Narcolepsy Forum Posting

Posted by Sammy on June 29, 2001 at 07:45:03:

In Reply to: laughing posted by sleepypreacher on June 29, 2001 at 06:34:02:

Rev,
Wow, your post excited me to lafter (pun) because my severe Cataplexy attacks sound like what u describe. What happens for me is that usually I become paralyzed to the point that I cannot even open my eyes. Then I begin to laff and cry uncontrollably. Sometimes these episodes last for 5 min. and have lasted for just over an hour. Some of the "aura" like symptoms I have noticed prior to an attack is the feeling that I cannot get enuff air & I think what is automatic behavior or thot process. After an attack (my b/p usually elevates a lot!during these) I am extremely tired and need to sleep and do for a long deep nap. I also have noticed during these attacks that if someone within my hearing (i can hear & understand altho i cant speak) says something funny to make me laff or if I think something funny to laff it makes the attack worse and it lasts longer. They are also more pronounced and likely if I am overly exhausted.
The 1st attack like this i had scared the crap out of me & family. Had one in a restraunt one time while family was up ordering, ppl around thot I was drunk, waitress was scared of me which made me laff harder. Of course we sat at a table that was in front of a window so that I was a big vision from the street side. I kept thinking of how I must look to others which made me laff more. Was sitting in my porch swing and fell over with one, hubby was watering flowers didnt realize what was happening & sprayed me with the hose! I was frozen & laffing!! Had a G/F visiting was sitting on the floor fell over, she thot I was fooling around & started throwing pillows at me!! I was defenseless ha!ha! she felt bad when hubby told her what was up, this made me laff more too of course, later told her it was no big deal just makes the attacks more fun for me.
I talked to my neuro/ sleep doc abt this, had a video of one for him. He said it is cataplexy but hasnt seen anyone else with exact thing. The only thing that is difficult for me with these is that (at 1st) my friends became emotionally upset when the tears came. And this is the big one, sometimes I pee my pants. As if being a female with a weak bladder & taking water pills isnt suffering enuff in that area! ha! My neighbor who is a doc, figured out that if someone can give me caffiene right away the attacks r shorter lived. So now family & friends make a pot of coffee right away & dribble it in me when the attack begins to abate then the paralysis goes away.
The part about sometimes it wasnt even funny and u laff. That is the exact thing that happens with me.. I just start laffing!! The 1st attack I was sitting on the couch reading the newspaper, a rather serious article The crying part didnt develope until a little later with these attacks. Sometimes I can manage to speak a word or 2. The 1st attack it was all I could do to get 9 1 1 out. My family thot I was fooling with them, & I thot I was having some kind of a stroke (had 1 already) or more scary thot I was having a mental breakdown.
Well Rev, even tho' we started off a little ruff, it seems we do have something in common.The higher power always knows the plan even tho we dont.
Have u seen A doc yet??
I bet your doc & my doc could share some facinating stuff.
Thanks I really dont feel so different and alone now!!
Peace and Sleep Well
Sammy

Follow Ups:

• Re: laughing... and laughing more........ chucker 02:31 6/30/01 (0)

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