So before I was diagnosed, I dismissed the first provider that thought I had narcolepsy based off my symptoms. Mainly because my perception of narcolepsy was basically everyone who has it falls asleep whenever or wherever. After tons of research and support groups, I have realized narcolepsy is not even close to what I thought it was. My understanding of the MSLT is to see what our brain is doing when there is no stimulation. Prior to my test, I was working as a medical assistant in a busy office, had 2 kids, and in school. As long as I stayed busy, I would be ok but the moment we had downtime, that was a struggle. Also driving home after work was the hardest for me and on my days off, I just wanted to sleep. I also had the hallucinations which I thought our house was haunted. The results of my MSLT showed that I enter REM within 1-2 minutes of falling asleep and that I entered it between 6-8 times during my 30 minute naps. The scary thing about my test was that I was not aware that I was even falling asleep. So is it possible to have narcolepsy without onset REM, I'm not sure. But I would continue to search for a diagnosis. And maybe look up the circadian rhythm disorders, I know those can have the same symptoms of narcolepsy. Good luck!

Your story is very similar to mine, I was in a clinic I assisted physicians & ran the in house lab, I remember often staying hours after work to double & triple check my work w/patient specimens. I would doze off during work loosing orders & specimens. I took naps during breaks & loaded up with strong coffee when I woke up. I hadn't been diagnosed yet, & I loved my job I lived a half hour from my job & I frequently got lost or would realize I was somewhere I had never been before. I remember heading to work & suddenly realizing I was in a car wash & late for work! I hate that feeling! One of our physicians was an excellent pediatrician who ordered alot of labs some we ran some in house & others were sent via courier to a main lab.
When I began loosing those specimens & orders I decided I couldn't do it any more. My pcp referred me to a psychiatrist, I was afraid I had disassociative disorder, I think she thought so too! This guy was wonderful he ordered a sleep study & with those results sent me to a Dr to treat sleep apnea. Then after 4 months of treatment with CPAP. he ordered MLST. I don't remember all the numbers but I went into rem sleep w/in 2.8 mins repeated times during the study & they had their answer. I was so relieved to know what was wrong with me I cried uncontrollably.
I thought they can fix me now!! (Lol) we ALL know better don't we? Life is often a struggle, I take one day at a time. Thank God my family loves me for who I am, because I can't be anyone else I have tried. I wish you all the best on your life journey, laff with yourself when possible.. I promise it can be worse.

Craig, yes it is possible. It is possible that you may or may not have narcolepsy.
My question is what is this doctors specialty? Is he a sleep Doc? The symptoms of people with narcolepsy vary from person to person. You mention that you did not go to REM during naps. Like I said I am not a doctor but for me I pretty much live in REM. Even micro naps I get to REM and then I hallucinate not knowing if the person I'm talking to told me something or was it the person in the dream and this is all less than a minute. Sometimes I fall asleep ,then wake and not even know it because I have had people told me that I went to sleep. Symptoms vary from person to person. I hope you get a diagnosis for whatever it is and get it remedied.

I hit REM sleep but my sleep latency was 12 minutes so I haven't been officially diagnosed yet. My primary believes the antidepressant i had to stop taking before my test wasn't fully out of my system and caused me to miss the diagnotic criteria. My sleep doctor said he believe I have narcolepsy and is ordering a blood test to confirm the diagnosis. Maybe ask for a blood test or is there a specialist to give a second opinion?

Yes I tend to live in REM too but for some reason didnt during the MSLT. Doc is a sleep specialist but he was more interested in the sleep apnoea although I am already being treated for that