Guest guest Posted August 31, 2011 Report Share Posted August 31, 2011 A sleep study is the only way to diagnose sleep disorders. The overnight isn't bad. You go in, get hooked up to a bunch of monitors, then someone watches you sleep while recording all sorts of stuff (times you wake, leg movement, apnea episodes, time spent in each sleep phase, etc.) The day test sucked more. You take four or five naps during the course of the day, which is not pleasant, in my opinion. I hate being awakened from sleep. If you see a neurologist, they should be told of your issues and get you in for tests to determine why you're having sleep issues. Working through narcoleptic attacks is difficult and unnecessary. Good luck! ________________________________ To: tetheredspinalcord Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2011 7:22 AM Subject: Narcolepsy  I have seen this mentioned in the posts and now I'm wondering if I have that problem. I'll be at work and there will be days I have extreme difficulty staying awake. I actually nod off for a few seconds. (I hope it's just a few seconds.) This can happen many times during one of these spells. Nothing seems to help. Not coffee, moving around, fresh air or anything else I've tried. These episodes are getting more frequent. Also, I have a hard time thinking during them and make mistakes. I am having a hard enough time holding on to my job with the pain. If I didn't have to support myself, I would have quit years ago. Ironically, there are many nights I don't sleep more than an hour or two, despite taking sleeping pills. Then some days I just sleep most of the day and night. (Weekends, except when it's so bad, I have to take a day off work.) I thought these symptoms were just side effects of the meds, but the symptoms are not consistent. I'll go days without any problem at all. If someone has the problem, how is it diagnosed? (Although, God knows, I swore I was through with tests, doctors that don't help etc.) Thanks, Patsy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 31, 2011 Report Share Posted August 31, 2011 Hi Patsy, As said there is one way to get diagnosed, and that is a sleep study. They look to see how quickly you fall asleep during the day and if you go into REM within the 20 minute naps. Narcolepsy is the presence of REM sleep during the day, that is why you feel so tired and fall asleep easily. I also have insomnia, my doctor said that that is very common with people who have narcolepsy. It has gotten a bit better where I am sleeping 5-6 hours most days now. Before I was at 1-2 hours, or nothing, and then dozing off during the day while sitting, driving, talking, in a meeting. It got so bad that I would fall asleep on the toilet in the morning as I was putting on my lotion or peeing! I was diagnosed approx. 3 weeks ago.My naps were terrible, I fell asleep on average in 3.26 min vs. 15 min normally, and went into REM sleep right away. The sleep study was not bad at all, well besides the being woken up to stay up and wait for the next nap! You want to get in and get a diagnosis, I feel so much better now that I started medications. Let me know if you have any questions. Subject: Re: Narcolepsy To: " tetheredspinalcord " <tetheredspinalcord > Date: Wednesday, August 31, 2011, 8:26 AM  A sleep study is the only way to diagnose sleep disorders. The overnight isn't bad. You go in, get hooked up to a bunch of monitors, then someone watches you sleep while recording all sorts of stuff (times you wake, leg movement, apnea episodes, time spent in each sleep phase, etc.) The day test sucked more. You take four or five naps during the course of the day, which is not pleasant, in my opinion. I hate being awakened from sleep. If you see a neurologist, they should be told of your issues and get you in for tests to determine why you're having sleep issues. Working through narcoleptic attacks is difficult and unnecessary. Good luck! ________________________________ To: tetheredspinalcord Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2011 7:22 AM Subject: Narcolepsy  I have seen this mentioned in the posts and now I'm wondering if I have that problem. I'll be at work and there will be days I have extreme difficulty staying awake. I actually nod off for a few seconds. (I hope it's just a few seconds.) This can happen many times during one of these spells. Nothing seems to help. Not coffee, moving around, fresh air or anything else I've tried. These episodes are getting more frequent. Also, I have a hard time thinking during them and make mistakes. I am having a hard enough time holding on to my job with the pain. If I didn't have to support myself, I would have quit years ago. Ironically, there are many nights I don't sleep more than an hour or two, despite taking sleeping pills. Then some days I just sleep most of the day and night. (Weekends, except when it's so bad, I have to take a day off work.) I thought these symptoms were just side effects of the meds, but the symptoms are not consistent. I'll go days without any problem at all. If someone has the problem, how is it diagnosed? (Although, God knows, I swore I was through with tests, doctors that don't help etc.) Thanks, Patsy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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