Narcolepsy Forum Posting

Posted by Alex_C on December 06, 2000 at 17:46:03:

In Reply to: Re: Diagnosis pending--help me out here... posted by Greg in Oregon on December 04, 2000 at 23:06:21:

Thanks so much for such an insightful and entertaining response--too few are able to successfully convey sarcasm in writing.

The exercise thing really gets me, too. I was a skier, beginning at age 3 and racing every day after school, hiking up hills with my skis on my shoulder, etc. I also ran track and played just about any sport you can think of, recreationally. Yet, to this day, people (including family members) tell me I need to exercise more and that will solve the problem. Nevermind that they are all molded to their recliners with remote in hand and they have absolutely no problem going to sleep.

I think the worst part about it all is that some days I feel relatively ok (as in, I can keep my head in a vertical position) so everyone assumes it is just a phase. I have no control over when it hits me. Even worse are the days when I am so completely exhausted that I can't see straight, and then I CANNOT GO TO SLEEP. Very unnerving.

And, have you noticed it kicks in at the most inopportune times possible? I remember in college writing papers--due the next day--for my English classesand not being able to read, much less write, more than a few pages at a time without passing out. Not only did it take me FOREVER to read a book, but hell if I know what I actually read. God knows what I was thinking when I decided to major in English. As for the job, I somehow got involved in the financial industry, which as we all know, is pretty dependent on one's ability to pay attention to detail. Thank god for Excel macros. Proofreading financial articles lends itself to deep sleep, however.

I was thinking about this at length and I have decided that narcoleptics are all just unable to commit/and or make a decision. Before you all pounce on me, what I mean is that when you are asleep, your body wants to be awake and aware of your surroundings (hence the frequent "arousals"), and while you are awake, it wants to sleep or collapses to bring you closer to a sleep-like state, though not entirely. It can't commit to one or the other. (It makes sense to me, as I can barely decide what to eat for dinner.) Or, it completely removes you from the decision-making process altogether, and you are just constantly subject to the changing whims of your seemingly possessed body. Makes for interesting dinner anecdotes, I suppose. The funniest one I have heard is about a narcoleptic uncle of mine, who used to sell vacuum cleaners door-to-door. You can assume the rest. Let's just say he tended not to make his quota.

That damn provigil is not working like it used to. See, I ended my sentence with a preposition and I don't have the energy to backspace. Such is life.

What was it they said about people being on autopilot...

I am completely off caffeine--is that my only solace if the doc deprives me my diagnosis? Don't even say No-Doz.

I like the idea of sex as a substitute for provigil. Any thoughts anyone? Think I could persuade my employer to write breaks for sex into my contract? Works for me.

Night.

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