2 replies to this topic

[Meranda004]

My name is Meranda and I am 26 yrs old. I am married with 2 children and live in Nashville, TN. I own a child care center. I had my first appt with a sleep specialist today. I know it sounds dumb, but it took me 12 years to figure out something was really wrong with me *sleep wise* and that I was not just a lazy person. My sleep study is next Wednesday night and I am just hoping so much that I can finally get some help & feel normal for the first time in 12 years. This all started when I was around 14. I don't know what my diagnosis will be until another week or two. I just know I am so tired and I see hallucinations going to & waking up from sleep and I have RARELY woken up feeling paralyzed. Also, when I wake up in the mornings I feel like I have not been to sleep at all. I am so tired ALL THE TIME even if I have something serious or important to attend to I still cannot force myself to get up. My poor husband literally has to drag me out of the bed, dress me & drag me to my car so I can get to work. I feel so bad for my kids like I am the worst mother ever b/c I can't stay awake for them. Anyway, I am looking forward to meeting all of you and hearing your stories. I really need a support group because nobody understands what I am dealing with. Everybody just thinks I am lazy.

[WakeChallenged]

Hi Meranda,

I had to laugh when I read your message; not that I was laughing at you but all I could think was "welcome to our world." I don't think anyone on this network would think it was dumb that it took 12 years to figure out you had a sleep problem. It took roughly 25 years before I was diagnosed with Narcolepsy. I have been tired and exhausted my entire life, ever since I was a small child. One more thing...we all know how you feel because we feel the same way, been there done that. You are right, people that don't have Narcolepsy or Idiopathic Hypersomnia have no clue of the struggles we deal with everyday. Good luck on your sleep study!

[sleepytymegal]

Well said. I, too, have always been sleepy. I used to fall asleep in 1st grade. I was probably 50 before I was diagnosed. My mother apologized for all the years she just thought I was lazy :roll:

Meranda, I am happy for you that you will be diagnosed much younger than I and that by now there is so much more info and some reasonably helpful meds. I don't know what normal is...but all those dreams certainly wear one out!