Sleep Apnea Causes

The effects from narcolepsy?

Physical well-being and safety. Left untreated, narcolepsy can have an ill effect on your physical well-being and safety. Most activities including driving, working, cooking, or walking, can be very dangerous if you fall asleep or lose muscle control unexpectedly.
Social and professional relationships. Unfortunately, sudden sleep episodes are often found humorous to those not familiar with the condition. People may think that the individual falling asleep or appearing to lose consciousness suddenly while eating, talking, working or shopping is faking or purposely doing it. It is not uncommon for a narcoleptic to be misinterpreted as lazy or rude.
Intimate relationships. Personal relationships, especially spousal relationships, often suffer because of doubt about the condition and a misconception that the symptoms stem from a psychological problem. Extreme sleepiness may cause low sex drive and impotence, adding further complications to your relationship.

Memory and attention. Some studies report that people with narcolepsy have problems with memory and attention. It is not clear if this is due to excessive tiredness or to brain abnormalities
even treated narcoleptic patients are often markedly psychosocially impaired in the area of work, leisure, interpersonal relations, and are more prone to accidents.
lazy, lethargic or rude, and their performance may suffer at school or work. Intimate relationships are often affected. Extreme sleepiness may cause low sex drive or impotence and people with Narcolepsy may even fall asleep while making love.

The problems caused by sexual dysfunction may be further complicated by emotional difficulties. Intense feelings, such as anger or joy can trigger some symptoms of Narcolepsy (Cataplectic attacks) causing affected people to withdraw from emotional interactions.

Sleep attacks also frequently result in physical harm to people with Narcolepsy. Affected people whose symptoms aren’t managed may be at increased risk of car accidents, burns and cuts if they fall asleep while driving, smoking or preparing food.

I did both the multiple latency test and the polysmnogram test and they didnt find narcolepsy but they also did a narcolepsy panel and found that I tested positive. I noticed the symptoms I had were excessive daytime sleepiness, sometimes I hallucinate, sometimes I get sleep paralysis and during school I feel very sleep at the wrong times. I know the doctor will give me medication for it, but I am wondering is there any treatment for it besides medication? Like what can I do to cope with narcolepsy?

Home Care Tips for Narcolepsy:
There are several things you can do at home to help improve the symptoms of narcolepsy and include the following:

Maintain a regular sleep schedule. Many people have an improvement in their symptoms if they maintain a regular sleep schedule, usually 7-8 hours of sleep per night.

Schedule naps during the day. One study suggested that the optimal sleep pattern is a combination of scheduled nighttime sleep (such as from 11:00 pm to 7:30 am) and two 15-minute naps throughout the day.

Avoid heavy meals and alcohol. Both can interfere with sleep.

Do not drive or operate machinery when you feel sleepy.
Exercise regularly.

I did both the multiple latency test and the polysmnogram test and they didnt find narcolepsy but they also did a narcolepsy panel and found that I tested positive. I noticed the symptoms I had were excessive daytime sleepiness, sometimes I hallucinate, sometimes I get sleep paralysis and during school I feel very sleep at the wrong times. I know the doctor will give me medication for it, but I am wondering is there any treatment for it besides medication? Like what can I do to cope with narcolepsy?

Home Care Tips for Narcolepsy:
There are several things you can do at home to help improve the symptoms of narcolepsy and include the following:

Maintain a regular sleep schedule. Many people have an improvement in their symptoms if they maintain a regular sleep schedule, usually 7-8 hours of sleep per night.

Schedule naps during the day. One study suggested that the optimal sleep pattern is a combination of scheduled nighttime sleep (such as from 11:00 pm to 7:30 am) and two 15-minute naps throughout the day.

Avoid heavy meals and alcohol. Both can interfere with sleep.

Do not drive or operate machinery when you feel sleepy.
Exercise regularly.

I have daytime sleepiness and sleep paralysis, but I don’t think I have narcolepsy. My neurologist sent me to get a blood test because he suspects it….is there anyone else who has had this blood test and what can it tell? Isn’t it possible to have these symptoms without having narcolepsy? I’m afraid this type of diagnosis will hurt me in my career.

Go to a sleep doctor. Let your neurologist be a neurologist and a sleep doctor diagnosis you with narcolepsy. Blood work is not a really good diagnosing tool for narcolepsy.

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I have narcolepsy and i always fall alseep on the toilet. last time, i fell asleep and slipped in the toilet. when i woke up, i was all messy. it was a terrible experience. what can i do prevent falling asleep while performing activities, such as using the facilities?

