Narcolepsy

[livingwith]

I’m actually not sure if I have narcolepsy, nor ever considered it as a possiblity. I am going to the doctor when my insurance from my new job kicks in to be tested for it. I only fall asleep during the day or during wierd times if I haven’t had enough sleep the night before. I have even fell asleep during sex before. (Very embarrasing, i might add.)
I fall asleep so quick, like my head hits the pillow and i’m out, sometimes its very hard for me to wake up, sometimes i wa...Read the full article

[christoph]

Hi my name is chris. What you describe is very possible Narco. I use pot to stop the vivid dreaming. I
know they use the known rape drug to do the same thing .

[christinagrace]

Hey there. I am in the same boat - I haven't been diagnosed, but did see a sleep doctor for an initial visit but haven't been back yet. I too have the very strange sleep paralysis and hallucinations. I thought the EXACT same thing, like it felt I was having seizures and in fact that is how I described it to the doctor. He thought possibly narcolepsy. He also asked if I felt tingly or numb when I experience the ridiculous extreme sleepiness and yes, actually I do. It is so bad that literally if I were to be questioned by a cop when it happens I'd be arrested for being on drugs or drunk - my speech slurs and everything. My question is has anyone experienced this, but suffered insomnia at night time? I struggled for years to fall asleep at night and actually this is when the symptoms above started. I do now sleep at night with the help of prescribed sleep meds and can honestly say that the paralysis and hallucinations have reduced dramatically since I began taking them. It use to happen to me EVERY SINGLE TIME I TRIED FALLING ASLEEP. Ive always had very vivid dreams, even as child, but this sleeping disorder, the insomnia, and narcolepsy (if that's what it is) ONLY started during a time period when I had back problems and was on high doses of narcotic pain meds. I spent years on and off the meds, ultimately becomming hooked. I am now off all forms of narcotics, for over a year, but the sleep problems continue. My question would be, can frequent use of opiates CAUSE sleep disorders, such as insomnia and narcolepsy? My thinking is maybe yes since the opiates mess with the chemicals and receptors in your brain, so maybe it messed other stuff up in my brain resulting in the sleeping problems...Every doctor I've asked said no, but I still think I'm on to something..

[christoph]

Hi Christine Number one I'm not a doctor but I've experienced a few in my day. My conclustion was that with all there support you are the one that has to put the two and two together and then life carries on. So in reading your experiences I can see a much resemblance to narcolepsi. I will ask questions like, age now, do you fall asleep driving at any time, or have a hard time attending a class or church session. Fall asleep watching T.V., or even at a movie theatre. Were you in the back seat on the sunday drives and always falling asleep. Do you now adays feel exhausted all the time you want to just lay down or lay your head down. Will you nod off and start dreaming around lunch. Do you sit down after a days work and find it impossible to listen to your mate without falling asleep. MY WIFE WOULD SAY "YOUR NOT LISTENING and I would " uh I'm listing no your not your falling asleep. Then she would start to tell her stories and there I go again. Oh well. The bottom line is , your system both mental and physical does not get that good recovery time and in which case your both mental and physical system will run slugess. So now the doc will give you those uppers to keep those invisible toothpicks in your eyes but in the meantime everybody around you sees those tooth picks sticking in your brain while your running through life like the old chicken and headchoping storey. And because
your trying you end up doing worse. I have some major stories I can share. So whatch those prescribed drugs. I will mention I have a 16 year old and again the good old docs. what a mess.
if your interesred he is now average to above average grade ten. No more tourets, and more, and not from the docs. It seems in life we all have our own address but the docs still work under the junk mail system where it will work on some. Children today is all ADHD . WHAT A PAINTBRUSH!

[christinagrace]

Hi Christoph. thank you for your response - i was beginning to worry i wouldnt get any. Yes, I think I do have it. You know for a WHILE i thought i was REALLY going crazy and didnt even tell anyone about the strange sleep paralysis, hallucinations, etc. I would get stuck in between sleep and awake and HEAR all kinds of loud frightening noises - very abstract - and it would feel as though my brain was being shocked - or more it would SOUND like that..like an electrical short.. very very strange.. but the paralysis was becomming such a problem and so frightening I HAD to go to a sleep doctor... when I finally confided in him, he did say it was most likely narcolepsy.. but still didnt say those experiences were common.. coming on here, finally and seeing that 1) Im NOT crazy and 2) many people experience these things has been really comforting and helpful. I do have very bad daytime sleepiness.. I have not yet actually fallen asleep inappropriately.. I DO fall asleep, but only on the bus, in the car, and when I am home on the weekends, I will sit down and put my head back and conk out --never for long always less than an hour and usually about 20 minutes.. I wake up feeling GREAT, but then get sleepy withing a few hours again.. I just turned 29 and have believed for many years that it was just my lifestyle that was making me so sleepy.. I am a mom (I have one 11 yr old son) and I have a full time NYC job, between the job and the commute, i have a very long day... am out of the house from 6 am - 6:30 pm. At work, when the sleepiness hits, the only thing I can do to alleviate it a little is get up and take a walk. sometimes ill go run water on my face, get a cup of coffee, or just lap the office. It does help me stay awake. sometimes ill just close my eyes for a few minutes. I have to reiterate the Lunesta and Rozarem mix that I am taking now have pretty much alleviated the hallucinations and paralysis.. it only happens rarely now - more often when I try to take a nap, but not at night time too much. I rarely dream, but when I DO have them they are very very real and at least once a month I have such a vivid dream that Im still having it 2 minutes after ive waken up and even gotten up out of bed, still thinkign im dreaming.. a few months ago, i dreampt someone was in my sons closet and actually woke up, ran into his room dragged him out of bed, woke up my husband, screaming the whole time..this all while I was awake, but still dreaming.. Honestly dont want to take any more meds in my life. Will try to never have ot take anything to stay awake, although I suppose if it gets too bad, Ill be left with no choice.. its all very depressing.

[christoph]

Christine just look up. We have to live with it . If your tired sleep. Just watch out for the other drugs that the docs give. Your mind can wander in all directions and an important part of lif e starts to droft and that is trust. Remember they don't understand this tired feeling. But I will tell you the mood swings
or that small fuse some days look out, I guess it comes with the package. Try to bite the bullet because life can get ugly if you don't. Unless they all know you by now. If they say you yell alot well thats part of the package or maybe its just me. Did I tell you about the Narcoleptic specialist the first doc I saw. He is no longer here , family man, kids early 20's he was 50 when I met him . He also suffered from narcolepsy. He looked like a burnt out 68 year old. He end his own at 54 or so. WOW!!!!
Why? JUST DON"T GO THERE PISS ON THE REST AND GET YOUR REST AND WATCH THOSE WELL PRESCRIBED DRUGS THEY CAN FOOL YOU. I hope these words are not to strong . They are all fact..