Narcolepsy, anyone? Options

[*Kathleen*]

Uhh. I think I have it, but I'm scared to go to the doctor's. I was just.. wondering if anyone has this and if they could tell me what to expect by going to the doctor's.

[*WHIMSICAL 0NE*]

One of the councilors at my school has Narcolepsy. She's on medication for it though, because it got to the point of where she couldn't drive because her muscles would freak out or she'd just fall asleep. I'm pretty sure it would be quite scary to just see someone fall over like that. I would suggest to just read through the effects of it and make sure it's really waht you think you have. I'm pretty sure it can be genetic, or at least may happen because you have a genetic predisposition to it, so a big indicator could be if other people in your family have it.

They will more than likey do a sleep study on you and take your blood to test for the gene of narcolepsy. There's lots of good information if you search for "diagnosing narcolepsy"

[*Duchess of Dork*]

Crap crap, Kathleen. I know next to nothing about the subject and I refuse to give you a googled or wiki'd response to something you are genuinely concerned about. What I will do though is ask the doctors I work with (since they are Peds, 0-18 ages typically) and let you know what they say either here or via PM.

Hope you're alright.

[*Kathleen*]

^ Yeah.. that's why I was wondering whether or not people on here had it. I didn't really want to put my health in Google's hands. Meh. But thank you. I think I just might go to the doctor's. I don't believe I have any family members that have been diagnosed with it.

[*Duchess of Dork*]

I talked to one of the Peds ED docs just a minute ago and a couple of things -

1) Can be hereditary, but isn't necessarily always the case

2) More often than not, there is a more common diagnosis, such as sleep apnea. How well do you sleep?

She also said that true narcolepsy is very dangerous, very serious because people have fallen asleep at the wheel of their car, walking down the street, etc. It happens without any warning and you are completely out. So it's not like you're perpetually drifting off to sleep or anything. You're like, wide awake and a second later, without warning, completely asleep.

[*Statues/Shadows*]

Kathleeeeeeeeen, you should totally be a narcoleptic stripper!!


But on a more serious note, didn't you have insomnia before?
There's this kid who's always asleep in the band room- he can fall asleep holding a tuba between times he has to play- and we weren't sure if he was narcoleptic, but I happened to be browsing a magazine and saw a description that fit him perfectly. I could find the article for you, and seei f that or any of the other sleep disorders seem to fit, but then you'd be taking health advice from a teen magazine, which might not be a great lot more reliable than google.

[*Kathleen*]

I talked to one of the Peds ED docs just a minute ago and a couple of things -

1) Can be hereditary, but isn't necessarily always the case

2) More often than not, there is a more common diagnosis, such as sleep apnea. How well do you sleep?

She also said that true narcolepsy is very dangerous, very serious because people have fallen asleep at the wheel of their car, walking down the street, etc. It happens without any warning and you are completely out. So it's not like you're perpetually drifting off to sleep or anything. You're like, wide awake and a second later, without warning, completely asleep.

Mrrrm. Then it may not be narcolepsy. Whew. What exactly is sleep apnea?

Kathleeeeeeeeen, you should totally be a narcoleptic stripper!!
But on a more serious note, didn't you have insomnia before?
There's this kid who's always asleep in the band room- he can fall asleep holding a tuba between times he has to play- and we weren't sure if he was narcoleptic, but I happened to be browsing a magazine and saw a description that fit him perfectly. I could find the article for you, and seei f that or any of the other sleep disorders seem to fit, but then you'd be taking health advice from a teen magazine, which might not be a great lot more reliable than google.

Yes.. I used to have insomnia. I mean.. I haven't slept much up until these past few weeks were it seems as if I'm narcoleptic.

[*Duchess of Dork*]

I actually just borrowed one of the doctor's books here and here's what it said:

Sleep Apnea - central and/or peripheral apnea during sleep, associated w/ frequent awakening and often with daytime sleepiness.

Sleep induced apnea - apnea resulting from failure of the respiratory center to stimulate adequate respiration during sleep; divided into respiratory pause (cessation of air flow for less than 10 seconds) and apneic pause (cessation of air flow greater than 10 seconds)

Apnea, in short refers to the absence of breathing (coming from the word apnoia, want of breath).

There's a number of diagnostic evaluations your physician could perform. This also might help you with any ongoing insomnia issues you may have.


(PS - Physician books, journals, articles RULE. heee)

[OhMyAnniee]

Wow, I've never heard of this.
It sounds dangerous & scary.
I hope you're fine, though.
I think you should go to a doctor, just in case.
It would really ... clear things up.
You could just be overreacting, you know?