Can you tell when you are about to have a cataplexy attack?
Are there any early warning signs that let you know a cataplexy attack is coming? Share below!
Yes maybe 3 or 4 sec.
That's not much time,
. Are you able to react in any ways that help before the attack plays out? Best wishes. - Lori (Team Member)
Maybe like 3 seconds before
Does that give you time to do anything at all to protect yourself? - Lori (Team Member)
Yes most of the time I know when a Cataplexy is going to happen. Laughter & fear are my main triggers. Fear is the hard one to cope with as anything might trigger me even imagined fear. It also happens if something goes wrong & I have to try & explain a problem to people who really aren't listening to me? My throat constricts & I find it hard to speak? Then the slide to the ground begins & I am paralysed, unable to explain they must help me to sit, on the ground if necessary. I laughed reading about someone holding a glass as one of my worst was while holding a glass. Recognising I was about to have a cataplexy I moved to a wall to slow down the fall. I could say 1 word which happened to be "get" 😆 I had 5 people watching me & starting to panic but nothing like I was knowing this glass was going to break & I was going to get hurt? After what seemed like ages someone spotted the glass & removed it. Released from danger I continued to the floor & within minutes it was all over & I could carry on with what I was going to do!
Thank goodness your body gives you a bit of warning. You could have been seriously hurt by that glass. Do you wear a bracelet or anything so people know you have type 1 narcolepsy? Fear is such a difficut emotion to control. I can see why that would be such an unpredictable trigger. Best wishes. - Lori (Team Member)
My speech gets slurred and I don't make sense. I eat a lot of candy in a short time. Sometimes I have to have help laying down. The worst is when I fall over without warning
That must be scary when you have no warning,
. I hope it doesn't happen often. Have you ever been hurt as a result? Sending lots of gentle hugs your way. - Lori (Team Member)
