Questions & Answers

By definition, cataplexy is "a medical condition in which strong emotion or laughter causes a person to suffer sudden physical collapse though remaining conscious" but as we all know, there's so much more to it. So what is cataplexy for you?

I am currently student teaching in an elementary special education classroom. I was diagnosed with severe Narcolepsy and Cataplexy in 2016. I have a student in the class who based on my experience (not officially diagnosed) who has Narcolepsy.

Here's a little background information.. She is falling asleep in class and can be asleep in seconds and not wake up when you try to wake her up. When we bring this up to mom she claims that she wakes up in the middle of the night, steals somebody's… read more

I think that people here, Wales, do not understand about narcolepsy. It is certainly very unusual and I have never met anyone with the same condition. The consultant, who originally diagnosed it and was very supportive, sadly left (not because of me!!)and my doctors here don't seem to understand. One even told me that I should not have a sleep during the day! Thankfully, my family and close friends are supportive but, I am sure, a lot of people think I am lazy!

Does anyone go thru several days of mostly just sleeping?

Anyone ever been on Armodafinil for a few months & then start to notice that your body has no effect to it? Like it you are back to square one before you started taking anything for narcolepsy. Am I the only one?

Does anyone with narcolepsy know if there is a medication to take at night to help wake up in the morning? I have been sleeping through all my alarms. My phone alarms don’t wake me up at all and I have even been sleeping through my shock watch.

Have had a diagnosis of narcolepsy with cataplexy for about 10 years. While sleep was always important to me, I never knew it was narcolepsy until I started collapsing at work. I was embarrassed at what was happening and withdrew from life to continue to hide it. I did my research and suspected cataplexy. A couple of doctor visits later it was confirmed. What to do about it? Doctor prescribed Xyrem at night. Took some getting used to, but it helps with sleep. Crazy, a narcoleptic needs… read more