8 replies to this topic

[WillRickard]

Hey, i'm 15 and I think that I have the N(narcolepsy).

 

Before 12 I am ok, I concentrate at school and feel very alert. After lunch, around 1:30 I get tired, but not tired as I used to feel, somewhat worse. This usually lasts about 60-90 minutes, sometimes I can fight through it very well and sort of not let it get to me, but then some days I just nearly fall asleep, I basically sit in a lesson pretending to rub my eyes just so I can close them. 

 

When I get home I usually feel ok until around 5 when I have to have a power nap for around 12 minutes, sometimes 24 minutes because I get that tired!! (Yikes). I literally feel my eyes jumping back and forth within a matter of seconds (REM sleep), sometimes I have little dreams about my eyes jumping as if i'm like going through a warp hole, horrible. 

 

I usually sleep between 8-10 hours, it doesn't matter how long I sleep, it's always bad. I wake up once in a while from kicking, this sometimes hurts especially when I kick the end of my bed!! Or if i'm on a train and kick someone in front of me(I always sleep on trains). 

 

I sometimes hallucinate, when I do it's horrible, either visible and very rarely sound hallucinations will happen. The hallucinations usually happen if I fall asleep with earphones in, i think that i must fall into REM sleep, then be asleep but my eyes are open which is usually when i turn my music off. I look up and there is always something odd about my door, nothing there just it looks scary.

 

I have always suffered from night terrors, sleep walking and sleep talking, I always talk in my sleep- but all of that happened when I was younger and N doesn't begin until 15-30. 

 

My Dad is the same, but he's never had a diagnosis, he power naps loads, kicks my step-mum and sleep talks/walks on trains.

 

I guess if my Dad survived without meds, I should be ok, but I think mine maybe more severe, what do you guys think? Is it N or not?

[DeathRabbit]

I would guess N is less likely than your sleep being disrupted by the nocturnal activities, night terrors, etc. It definitely warrants getting looked, because you probably have some sort of NREM parasomnia it sounds to me. http://en.wikipedia....wiki/ParasomniaThe reason you do fall into REM sleep so easily/quickly if I had to guess would be the sleep deprivation due to the aformentioned. That's one of the reasons N is such a difficult thing to diagnose. Someone suffering extreme EDS due to some other cause can often exhibit N like pathology (SOREMs, hypersomnia, etc.) Confront your PCP (perhaps with your DAD, as he might be able to help explain what you're goign thru) and see if he cant recommend you to a sleep specialist.

[WillRickard]

Going to see a doctor, I haven't had sleep walking for 5-6 years. My dad doesn't really sleep walking, shouldn't have said that lol( typo). But thanks, the REM sleep problem made me look it up at first and I wasn't that persuaded by the idea of me having narcolepsy, then i kicked my bed while sleeping and i googled it aswel as other sleepiness and narcolepsy sounds right,.

 

The Doc will know

 

Thanks Will

[DeathRabbit]

Well it depends. Some doctors are not very, how shall I say, responsive to the suggestion of sleep disorders. Some of us PWN have run into doctors that don't even believe N exists, bespite being first discovered in the 1800s. Make sure you're assertive and don't take any of that "Oh, you're just depressed" or "You're just going through hormone changes because you're a teen" bullcrap.

[exanimo]

Night terrors occur out of REM sleep. So if what you are experiencing are night terrors, then they are not related to REM sleep and as DeathRabbit pointed out, less likely N. But, only a PSG and MSLT will be able to tell you.

 

What exactly makes you think you have N? Is it the night terrors? Or being tired? 

 

It is not normal to dream when taking a short nap - this indicates REM sleep. Which normally, people do not fall in to REM until about 90 minutes in to sleeping. So if you are experiencing dreams during shorter naps, this is abnormal. Something to point out to the doc when you see them. 

 

But don't rule out other things. There are many things that can cause fatigue, and even hallucinations during sleeping. Your doctor will most likely want to rule out these possibilities first (blood tests, etc) before referring you to a sleep specialist or neurologist. 

 

Good luck!

[Bobbie]

Pretty much sounds like Narcolepsy to me.  I've had it most of my 70 years.  The kicking is a typical symptom (restless leg syndrome).

The hallucinations in kind of a half awake, half asleep state.  Very scary dreams, very real feeling of danger.  And it all seems so real!  I think you should go ahead and see a sleep specialist.  I have had full blown dreams in just seconds.  I can also hear what is going on around me when I am taking a nap.  I've experienced many other novel things over the years with this stuff and it hasn't brought me down yet!  Sounds like your Dad figured out a way to deal also.  You need to have a long talk with him even though he may be reluctant to discuss what he has worked so hard to ignore.  Do yourself a favor and get some help dealing with this.  Maybe if your Dad goes with you, he could improve the quality of his life as well.  It's never too late.  My best wishes to you and to your father.

[WillRickard]

Thanks everyone, you're all really good helpers, I love this site!!

 

I am seeing a GP on Monday, so I guess he will tell me what to do, probs a sleep specialist ? I've also been logging everything that i've been doing, eating, sleeping, exercise, dreams, etc. Just so the Doctor can see the height of how bad it can be at times. It is getting to me a little now, luckily i'm doing my GCSEs which aren't as difficult as A-levels which I start next year, hopefully I will be treated by then.

 

On the treatment side of things...what are the benefits, i've heard that the CNS drugs like Ritalin, maybe not so xyrem and other chemicals can make people border-line genius because they can concentrate better, I have great grades as it is already.. A-A*s, what is it like being on these drugs? 

 

Thanks guys, enjoy your day, Will x

[MINItron]

The reaction to the meds varies greatly from one person to the next. Ritalin made me hyperfocused at first, but I quickly developed a tolerance. I am using Nuvigil now. It works much better, but there it is more even than the traditional stimulants without that overstimulation. It is hard to say how any person will react to any one of the meds.

[DeathRabbit]

Thanks everyone, you're all really good helpers, I love this site!!

 

I am seeing a GP on Monday, so I guess he will tell me what to do, probs a sleep specialist ? I've also been logging everything that i've been doing, eating, sleeping, exercise, dreams, etc. Just so the Doctor can see the height of how bad it can be at times. It is getting to me a little now, luckily i'm doing my GCSEs which aren't as difficult as A-levels which I start next year, hopefully I will be treated by then.

 

On the treatment side of things...what are the benefits, i've heard that the CNS drugs like Ritalin, maybe not so xyrem and other chemicals can make people border-line genius because they can concentrate better, I have great grades as it is already.. A-A*s, what is it like being on these drugs? 

 

Thanks guys, enjoy your day, Will x

The genius stuff is greatly exaggerated. It could help you microfocus for an extended study session to do awesome on a test, but from a day to day basis, it's not so awesome.