Sleep Paralysis Is How I Found Out I Had Narcolepsy

When I was just 13 years old, I had my first experience with sleep paralysis. I didn't know what was happening to me, nor did I know why it happened. After that, I was dealing with sleep paralysis at least three to six times a month for years! I dealt with excessive daytime sleepiness, blaming it on the sleep paralysis. I'm now 35 and remember just about every time I had an episode.

Getting tested for narcolepsy

One day I decided I wanted to know more about it, so I booked an appointment with a sleep doctor. I went in for a sleep study and had two sleep paralysis episodes. The nurse doing my study was really intrigued with my situation—he saw it happen. He asked me if I just had an episode and told me that after seven years of doing this job, this was the first time he had ever witnessed it.

Finally getting a narcolepsy diagnosis

After getting my results, the sleep doctor asked me if anyone had ever told me I had narcolepsy. I was like, "What is that?" I'd never even heard of it before. After my diagnosis, I became obsessed with learning more about it. The doctor also said I have hypersomnia. So not only do I get treated for narcolepsy, I also have to take medication just to go to sleep!

Finding a rhythm with narcolepsy after 5 years

It is hard, and I think after five years of finally knowing my diagnosis, I have started getting into a better rhythm with everything. I will say Lumryz has made a huge difference. My sleep paralysis has slowed down a lot, and I hardly have it anymore, which is a blessing!

What sleep paralysis really felt like