hi,I have one child and would love for him to have a sibling, however, I have fears of my narcolepsy getting worse after delivery. I do not have cataplexy, i had my son naturally and had a very difficult labor and delivery and post delivery. does anyone know of their N getting worse or know what the "stats" are on that happening.
Chances Of Narcolepsy Getting Worse With Pregnancy/Delivery
Started by
sleepycj
, Aug 31 2010 11:19 PM
5 replies to this topic
#2
mayfield
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Posted 02 September 2010 - 12:23 PM
Hmm...I wasn't diagnosed until after my 3 kids were born, but I don't feel like my symptoms got worse. I mean being pregnant and having a newborn are stressful times when everyone is exhausted and my symptoms were exacerbated at those points, but that wasn't permanent. Also, I had a difficult labor with my first and the second two births were nothing like that. After my last one, I was out running 6 days after he was born (not recommending that...I'm a serious runner and ran up until he was born, but the recovery was super easy. I didn't have any stitches or anything).
Do you feel like your first child made your symptoms worse? Did your difficult labor have anything to do with N?
Do you feel like your first child made your symptoms worse? Did your difficult labor have anything to do with N?
#3
sleepycj
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Posted 02 September 2010 - 01:49 PM
[quote name='mayfield' date='02 September 2010 - 02:23 PM' timestamp='1283448185' post='14299']
Hmm...I wasn't diagnosed until after my 3 kids were born, but I don't feel like my symptoms got worse. I mean being pregnant and having a newborn are stressful times when everyone is exhausted and my symptoms were exacerbated at those points, but that wasn't permanent. Also, I had a difficult labor with my first and the second two births were nothing like that. After my last one, I was out running 6 days after he was born (not recommending that...I'm a serious runner and ran up until he was born, but the recovery was super easy. I didn't have any stitches or anything).
Do you feel like your first child made your symptoms worse? Did your difficult labor have anything to do with N?
[/quote
Thanks for your input. I am not sure what made my symptoms worse. My biggest concern is that I will develop cataplexy. I am wondering if maybe if I do get pregnant that scheduling a CSection would elivart the chance of it getting worse. Did you stay on your meds while you were" trying" to conceive? I am on nuvigil and would like to stay on it until I know I am pregnant. I need to be awake for my son as much as possible. I feel like it is a leep of faith? Also, did you have any trouble conceiving...if you were on or off your meds. If you do not feel comfortable answering any questions that is ok with me, I appreciate. Any info you share.
Hmm...I wasn't diagnosed until after my 3 kids were born, but I don't feel like my symptoms got worse. I mean being pregnant and having a newborn are stressful times when everyone is exhausted and my symptoms were exacerbated at those points, but that wasn't permanent. Also, I had a difficult labor with my first and the second two births were nothing like that. After my last one, I was out running 6 days after he was born (not recommending that...I'm a serious runner and ran up until he was born, but the recovery was super easy. I didn't have any stitches or anything).
Do you feel like your first child made your symptoms worse? Did your difficult labor have anything to do with N?
[/quote
Thanks for your input. I am not sure what made my symptoms worse. My biggest concern is that I will develop cataplexy. I am wondering if maybe if I do get pregnant that scheduling a CSection would elivart the chance of it getting worse. Did you stay on your meds while you were" trying" to conceive? I am on nuvigil and would like to stay on it until I know I am pregnant. I need to be awake for my son as much as possible. I feel like it is a leep of faith? Also, did you have any trouble conceiving...if you were on or off your meds. If you do not feel comfortable answering any questions that is ok with me, I appreciate. Any info you share.
#4
mayfield
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Posted 02 September 2010 - 04:25 PM
I wasn't on any meds when i had my kids. But no caffeine meant me = 
I'm not sure if/how pregnancy would set off cataplexy when you don't have it now. It didn't permanently change any of my N symptoms. I'm also not sure if you think a c section would be better or worse? I had a c section with my first and it sucked. Exhausted beyond exhausted. It was all I could do to nurse the baby. (this was not a scheduled c section, though, which I guess you could prepare for). Had VBACs for the other two and they were much easier. But everyone is different.
