Narcolepsy Forum Posting

Posted by Dawn on November 01, 1999 at 17:43:23:

In Reply to: How long did it take YOU to get diagnosed? posted by John D. Lyle on October 30, 1999 at 06:50:35:

I spent years apparently with the symptoms not knowing they were a problem. Finally during my junior year of college I could see there was definately a problem. I could only stay awake in class if I did not take notes and did not hear what the prof was saying. I could not study alone. I had trouble making it to class as I would not hear my alarm. This was an especially amazing feat as I slept in a loft a foot and a half from the ceiling and had to climb down to hit the snooze button (which I apparently did regularly in my sleep). I went to the school nurse and explained the situation. I had kept track of my sleep hours and sleepy urges. She recommended a sleep test. I went to school not far from Hershey Medical in Hershey PA were they have a sleep lab. It was one of the few around ten years ago. I discussed it with my parents. Since my father fortunately had BC/BS with Major Medical, there was no need for a referral so there was no doctor to argue with. The only stipulation was this: my parents and brother had started family counseling due to issues with my brother. My mother suddenly decided I was nuts and needed a shrink. While I now firmly believe everyone should be assigned one at birth, at the time I was very bitter about that since when I thought I needed to see someone in high school, my mom gave me the "you are the all-American, well adjusted kid. you aren't a trouble maker, you have good grades, you are fine." (Amazing the thought process at that age!!!) Anyway, the deal was they would pay whatever the insurance did not (sometimes the hospital makes you pay the 20% non-covered part of an outpatient lab) as long as I did what they told me. (my mothers thoughts of course being they would prescribe a psychiatrist.) I went in, got tested including a physical, blood work, psychological tests and sleep tests (over night and daytime naps), got diagnosed and went home on Ritalin within 24 hours. My family doctor had no problem with the diagnosis and treatment prescribed. My current doctor also had no problem, though he sees me a little more regularly than the former. The former saw me once a year and filled scripts upon request in between. My current doctor is not overly well read on the subject, but does research as things come up that he or I question. The provigil is the most recent example. He did some checking and wanted me to try it. I am not sure I like it, but I am giving it a fair try. So all said and done, I decided there was a problem, got tested and diagnosed in less than 1 year.

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