up when I go to bed... I only know know this because 7 yr old reports on him... and tells me me he was FaceTime to a friend and woke him up clattering pans in the kitchen

Maybe yours is doing this ?

Wearywithteens · 01/02/2021 19:19

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the poster's request.

huuuuunnnndderrricks · 01/02/2021 19:34

Doesn't he have lessons to go to or a job? My dd is 17 and is lazy in bed slot but not asleep! What else is there to do to be fair? !!

LadyDanbury · 01/02/2021 19:36

Glandular fever?

Imapotato · 01/02/2021 19:37

Chronic fatigue syndrome? Teenagers sleep a lot, but he does sound a bit extreme. DN had chronic fatigue syndrome after a viral infection. It pretty much wiped her out from 15 to 18. Might be worth talking to the doctor about.

Hollywhiskey · 01/02/2021 20:12

My brother used to be like that. He had ADHD and a severe vitamin D deficiency which was a bit chicken and egg - if he kept normal hours and went outside he might had felt better, but only getting up at midnight made it worse. Then the deficiency made him feel bad and keep worse hours. He got prescription super strength vitamins, possibly anti depressants (I'm not sure, it was ongoing for several years in the end and a psychiatrist was involved who diagnosed the ADHD) - when he got coping strategies for that he was a lot better.
He is a very well functioning adult with a high flying professional career and happy relationship now.

Original poster

Mumj09 · 01/02/2021 20:33

Thank you for replies, he has online college which hes almost asleep during, he doesnt play games past about 10 then gets into bed soon after, he does listen to music to get to sleep but on low and through a bluetooth headband family history of diabetes but he isnt unusually thirsty and is 9 stone as he misses breakfast and lunch as always asleep, hes so dull when he is awake like he cant think how to speak like hes too tired to think or do anything. I think he is a bit depressed to to covid as he had just started college and was enjoying it loads more than he liked school but this isnt a new thing it has been going on for years but has got much worse lately, i will look into chronic fatigue as its really worrying now

OP posts:

Coolerthanapolarbearstoenails · 01/02/2021 21:49

He needs to eat three meals regardless of his sleeping pattern for now.

Beamur · 01/02/2021 21:53

Glandular fever? Has he been unwell at all?

FlyingByTheSeatof · 01/02/2021 22:02

Sounds like pretty much most teens at the moment including my own so I wouldn't worry too much about it for now

Original poster

Mumj09 · 01/02/2021 22:51

@Coolerthanapolarbearstoenails

He needs to eat three meals regardless of his sleeping pattern for now.

Really trying hes not interested in eating, ive told him we need to try and sort this before insisting doctors do more test but as soon as they see hes wainting for the autism assessment they say it must be down to that,we have made a plan to try and keep him awake this week and if theres no improvement its off to docs

OP posts:

Original poster

Mumj09 · 01/02/2021 22:53

@Beamur

Glandular fever? Has he been unwell at all?

No illness but he does have problems when he is ill it floors him for twice as long as it should and again he will literally sleep for 4 days straight i have to wake hime so he at least drinks and goes toilet

OP posts:

SleepingStandingUp · 01/02/2021 23:00

I think trying to get him up and about is a good plan. Up at 10, get him outside for some air, coffee, food, water. Go for a walk. Shower. Lunch, water. No screens, no telly etc. Dinner.

But really you need to push for doctors and blood tests

NiceGerbil · 01/02/2021 23:04

I'd guess he's a bit depressed. Also it's easy to get into habits of sleeping a lot.

I'd sit down with him and have a chat. Are you ok, you're sleeping a lot. Try and get him out for a walk with you in the fresh air once a day even 10 mins better than nothing.

Also he probably does want a checkover from the doc from what you've said.

Please try not to worry.

chestnutSquash · 01/02/2021 23:06

Vitamin D supplements are really, really important. Everyone is deficient in the winter months and it is even worse because of lockdown. Vitamin D deficiency can be very serious.

Original poster

Mumj09 · 01/02/2021 23:20

I will start the vit d and get some veg down him, i have 4 boys he is 3rd in line and none were tired on this scale and were at least alert when they are awake! Thank you its hard not to worry but hes off to bed now with no music on ive told him it wont work in one day so not expecting miracles

OP posts:

chestnutSquash · 02/02/2021 09:07

You should still speak to his GP though. We are all just guessing.

Original poster

Mumj09 · 02/02/2021 10:31

Yes i will do we are trying a routine until friday as the last doctor just said he isnt moving enough even after i had explaing his history, sons on board with trying to solve it as hes sick of always feeling sleepy and missing out on life

OP posts:

Girliefriendlikespuppies · 02/02/2021 12:24

I think the fact he's really underweight is probably contributing to his mood/tiredness. I'd focus on getting as much food and calories into him as possible. Plus request bloods and general review by Gp.

SirVixofVixHall · 02/02/2021 12:30

GP asap, the lethargy and not wanting to eat are worrying. Could he be anaemic ? Low vitamin D as pps have mentioned can cause all sorts of issues, I know as mine was extremely low.
Sleeping a lot can also be a depressive thing, but as he is so floored by any viral infection it sounds physical rather than emotional. Low iron or low vitamin D affect mood anyway.
Also I wonder what his thyroid levels were ? As I was told mine were fine for years, when they were really not fine, and I wasn't diagnosed until I had become a shadow of my old self.

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