I did not have problems conceiving. I know this isn't true for everyone, so I am very grateful for that.
Anyway, talk to your doc about your plans and figure out some coping strategies ahead of time and what meds might be okay. I also think that being in the best shape you can be (emotionally, physically) is important. If your last birth was particularly traumatizing and you have a lot of anxiety about it...talk to someone and be proactive about doing what you can to have a better experience. Hire a doula, or change doctors, get a baby nurse. Having a child is a leap of faith for everyone. every time. anywhere. It sounds like you really want another baby, so I hope you are able to find a decision that you are comfortable with. Good luck to you!
I'm not sure if/how pregnancy would set off cataplexy when you don't have it now. It didn't permanently change any of my N symptoms. I'm also not sure if you think a c section would be better or worse? I had a c section with my first and it sucked. Exhausted beyond exhausted. It was all I could do to nurse the baby. (this was not a scheduled c section, though, which I guess you could prepare for). Had VBACs for the other two and they were much easier. But everyone is different.
I did not have problems conceiving. I know this isn't true for everyone, so I am very grateful for that.
Anyway, talk to your doc about your plans and figure out some coping strategies ahead of time and what meds might be okay. I also think that being in the best shape you can be (emotionally, physically) is important. If your last birth was particularly traumatizing and you have a lot of anxiety about it...talk to someone and be proactive about doing what you can to have a better experience. Hire a doula, or change doctors, get a baby nurse. Having a child is a leap of faith for everyone. every time. anywhere. It sounds like you really want another baby, so I hope you are able to find a decision that you are comfortable with. Good luck to you!
#5
Samantha
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Posted 23 September 2010 - 08:53 AM
Hi! This is something I'm way interested in as I'm pregnant with my second and got my diagnosis after I had my first. Though I'm sure everyone is different and because it happened to me definitely doesn't mean it will happen to somone else, I'll say that since I've gotten pregnant this time around I have noticed a definite change in my symptoms. Obviously the sleepiness is a thousand times worse, but I've also been having cataplectic attacks which I've never before experienced. Also, I've started noticing the hypnogogic hallucinations and the sleep paralysis. I didn't notice them until my second trimester.
#6
Sleepy Head
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Posted 06 December 2010 - 11:02 AM
Hello: I was so glad to read your posting. Not that I am glad that this is happening to someone but I don't feel quite so alone with what has been happening to me.
I was recently diagnosed with Narcolepsy this past spring. I have always had issues with being tired and able to sleep whenever and wherever. I had a child in 2007 and the symptoms never got better so I went to the doctor and was diagnosed. I recently have become pregnant with my second child (just hit 2nd trimester) and have noticed the symptoms have worsened. I am so tired that I feel I am cheating my daughter out of my attention but I can't help it, I can't stay awake. The worst things though is that 1) I don't trust myself to drive so that is affecting my husband's daily routine (I work full-time) and 2) I have these spells of complete loss of energy when I laugh, which I think is cataplexy. I can't wait to get back on my meds but at this point I have a good 6 months to go. I just pray I don't pass this condition on to my kids, if it is in fact hereditary.
I was recently diagnosed with Narcolepsy this past spring. I have always had issues with being tired and able to sleep whenever and wherever. I had a child in 2007 and the symptoms never got better so I went to the doctor and was diagnosed. I recently have become pregnant with my second child (just hit 2nd trimester) and have noticed the symptoms have worsened. I am so tired that I feel I am cheating my daughter out of my attention but I can't help it, I can't stay awake. The worst things though is that 1) I don't trust myself to drive so that is affecting my husband's daily routine (I work full-time) and 2) I have these spells of complete loss of energy when I laugh, which I think is cataplexy. I can't wait to get back on my meds but at this point I have a good 6 months to go. I just pray I don't pass this condition on to my kids, if it is in fact hereditary.
