Narcolepsy Forum Posting

Posted by meff on November 01, 2004 at 08:35:25:

First of all, I want to give a big thanks for everyone on the forum, I've learned so much from you all..

So, now a little bit about myself.. I am male, 20 years old and I have schizoaffective disorder, and I think I may be narcoleptic.

Ever since I was a young kid, even before my schiz traits became prominent, I have always been, well, tired. I used to sleep most of the day, I never had any motivation, and no interest to do _anything_ in life basically. I know this sounds alot like depression, but over the years (and through many meds) I have learned that it's not.

Around 15 to 16 when my schizoaffective started totally taking over my life, I started hallucinating and hearing voices. I got DX'ed and put on a med for bi-polar and an antipsychotic. As far as antidepressants, it seems I've been through them all, except the tricyclics which I refuse to try for various side effects. I kept thinking this tiredness is just because I am depressed, or a side effect of my other meds, or yadda yadda.. I've finally accepted the fact that I may be narcoleptic.

Around 18, I finally gave up. I went into my psych's office and said that I _need_ something to keep me from being tired all day.. it was just too much for me, being tired and in a haze all day, having that 'heavy' feeling in my head, feeling like I am going to drop into sleep any second, and like I am struggling to stay awake. He listened, and RX'ed me 20mg Ritalin 2 times/day.

I felt amazing. It felt like a new life, an awake life.. an alert life..

Up came 19, and I was still doing pretty good on the Ritalin, but not as good as when I first was on it. I will note that Ritalin has never given me a 'high' so to speak of, just a feeling of being awake and alive again. I was pretty sure by this sign that I needed it, so I continued taking it.

I thought that this may all be because of sleep apnea a little later. so I took a sleep apnea test, and it turned out false. So that is ruled out also. Sometimes I wish I didn't have to take the Ritalin, but comparing to how I feel off of it, I'd hate to not be.

Forward to current time, I am doing OK, but I could be alot better. My current psychiatrist has me on 20mg Ritalin 3 times/day (I usually do 10am-2pm-6pm). This helps alot, but it really could be better. Other than being sleepy all day, it is sometimes hardest at night, but for the opposite reason, I just _can't_ get to sleep some nights, or stay asleep! Argh.. I can't seem to win either way it seems :)

My wife is undergoing some major medical procedures at the moment, and as soon as those are done, I am scheduling a MSLT to get this final, so I won't have to worry about the "do I? or do I not?" anymore. In the mean time, I'd like to go up to 2 20mg at 10am, 1 at 2pm and 1 at 6pm but I am pretty hesitant to ask this of my psych until I get my MSLT done and I am DX'ed, so I need some advice on this.

Does this sound like narcolepsy to you all? And what, if any, tips can any of you offer me for a solution to my sleepy/tiredness, in the mean time if I cannot get raised one more pill before my MSLT?

I know some of you may wonder why my psych is writing me the Ritalin, basically its because I am on Medicaid and there are not many neurologists or sleep specialists here under it, even in a big city like where I am. She said if I get a MSLT back positive for narcolepsy that she will continue managing my Ritalin and possibly other stimulants for me in the future because she knows quite a bit about it.

Thanks you all, and have a good day :)

Follow Ups:

• Re: Is this narcolepsy? Advice needed. Mary 14:29 11/01/04 (0)

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