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Recognizing symptoms

I have fallen asleep driving since i was in my early twenties at least. I thought it was just sleepiness from not enough sleep but it has followed me through life. More sleep doesn't seem to help. I stated using Cpap, that doesn't seem to help much either. I can sleep all night, get up and sleep intermittently all day watching TV, missing half of everything i watch. Then I get up eat and repeat. I am diagnosed pre diabetic and take medication to control sugar levels, which seems to work on that. Other symptoms are harder for me to recognize. I may have some mild cataplexy, dreams, hallucinations. That part i find hard to remember or see clearly. I find myself dropping things like i just lost my grip on it or running into things like i don't have good control of my proximity to am object. I tilt my head a lot and look down a lot but don't think it is loss of muscle control. I have a lot of eye twitches, muscle twitches, eye disturbances. Even some episodes that are like my eye muscle has taken one eye out of my control and I can't see properly for a bit until it stops. I don't usually remember my dreams for very long but can got a bit when I wake up from one. I have had some that I woke from that were scary with a feeling of being scared "stiff". Often the dreams I remember are when I wake close to morning, then go back to sleep just before having to wake for work. Or go back to sleep after taking my cpap off. Does anyone recognize these as narcolepsy symptoms? My doctor is starting me on Armodafinil and offered a full sleep study trial. Worried about the cost though.

  1. Hi . We're not medical experts, but many of your symptoms sound similar to what people diagnosed with narcolepsy report. As odd as it seems, many people with narcolepsy suffer from insomnia as well. The sleep system is so disregulated that normal sleep/awake patterns go out the window. Do you have insurance? If so, the sleep study should be covered, at least partially. If you are nervous about it, you can ask for preauthorization or an estimate. I hope you get an accurate diagnosis so you can find a treatment plan that works for you. You must be super frustrated. We're here for you whenever you need us. Warmly, Lori (Team Member)

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