#1 change doctors. Your meds aren’t working. #2 You have to rig up a bar so that if you fall forward, it will stop you. If worse comes to worse, get a wheelchair and cut out the bottom, position it over the toilet, but put the front bar/desk top in place before you begin your business (brakes on).

TX Mom

I have narcolepsy and i always fall alseep on the toilet. last time, i fell asleep and slipped in the toilet. when i woke up, i was all messy. it was a terrible experience. what can i do prevent falling asleep while performing activities, such as using the facilities?

#1 change doctors. Your meds aren’t working. #2 You have to rig up a bar so that if you fall forward, it will stop you. If worse comes to worse, get a wheelchair and cut out the bottom, position it over the toilet, but put the front bar/desk top in place before you begin your business (brakes on).

TX Mom

Does your child Have difficulty falling asleep? Wake in the middle of the night? Suffer sleep terrors, sleepwalking, or nighttime fears? Have difficulty waking for school or staying awake in class? Snore, wet the bed, or head bang? In the first major revision of his bestselling, groundbreaking classic since it was published twenty years ago, Dr. Richard Ferber, the nation\’s foremost authority on children\’s sleep problems, delivers safe, sound ideas for helping your child fall and stay asleep at night and perform well during the day. Incorporating new research, Dr. Ferber provides important basic information that all parents should know regarding the nature of sleep and the development of normal sleep and body rhythms throughout childhood. He discusses the causes of most sleep problems from birth to adolescence and recommends an array of proven solutions for each so that parents can choose the strategy that works best for them. Topics covered in detail include: Bedtime difficulties and nighttime wakings Effective strategies for naps Sleep schedule abnormalities A balanced look at co-sleeping New insights into the nature of sleep terrors and sleepwalking Problems in setting limits Sleep apnea, narcolepsy, bed-wetting, and head banging Solve Your Child\’s Sleep Problems offers priceless advice and concrete help for a whole new generation of anxious, frustrated, and overtired parents. About the Author Dr. Richard Ferner is widely recognized as the nation\’s leading authority in the field of children\’s sleep problems. Director of the Sleep Lab and the Center for Pediatric Sleep Disorders at Children\’s Hospital in Boston (Harvard University\’s pediatric teaching hospital), Dr. Ferber also teaches at Harvard Medical School and is a pediatrician.

(more…)

Does your child Have difficulty falling asleep? Wake in the middle of the night? Suffer sleep terrors, sleepwalking, or nighttime fears? Have difficulty waking for school or staying awake in class? Snore, wet the bed, or head bang? In the first major revision of his bestselling, groundbreaking classic since it was published twenty years ago, Dr. Richard Ferber, the nation\’s foremost authority on children\’s sleep problems, delivers safe, sound ideas for helping your child fall and stay asleep at night and perform well during the day. Incorporating new research, Dr. Ferber provides important basic information that all parents should know regarding the nature of sleep and the development of normal sleep and body rhythms throughout childhood. He discusses the causes of most sleep problems from birth to adolescence and recommends an array of proven solutions for each so that parents can choose the strategy that works best for them. Topics covered in detail include: Bedtime difficulties and nighttime wakings Effective strategies for naps Sleep schedule abnormalities A balanced look at co-sleeping New insights into the nature of sleep terrors and sleepwalking Problems in setting limits Sleep apnea, narcolepsy, bed-wetting, and head banging Solve Your Child\’s Sleep Problems offers priceless advice and concrete help for a whole new generation of anxious, frustrated, and overtired parents. About the Author Dr. Richard Ferner is widely recognized as the nation\’s leading authority in the field of children\’s sleep problems. Director of the Sleep Lab and the Center for Pediatric Sleep Disorders at Children\’s Hospital in Boston (Harvard University\’s pediatric teaching hospital), Dr. Ferber also teaches at Harvard Medical School and is a pediatrician.

(more…)

When I was younger I use to sleep through out the night, but with talking, screaming, sleep walking on average. Now I have problems going to sleep and waking up several times per night. I can easily stay in bed 12 hours straight and still feel sleepy thought my day. I’ve gone to my doctor and had a blood test, but he says nothing wrong. Is a regular blood test good enough to see if you have Narcolepsy or thyroid problem.

no a regular blood test can test for thyroid, however it cannot test for narcolepsy. even if it was, you could also have hypersomnia (it’s like narcolepsy, but you don’t have any other symptom, but day time sleepiness) you should have a sleep study done. a night time one to check for things like sleep apnea and how much REM you are getting and a day time one (known as a sleep latency test) to test for narcolepsy and hypersomnia