Thread: Narcolepsy Symptoms

Yes, a person diagnosed with narcolepsy can get a license and drive - it depends on the symptoms, not the diagnosis. I read 95% have "the genes" for narcolepsy and 5% still meet the criteria without the genes. Some can take medication to keep them awake during the day. They may still get episodes of fatigue and not have the stamina of others, like someone else who is tired, perhaps. Or maybe even better than that. Others combat the daytime sleepiness by medication taken at night. A person with narcolepsy does not just have problems with excessive sleepiness in the day - their sleep architecture is messed up. Some meds help that in some people and therefore help the daytime.

A person qualifying for disability also is not determined by diagnosis but by symptom severity and whether or not the symptoms can be alleviated with meds and/or lifestyle changes.

Hi, I'm 32, male and have suffered for some time with sleep issues. I can be on a night out and I will fall asleep anywhere, dancing, standing, out for a meal - it always happens early evening, never in the day. It is embarrassing, I cannot control it, someone flicks a switch and I am gone. Please help.

This information is fantastic. I had a work colleague years ago that had these symptoms and I had no idea what it was he suffered from. He actually had "sleep attacks". I will try to send this page to him. Thanks to everyone.

My wife can sleep any minute of the day and is always tired, does that make her narcoleptic?

She is experiencing some sort of sleep deprivation. To say if it is narcolepsy or a form of sleep apnea or related disorder may not be accurate at once. The usual period for review is thirty days. A visit to the doctor is always recommended. You can however help by observing your wife as she sleeps, if she is snoring excessively or seemingly choking at times during the night, it may be stages of sleep apnea that she is unaare of and needs help. The message here is to go into an observance mode and then take the correct steps after this period. Her sleep position, sleep patterns, elevation of the head, sleep routine are all things you all have to look at.

Thanks for reply. She isn't showing signs of apnea but she has restless leg and twitches constantly. It's possible this deprives her of sleep but I'm not sure if that would make her tired 24/7. She has been to the doctor for that but so far nothing has seemed to work. If we could afford a sleep study we would try that.

That twitching is what may be keeping her from entering that stage of restful sleep we all need. Sleep is divided into various stages and if we are unable to enter into it, we could wake up more tired than before. So I think you may know the root cause, so if you could address that perhaps the sleep aspect can be remedied. Good luck to you both!