i was diagnosed with it a number of years ago. just in case you don't know what it is - it is were you fall asleep - middle of the afternoon, lunch, just doesn't matter

i couldn't understand how people could stay awake all day - i use to get major headaches just trying to stay awake

i would fall asleep during grp meetings, had trouble staying awake during one on one conversations if they happened mid afternoon - i thought it was just like after lunch food coma

had trouble driving more than about 60 minutes - would fall asleep when driving - actually fell asleep riding a scoot down I65 going south - lucky the side had those grooves on the shoulder that woke me up

it was really the wierdest thing - great when i found out what the problem was and that it was not that i was some tired lazy dick

so i take this medicine called modafinil (Provigil brand name) which works really well during the week - but the problem is that its effectiveness diminishes with constant use, so i don't take it on weekends, holidays, or vacations

so doing a full day ride during the weekend becomes interesting as all of a sudden i get this almost uncontrollable desire to just shut the ole eye lids and sleep - but because of knowledge, understanding and experience, i am able to know the signs and i pull over before something bad happens (again, paying so much concentration on staying awake takes away from concentration of riding). grabbing one of those little red bottles of instant energy (i always carry a couple), getting some water, taking a brief walk, hitting the can, filling up with gas all work.

while riding - using the CB, changing the radio station (a big reason for me having a radio), and yes, waving at other riders, help while riding. i also switch my position - put a leg on a foot peg, grab a swig of water, grab some quick snack (keep those in the window bagts) or just plain old pick a different route also works.

i was diagnosed with emphazema before that (darn marlboro reds) and the doc is a pulmonary/sleep disorder specialist. many times those with pulmonary problems have problems sleeping also - so he found it - otherwise i most probably never would have known about it

just thought i would mention this here as riding season is coming here to the chicagoland area and there might be one or two of you out there that might have the same problem and just don't know about it - i know i sure didn't

and it just might help someone who thinks that they are just one of those people who need more sleep or something

ride safe - stay awake

 

I was driving with 3 kids in my car about 10 years ago & another car coming from the other direction crossed over the double yellow & headed right at us. I pulled off the shoulder & on to someones front lawn. He passed me & met head on with the car directly behind us. They were all evaced to the hospital. Ifound out laterthe the driver had narcolepsy & this wasn't the first time he feel asleep at the wheel. He had his 2 year old daughter in the back seat strapped in a car seat. Thank God she was unharmed. Good Luck to you & please be careful driving.

 

The medication I take seems to work prett

 

........y well.

 

Make sure you dont have sleep apnea.I have it,i used to be tired and could fall asleep any time during the day.I have to sleep with one of those masks now.But no more falling asleep or being real tired during the day.I would have it checked.Do you snore?

 

Go do a sleep study. Ive got OSA (obstructive sleep apnea) too and use a cpap to sleep at nite. Falling asleep while driving is deadly to all involved.

bob

 

Pretty goodpoint from Rick there, but you prolly been down that road and have the Narcolepsy diagnosed.

Feel for you, been there where being sick restrains you indefinitively from riding...

You can pretend you fall asleep when your wife gets bitchy or when your in-laws arrive visiting... just sayin´...

Mimo.

 

actually got tested for sleep apnea first - my wife thought i had it and the symptoms can be the same - but when i sleep i do sleep like a baby (except when i snore). it is just that my patterns are all screwed up - like i go into rem sleep like almost immediately and during the narcolepsy test i would fall asleep like in an average of 4 minutes anytime during the day

luckily it doesn't stop me from riding - as i have been able to see it coming and deal with it - i haven't fallen asleep while driving in a really long time, really really long time. at the first sign of any feeling of wanting to sleep, i pull off and deal with it.

the thing is not that i am tired or sleepy - it is just the narcolepsy - its not like i fall asleep at the drop of a pin - but i can feel the 'need' to sleep - its almost like it is psychological not physical - basically just do something to stimiulate the brain and senses.

knowing what it is and how top handle it has made all the difference

i will let myself fall asleep when it is okay - like on the train, as a passenger in a car, watching tv, etc.

but it is weird - and taking the medicine is weird - like makes me really able to concentrate

whatever

damn i need a ride - it has been too long - just maybe tonight i will pick up the bike from storage

 

Out of curiosity what was the results of your sleep study, did you have any events at all, if so do you remember your AHI? The thing about Narcolepsy and Sleep apnea having the same symptoms is that sometimes even a mild case of apnea that isn't treated can result in the test for Narcolepsy which is called an MSLT to lead to false positives. If your sleep during the night isn't restful then you will see a short sleep latency during the MSLT. How long did you have symptoms of Narcolepsy, usually Narcolepsy will manifest itself between the ages of 20 -25 and it will be a lifelong ailment, no getting rid of it simply manage it with medications like you are. The increased concentration is because the medicine you're taking actually works with certain receptors in the brain.

 

hey sleepman54

like i said, my pulmanologist (sp?) who is also a sleep guy, was asking some questions about my sleep. things like, are you tired during the day, do you snore (big snorer), and such. so he first gave me the test for apnea.

went to the sleep center one night, no coffee, etc. had all the wires on me. went to sleep. got up. went to work. no sleep apnea. i don't do the stop breathing thing or whatever. i just snore, thats it.

but the doc did notice that i almost immediately went into REM sleep which is bad. if i remember correctly, you shouldn't be in REM until after about 60 minutes or so. so my sleep cycles were all screwed up.

then i went for the MSLT test. go up at 6, to the sleep center around 7. first 'nap' at 8. then at 10, 12, and 2. they had enough info and they released me.

my average was less than 4. if i remember correctly my first one at 8 took 10 minutes, so you do the math. in order to be less than 4, the other 3 had to be way under 4 minutes. using excel just now i got a 4 average by using 3, then 2, then 1. and i do remember laying there awake temporarily for the 8:00, and then barely remaining awake for the others. like the saying goes - i was out before my head hit the pillow.

i am taking provigil - which can also be used for ADD and ADHD. all 3 of my kids have ADHD so if nothing else, at least i can understand how the medicine they take affects them. I can see why my middle wants to take her medicine when she needs to study for an exam (i also like it when she has that 'feeling' left over because she is just a crazy house cleaner then).

also because it affects those receptors is the reason that i stop taking it on weekends. gives my receptors a chance to 'calm down' so that they don't get too use to the medicine.

i think i would rather have this then apnea. hard to have spur of the moment sex when you have to detach yourself from all the hookups.