do i have narcolepsy?
February 29, 2012 12:58 PM Subscribe
I think i might have narcolepsy... Are there any drawbacks to getting checked and diagnosed?
I noticed that i do doze off during the day, daily, at my desk, and when going to sleep, I dream almost immediately. According to various online sources, this is a symptom of narcolepsy... i work in the gov't, have a high clearance, and just don't want to shoot myself in the foot if i get diagnosed with it... looking back in time, i did well in college, but often fell asleep in class, even had a professor call me narcoleptic... i still got all A's and B's, but had trouble staying awake. This went all the way back to high school really.
I have never fallen asleep while driving, but i know i can fall asleep at moments notice, even when i am trying to stay awake... thanks for any thoughts and suggestions.
I noticed that i do doze off during the day, daily, at my desk, and when going to sleep, I dream almost immediately. According to various online sources, this is a symptom of narcolepsy... i work in the gov't, have a high clearance, and just don't want to shoot myself in the foot if i get diagnosed with it... looking back in time, i did well in college, but often fell asleep in class, even had a professor call me narcoleptic... i still got all A's and B's, but had trouble staying awake. This went all the way back to high school really.
I have never fallen asleep while driving, but i know i can fall asleep at moments notice, even when i am trying to stay awake... thanks for any thoughts and suggestions.
Sleep apnea is way more common than narcolepsy.
posted by Cuspidx at 1:32 PM on February 29, 2012 [4 favorites]
posted by Cuspidx at 1:32 PM on February 29, 2012 [4 favorites]
I have a friend with narcolepsy and it certainly got worse over the years, such that she no longer drives (she fell asleep and hit a schoolbus at low speeds - everyone was fine, but she was understandably Done with trying to drive). The meds don't always seem like a lot of fun, but if getting diagnosed could help you be on meds that would make you able to do things like drive and work longer, that would seem like a win/win.
posted by ldthomps at 1:38 PM on February 29, 2012
posted by ldthomps at 1:38 PM on February 29, 2012
Yeah, dozing off often is a common indicator of severe sleep apnea-- which is pretty easily treatable with a CPAP machine. I would think that the drawback of not getting diagnosed and treated (including serious health issues like heart problems and increased stroke risk, let alone the non-inconsiderable likelihood of car accidents, etc) far outweigh the 'benefits' of not doing so.
It's not like the problem will just magically stop on its own, you know? Eventually it will become a significant problem that will impact your health, your job, or both. If you get checked out you may be able to treat or mitigate the problem, and without a diagnosis that isn't really possible.
posted by Kpele at 2:15 PM on February 29, 2012
It's not like the problem will just magically stop on its own, you know? Eventually it will become a significant problem that will impact your health, your job, or both. If you get checked out you may be able to treat or mitigate the problem, and without a diagnosis that isn't really possible.
posted by Kpele at 2:15 PM on February 29, 2012
No drawbacks, you go in for a sleep test, and then an MLST. Other than hospital food and goop in your hair to hold the electrodes in, it's ok. Once the results are back, you're diagnosed with a level of severity.
I was such, and the medication has changed everything. Some people react well to it, some people don't. I'm on Nuvigil right now, take it in the morning with a double espresso. It's worth the full price I pay (insurance doesn't cover it).
posted by Upal at 11:20 PM on February 29, 2012
I was such, and the medication has changed everything. Some people react well to it, some people don't. I'm on Nuvigil right now, take it in the morning with a double espresso. It's worth the full price I pay (insurance doesn't cover it).
posted by Upal at 11:20 PM on February 29, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Jairus at 1:23 PM on February 29, 2012