Are you narcoleptic, or do you know anyone who is?

Question

I have noticed that there have been a few questions on Narcolepsy on here and I got to thinking; how many people here have Narcolepsy or know anyone who does? (I am Narcoleptic, and my sister is too.)

My Neurologist told me that experts think that as many as 1 in 2500 people may be Narcoleptic, which means that with the amount of people who post on here, logically there must be some Narcoleptics amongst them, or there must be quite a few people who know a Narcoleptic.

I am just intrigued as to how many Narcoleptics there are out there. Oh, and if anyone has the foggiest idea why, in the UK, Narcolepsy is not considered a disability can they let me know that too?!

Oh, and to those people who find it amusing to make jokes about Necrophilia....I'm not going to get all het up and angry, it's not worth it! Although having said that; when my sister was rushed to hospital with a suspected burst appendix, my brother did warn the Dr that he had to be aware of the fact that she had Necrophilia! She rapidly corrected him, but you could see the Dr thinking "What the hell has that got to do with anything?, still, we'd better lock the morgue!"

MicksMixx, Sleep Paralysis is a classic symptom of Cataplexy, which generally always goes "hand in hand" with Narcolepsy. I don't consider myself disabled, I have a condition which will be with me for life, it just annoys me that with 2 small children to care for I have to find a job to help my family survive, when I have a friend who gets financial assistance (disability benefit) for being overweight. It would just be a huge weight off my mind to have some financial help, even if it just meant not having to pay for my prescriptions. Good luck to you!

Answer 1

I'm, apparently, 'borderline' narcoleptic, though I have no idea what the heck borderline is meant to be. To me, you either have it or you don't.

I do fall asleep inappropriately (such as during a meal, when drinking a cup of tea, or when talking to someone) but I'm not taking treatment to combat it. The doctors insist that the steroids needed would interfere with the working of other steroids that I presently take.

Initially, it was assumed that my blood sugar was dropping unexpectedly, as I was an in-patient in my local hospital due to diabetes complications. Obviously, tests revealed that my blood sugar hadn't dropped, so they tested me for low blood pressure. I already have postural hypotension (low blood pressure on standing, which would be rather difficult seeing as I'm in a wheelchair) due to Addison's disease. This turned out not to be the case.

What I objected to the most was questions from psychiatrists about whether I believed in a 'higher source' such as god. Please tell me what the heck that has to do with anything.

Apparently, I also suffer with sleep paralysis. I wake up suddenly and realise that I can't move my body. I can't even shout out for help.

Still, maybe next time round I'll get a decent body that allows me to function at capacity.

I do hope you are able to cope with your 'disability', if that's what you wish to call it.

Answer 2

I'm narcoleptic. If treated then it isn't a disability because you are functioning fine. If not treated then it is a major disability as you know from experience. It's not like you permanently damaged your spine and you'll never be able to do things like you did before. As long as you pop your Modafinil or whatever you take, you know you can get through the day just like any non-narcoleptic person can. It is a funny disease, hard to understand for those who don't have it so you may feel like you should get some status so that others accept that narcolepsy is a problem. Before, I've been labeled lazy and all sorts but at the end it is a little problem that can easily be corrected with tablets. Have fun, and enjoy the fact that you are special but not in a life threatening way (as long as you don't fall asleep driving!)

Answer 3

I had a second cousin who was narcoleptic and I think it's disgusting that the UK doesn't accept it as a disability! That's just awful :o( Maybe it'd be an idea to kick up a fuss at the government or something. There's so many thing this country allows as a disability but they're ignoring something that actually is. I imagine it's quite a difficult problem to live with, I don't know my second cousin that well, unfortunately.
<3

Answer 4

Does that mean you like to have sex a lot? No? Ok does that mean you can sleep through sex?

Answer 5

Sorry, what was the question I just woke up.

Answer 6

sorry, i havent met any...

Answer 7

isnt that somone that has sex with dead people?