you think you’re tired?

A 63-year-old man who hasn’t slept for more than two decades has been told there is nothing wrong with him by doctors.

Ukrainian Fyodor Nesterchuk from the town of Kamen-Kashirsky said the last time he managed to doze off was more than 20 years ago.

“I can’t remember the exact date and I don’t know why it started, but all of a sudden I found it more and more difficult to nod off until eventually I was awake the entire night.

“I used to read boring scientific periodicals in the hope they would send me to sleep. But as soon as I felt my eyes getting droopy and put the magazine down, I would find myself wide awake again. I thought it would just be a phase but its gone on for over 20 years now and I’ve simply had to get used to it.

“Now when everyone else sleeps I get stuck into a good book,” said Nesterchuk.

All attempts by doctors to put him to sleep have failed and they now say there’s nothing wrong with the insurance broker.

Local doctor Fyodor Koshel who has examined Nesterchuk extensively and has been unable to make him fall asleep, said he has no idea of the cause of the insomnia and added medically there is nothing wrong with him.

“We have no idea why he can’t sleep, maybe it’s the result of a past illness. But pathologically speaking, he’s not in any pain and so there isn’t anything actually wrong with him,” said Dr Koshel.

(via ananova)

Comments

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  1. I heard about this guy before and I’m suspect of the truthfulness. It’s not physiologically possible to never sleep for that long. Even after a couple days people start to hallucinate (I know this first-hand).

    Comment by Renee on January 21, 2005 @ 11:13 pm
  2. I thought the same thing, but the fact that he has been examined by a doctor, and the doctor has validated the claims gives it credibility in my mind.

    Comment by dan on January 21, 2005 @ 11:23 pm
  3. My gut goes with Renee — if we read a report of someone not eating or drinking for 10 years, I think we’d find it suspect, as with this. I’m not familiar with Ananova, and question why other news outlets haven’t picked up on the story, if it’s true, as it would be very newsworthy, like the big Brazilian baby, which I heard about everywhere.

    Comment by DavidH on January 22, 2005 @ 3:39 pm
  4. If I hadn’t slept in 20 years there would definitely be something wrong with me!

    Comment by Babs on January 24, 2005 @ 9:28 am

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