Narcolepsy Forum Posting

Posted by ExhaustedMom on December 02, 2000 at 07:52:56:

In Reply to: Re: Went to MD, he doesn't believe in N! posted by MD with N on December 02, 2000 at 00:35:27:

Thanks so much for the support. I do fully intend to get a second, and even a third opinion. I am an RN, but work in dialysis, so my exposure to this sort of thing is rare, so I was taken aback by my MD's almost laughing manner when I asked about the results of my sleep test. I did have one done, and basically it was to rule out sleep apnea, due to the fact I have asthma, and he thought I wasn't breathing well at night. I had a copy of the report sent to me, also, and my REM sleep was almost immediately after I fell asleep- sleep onset 13.5 min, REM onset 14min. The testing was highly suggestive of narcolepsy, but yet, when I went to the MD for follow-up, he told me that the test was NORMAL! I then, having read the test results myself, asked him what he thought about the indication of N, and he kind of chuckled! Then he went thru a whole big dissertation of how they,in the medical field, aren't really sure that that is a medical diagnosis, and that I have been under a lot of stress this past year and 1/2. He sees my father, who is chronically ill, worked with my mother at the hospital(who passed away suddenly last summer of a brain aneurysm) and he knows I have 3 little kids. OK, that would make me tired, sure, but don't just chock up my real concerns as a nutty housewife thing that needs Prozac! I left furious, and really wondering if the Prozac would help in any way, shape or form. Will it interfere with a future sleep study if the sleep MD wants to follow up with the daytime testing? I've only taken it for 2 days, and I would really like to explore the option of the N, and at least be able to get the appropriate tx. I really don't feel it's a depression-related thing, except for the fact that my MD doesn't believe me- that would make me depressed! We have a neurologist in our area who gave up his regular neurology practice to focus only in sleep-related problems. I'm calling Monday to schedule an appt., and I'm seriously thinking about not taking the Prozac until I talk to him. Thanks for the support- I no longer think I'm going nuts, and I am determined to get the benefit of proper treatment. Luckily my insurance will have no problem with seeing another MD. I think maybe he doesn't feel I fit the dx because I don't have the cataplexy s/s. I have the EDS, and have the vivid dreams, and I "see" things late at night before bed- large bugs in the corner of the room, etc. Weird stuff, but not scary. Been doing this as long as I can remember. Used to scare me as a kid. I have been thinking it's a sleep defecit thing for years, but after reading all these forums, I really feel I fit the dx, all except for the cataplexy. But even I, the lowly RN(ha ha) know that you don't have to have every s/s to be diagnosed with something. It's just so frustrating that some medical professionals are so out-dated, and believe we make these things up! I'm glad to know that some are still looking out for the pt. Thanks again!

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