Narcolepsy

[Guest]

I'm having an increasing sleep problem with something that I don't think is typical for Narcolepsy, but it's very disturbing.

For years I've had a disrupted sleep cycle, usually staying up all night then falling asleep finally at 6 or 7:00 AM. Recently, something has changed. If I sit down and relax, to read a book, watch a TV show or even when I'm eating, I will suddenly black out. That's the only way to describe it because one minute I'm awake and the next I'm not.

When this happens, I might sleep for minutes or hours. And, if I'm holding a book or a fork, for example, when I wake up they are exactly where they were when I fell asleep. Apparently I don't move at all. A few days ago I fell asleep while eating dinner (from a TV tray, so I was sitting in a lounge chair) and woke up 7 hours later, in exactly the same position, still holding the fork. Usually, though, I only sleep for a few minutes up to an hour or two. My husband has found me during the night or in the morning with my face lying on the keyboard of the computer because if nothing supports my head, it simply droops, then falls forward.

Otherwise,though, during the day I am only normally tired if I've worked hard but usually I have a lot of strength and energy. I only fall asleep if I'm very relaxed. My husband is now so concerned about it, he's afraid to leave me alone.

To add to this, I seem to be developing a slight tremor in my hands. Not there all the time and not extreme, and I also had an episode yesterday when the tip of my tongue and the outer edges of my lips were numb, as well as the tips of all 10 toes and a feeling of numbness up my shins to the knees, and I am having difficulty swallowing as though there's a throat obstruction, but there isn't actually an obstruction. I have a back problem, so I don't know if this is related to spinal stenosis and compressed disks or the sleep problem.

Does this sound like narcolepsy? I am scheduled for an MRA of the brain, which my doctor says is not to be confused with an MRI Also, he has referred me to a neurologist.

Is this all typical of Narcolepsy or some other neurological disorder? I want to know what's going on and of course, I'll listen to what I'm told by the neurologist, but I like to have some control and knowledge of my own medical conditions.

Thanks for any help.

Geri

[Jesse's girl]

I'm not a doctor but I have narcolepsy and I have done a lot of research on it. It doesn't sound like narcolepsy to me. The only symptom that narcoleptics have that you've discribed is the sudden falling asleep. However, while researching narcolepsy I've learned that people with sleep apnea experience falling asleep at abnormal times also. I was told by my doctor that if you snore, it's a strong sign of sleep apnea. I don't think you have either. I'm sorry I'm not much help of what you do have but I don't think it's narcolepsy.

[Hibit]

The sudden falling asleep sounds like Narcolepsy.
I have had insomnia before (when its treated i don't count it), and even though I couldn't sleep I would lay in bed and ''pretend'' that I was sleeping. Maybe you should try that at night, even though you aren't on a usual sleep schedule, and then stay awake the following day (well, at least don't purposely go to bed), and maybe that will help you. I've had to do that several times when I've gotten into that 'stay up late, sleep late' cycle.

Is the MRA part of the regular sleep study?