I have had sleep paralysis and sleep attacks which included mild cataplexy... but lately I have been having these floaty, heady episodes where I feel wispy and faint... like you could push me over. Happens for about 30 sec to 2 min then I am OK. I usually sit down or stop what I am doing to concentrate on the feeling I am having because it is really quite confusing. I don't fall asleep but I do feel really faint.
Does this sound like I am fighting off cataplexy to anyone? I am curious as to what these woozy periods are? They happen about twice a day, sometimes three times. I have a check-up with the doc in next week... thinking about adjusting meds (on vivactil at bedtime and provigil as needed during day).
Gina
Faint, Floating Feeling?
Started by
gurlzylla
, Jun 09 2008 07:54 PM
2 replies to this topic
#2
sleepylama
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Posted 11 June 2008 - 11:58 AM
Gina,
Some of my cataplexy is similar to what you have described. I have weakness, sometimes all over, sometimes just in a few muscles and I have to sit or lean on something. I also have full blown cataplexy. I can almost always tell if I will have full blown attacks by how many light attacks I am having in a day, these where I am just weak and need to rest. Pushing myself too hard and not resting brings on my cataplexy most often, however pain from an arthritic condition I have can bring it on, as can fear or being surprised. Luckily happy emotions have not yet been an issue.
I also wanted to mention I can get a faint and disconnected feeling from my hypoglycemia. I can tell if it is cataplexy or hypoglycemia by whether it will clear up on it's own w/in a few minutes. If it continues to linger and I feel I have just fight through it, usually it is low blood sugar. A glass of milk or OJ or a spoon of peanut butter usually help. Almost always I can trace it to having had a meal about an hour to 2 hours prior. I try very hard to keep my hypoglycemia under control, but every now and then it is still gets away from me. So, usually it is cataplexy, but sometimes it is blood sugar. I just wanted to throw this out there for you because the blood sugar issue had been happening for years before I got a diagnosis. Docs had done many blood sugar tests, but because it isn't full blown diabetes, it never showed up. It took my mother-in-law witnessing it to recognize the issue and test my sugar. From there I had my sugar tested by my doc 1.5 hours after a high carb meal...voila, low blood sugar. I never would have suspected it because I eat healthy, exercise and am very petite...but the docs all said w/all of my other health issues, the body can only take but so much before other things break down as well. ;-)
I hope this helps. Please let me know if I can offer any additional info.
Some of my cataplexy is similar to what you have described. I have weakness, sometimes all over, sometimes just in a few muscles and I have to sit or lean on something. I also have full blown cataplexy. I can almost always tell if I will have full blown attacks by how many light attacks I am having in a day, these where I am just weak and need to rest. Pushing myself too hard and not resting brings on my cataplexy most often, however pain from an arthritic condition I have can bring it on, as can fear or being surprised. Luckily happy emotions have not yet been an issue.
I also wanted to mention I can get a faint and disconnected feeling from my hypoglycemia. I can tell if it is cataplexy or hypoglycemia by whether it will clear up on it's own w/in a few minutes. If it continues to linger and I feel I have just fight through it, usually it is low blood sugar. A glass of milk or OJ or a spoon of peanut butter usually help. Almost always I can trace it to having had a meal about an hour to 2 hours prior. I try very hard to keep my hypoglycemia under control, but every now and then it is still gets away from me. So, usually it is cataplexy, but sometimes it is blood sugar. I just wanted to throw this out there for you because the blood sugar issue had been happening for years before I got a diagnosis. Docs had done many blood sugar tests, but because it isn't full blown diabetes, it never showed up. It took my mother-in-law witnessing it to recognize the issue and test my sugar. From there I had my sugar tested by my doc 1.5 hours after a high carb meal...voila, low blood sugar. I never would have suspected it because I eat healthy, exercise and am very petite...but the docs all said w/all of my other health issues, the body can only take but so much before other things break down as well. ;-)
I hope this helps. Please let me know if I can offer any additional info.
#3
gurlzylla
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Posted 12 June 2008 - 09:21 AM
When I first was having frequent sleep attacks, I thought it was hypoglycemia. I even tried glucose tablets... to no avail, I'd fall asleep with the tablet in my mouth! My doc did bloodwork and said my glucose levels were great: not high, not low. But, I kept feeling weak and falling asleep! Neither one of us is wrong for thinking of hypo... after all it is more common than narcolepsy.
I really thought it was blood sugar and kept going with the tabs, or juice, or fruit..... but it did not work! I do feel a change when I get peckish (2-3 hours after missing a meal).... but it is more of a dizzy feeling. My husband tries to encourage me to eat when I have the faint feeling... but by the time he gets something I am better. Most of the faint episodes are 30 sec to a minute.... I have had a couple o beyond that... but they resolve themselves if I sit down.
Thanks for your advice... looks like we narcs. think alike!
I really thought it was blood sugar and kept going with the tabs, or juice, or fruit..... but it did not work! I do feel a change when I get peckish (2-3 hours after missing a meal).... but it is more of a dizzy feeling. My husband tries to encourage me to eat when I have the faint feeling... but by the time he gets something I am better. Most of the faint episodes are 30 sec to a minute.... I have had a couple o beyond that... but they resolve themselves if I sit down.
Thanks for your advice... looks like we narcs. think alike!
