![]() Excessive daytime sleepiness usually is the first symptom to appear and is often the most troublesome, making it difficult for you to concentrate and fully function. When you awaken, you feel refreshed, but eventually you get sleepy again.You may also experience decreased alertness and focus throughout the day. For example, you may be working or talking with friends and suddenly you nod off, sleeping for a few minutes up to a half-hour. Excessive daytime sleepiness. People with narcolepsy fall asleep without warning, anywhere, anytime.I have heard that some medications such as Xyrem can decrease the amount and severity of cataplexy attacks, I am going to ask my neurologist about it when I see him next month.The signs and symptoms of narcolepsy may worsen for the first few years and then continue for life. This is something that I have caught myself doing as well, but it definitely is not a healthy way to cope with it. I have heard of people with narcolepsy completely shutting off their emotions and avoiding all stressful and emotional situations out of fear of having a cataplexy attack. It is annoying because it gives the impression that I don’t care, but in reality it is like somebody pressed the “off switch” in my brain. I have also noticed that if I am stressed out at work or if I am having an argument with my wife I also become almost paralyzed and unable to really move or speak, I may just stand around and stare with a blank look on my face for a few seconds to a several minutes. It is very irritating, I have gone to several counselors over the years about this, and nobody was ever able to give me any real answers or suggestions that worked which is frustrating. ![]() I did some research and this apparently is a symptom of cataplexy as well. I have always had pretty severe social anxiety, when I am in large groups of people, sometimes even people that I know and am comfortable with it feels like my brain completely shuts down, I get a foggy feeling in my head and can’t think coherently, I also have serious difficulty talking and thinking of things to say. When I am anxious or in an uncomfortable situation I also notice that my cataplexy becomes more severe. I have read that you can even be almost paralyzed when partaking in sports, I remember when I was kid in gym class, I would always freeze up when playing, I would frequently barely be able to move even if a ball was flying directly at my head. I almost always have difficulty catching and hitting when playing any sport, for a long time I just thought that I was bad at them. It isn’t uncommon for someone with narcolepsy to have difficulty with hand eye coordination, this is a problem I have always had. ![]() The adrenaline and energy involved in playing sports can often trigger cataplexy attacks. I have always had difficulty playing sports as far back as I could remember. I have also read that cataplexy often affects people with narcolepsy while exercising or playing sports. I have actually fallen asleep while taking notes in class before and wrote several lines of nonsense in my notebook while sitting in class. My handwriting is also different based on the mood I am in and how tired I am, it is pretty sloppy to begin with but some times it is far worse than usual and totally illegible. I have also noticed that if I am stressed I tend to be more clumsy and drop things, sometimes I will drop my keys and have trouble unlocking doors like I suddenly lost control of my fine motor skills. The milder forms of cataplexy may go unnoticed and many people with narcolepsy might not bring them to their doctor’s attention since they are less obvious. Sometimes I will stare off into space and have a kind of scowl on my face, I usually don’t notice it unless someone brings it to my attention though. ![]() Normally I find myself slurring my words or having difficulty moving, my cataplexy isn’t as severe as some peoples’. I have never had a severe cataplexy attack where I have completely fallen down, or at least that I can remember. Sometimes it can be so severe that the sufferer may fall down or be unable to move for several seconds or minutes. It is often triggered by stress and other emotional responses like joy, sadness, or anger. It is characterized by a loss of voluntary muscle control in various parts of the body. Cataplexy is a condition that often accompanies narcolepsy. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |