Narcolepsy Forum Posting

Posted by Bev H. on October 28, 1999 at 19:21:37:

In Reply to: Narcolepsey? posted by Ryan on October 27, 1999 at 13:43:24:

Ryan, my sleep tests turned out normal also, but my neurologist, who is also a sleep specialist, felt that my symptoms were significant enough to warrant treatment. Others of us on this forum have had the diagnosis of idiopathic hypersomnia either for lack of test results, or lack of cataplexy. The treatment is the same regardless of the name they give us. Idiopathic just means "don't know why" - hence the idiot part of the word. Hypersomnia - excessive daytime sleepiness. Some states do restrict liscensure, with a narcoleptic diagnosis, others don't. Those that do, I think, allow one to get a liscence once their doctor can testify to the fact that their medication is working sufficiently. Just becoming more informed about the disease is one of the most enabling things you can do. True, you may have to limit your choices of careers, but you can at least make some better decisions about your future since you are learning about it while you are fairly young. I thought the main adjustment I needed to make for working was to find a medication to stay awake. Now I am realizing more some of the things that contribute to the excessive and hyper-vivid dreams, so I would not want to take a job with those conditions. For example, even though I love to teach, I decided not to get a credential. I'd dream about the students all night long, more vividly than in the actual classroom, and then spend the day with them - I began to feel like I couldn't escape their personalities. We all wish you the best, and hope that you get a neurologist that takes you seriously.

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