Shift work and sleepiness doctor near Sunrise, FL
Late closes, early openings and schedules that change every week are normal for many people who work around Sawgrass Mills. Dr. Camilo Ruiz helps patients from Sunrise sort out what that does to their sleep, at his office in Fort Lauderdale about 12 to 14 miles east.
Camilo Ruiz, DO · Board-certified in sleep medicine and internal medicine
Where do Sunrise shift workers go for help with sleep and daytime drowsiness?
Shift workers from Sunrise can see Dr. Camilo Ruiz, board-certified in sleep medicine, at 1319 S.E. 2nd Avenue in Fort Lauderdale, roughly 12 to 14 miles east via I-595 or Sunrise Boulevard. He works out whether the problem is a misaligned body clock, too little sleep, or a condition such as sleep apnea or narcolepsy, and builds a plan around the hours you actually work.
Comments from people who work and live in Sunrise
- I close the store at midnight and open it again at 8, and my sleep never catches up.
- My schedule changes every week, so I can't keep a bedtime even if I try.
- I get home from the night shift and my body just won't fall asleep while the sun is up.
- I nod off on my break, and once I caught myself drifting on the Sawgrass Expressway.
- Coffee used to work. Now I drink it all day and still feel like I'm underwater.
What Dr. Ruiz does for Sunrise patients on unusual hours
A map of your real week
He starts with your actual shifts, days off and commute, plus when you feel alert or foggy, rather than a textbook bedtime that doesn't fit your job.
Timing light, darkness and sleep
For shift work and drifting body clocks, the plan usually involves when to seek light, when to block it, and how to anchor a main sleep period.
Checking for a second cause
Heavy sleepiness is not always the schedule. If snoring, pauses in breathing or sudden sleep attacks are part of the story, he looks for apnea or narcolepsy.
Testing in the practice's sleep rooms
When an overnight study is needed, it is done in the practice's own private sleep rooms in Fort Lauderdale. Some people can test for apnea at home instead.
Video visits between shifts
Follow-ups that review a sleep log or adjust the plan can often be done by telehealth during office hours, so you don't lose a day off to driving.
Coming in from Sunrise
- Distance
- Roughly 12 to 14 miles from the Sawgrass Mills area
- Typical drive
- Typically 25 to 40 minutes, depending on traffic
1319 S.E. 2nd Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316Directions from Sunrise
- 1.From the Sawgrass Mills side of Sunrise, take the Sawgrass Expressway south to I-595.
- 2.Follow I-595 east past Florida's Turnpike.
- 3.At the I-95 interchange, merge onto I-95 north.
- 4.Leave I-95 at Davie Boulevard and continue east.
- 5.Turn toward S.E. 2nd Avenue, east of Andrews Avenue, where the office is at number 1319.
- 6.Before you go, press the live directions button for a current route. Sunrise Boulevard or Broward Boulevard east can also work from central Sunrise.
Landmarks on the way
Sawgrass Mills · The Sawgrass Expressway and I-595 junction · The I-595 and I-95 interchange · Broward Health Medical Center, near the office
From Sunrise to our Fort Lauderdale office
Open in Google MapsWhy a rotating schedule leaves you tired even after a full sleep
Your body runs on an internal clock that expects light in the morning and darkness at night. When a job in Sunrise has you closing a restaurant one night and opening a store two days later, that clock never gets a chance to settle. You may sleep seven hours and still feel jet-lagged.
Dr. Ruiz looks at that pattern directly. He asks about your rotation, the light you get on the drive home, caffeine timing and naps. From there he helps you pick a steady anchor for sleep, plan light exposure around your shifts, and protect your sleep space from daytime noise and brightness.
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute notes that not getting enough sleep can affect attention, reaction time and long-term health. A plan that fits your actual hours is meant to reduce that strain, not simply tell you to sleep more.
When sleepiness is more than the schedule
Not everyone who is drowsy at work has a shift problem. Some people sleep at normal hours and still fight to stay awake, and that deserves a closer look.
If a partner has heard loud snoring or breathing pauses, obstructive sleep apnea may be part of it, and a home sleep test or an overnight study can sort that out. If you fall asleep suddenly during the day, wake from naps feeling briefly refreshed, or have strange dreamlike moments when drifting off, Dr. Ruiz may consider narcolepsy or another hypersomnia, which usually calls for an overnight study in the practice's sleep rooms followed by daytime nap testing.
Being board-certified in internal medicine as well, he also checks for everyday causes such as medicines or other health conditions. The goal is to find the real reason, because the fix is different for each one.
What to expect
- Step 1
Request a visit
Call the office. We'll find a time and tell you what to bring.
- Step 2
First appointment
Dr. Ruiz goes over your sleep, your health history and what you've already tried.
- Step 3
Testing, if needed
A home or in-lab sleep study, or blood work.
- Step 4
Treatment and follow-up
You leave with a plan, and come back to adjust it.
Credentials behind your care
- Dr. Camilo Ruiz, DO, FACOI, FAASM, board-certified in sleep medicine and internal medicine.
- Overnight studies in the practice's own private sleep rooms, plus home sleep apnea testing when it fits.
- Clinical assistant professor at the medical schools of NSU, FIU and FAU.
Care for patients from Sunrise
- Circadian rhythm disorders
- Narcolepsy & hypersomnia
- Sleep studies
- Sleep apnea
- Concierge medicine
- Office location and hours
Also near the office: Las Olas, Wilton Manors, Dania Beach, Oakland Park, Lauderhill, Plantation, Hollywood, Hallandale Beach, Davie, Tamarac, Pompano Beach, Lighthouse Point, Pembroke Pines, Miramar, Aventura, Deerfield Beach, Coral Springs, Weston, Parkland, Boca Raton, Delray Beach
Common questions
Do you have a location in Sunrise?
No. The practice has a single office, at 1319 S.E. 2nd Avenue in Fort Lauderdale. Patients from Sunrise come there, and many follow-ups can be done by video.
What are the office hours if I work nights?
The office is open Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Ask for a time that sits best around your shift, or use telehealth for follow-ups.
Can shift work really be treated?
The schedule may not change, but how you time sleep, light and naps around it often can. Dr. Ruiz builds that plan with you.
Could my tiredness be narcolepsy?
It is possible but less common. If your history suggests it, he may recommend an overnight study and daytime nap testing to find out.
How far is the office from Sawgrass Mills?
Roughly 12 to 14 miles east, usually 25 to 40 minutes by I-595 and I-95, depending on traffic.
Written by Sleep & Internal Medicine Specialists. Last updated . This page is general information, not medical advice for your situation.
Sources
Schedule an Appointment
Send a request any time, or call Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. 1319 S.E. 2nd Avenue, Fort Lauderdale.