What to Expect:
Irresistible drowsiness and falling asleep at inappropriate times are the defining symptoms of narcolepsy. When you fall asleep, you move directly into REM sleep, as opposed to the gradual transition through sleep stages that occur during typical sleep. As a result, you instantly lose muscle control and become paralyzed. This may be preceded by vividly hallucinated sights and sounds, which is a common symptom in young children. Loss of muscle tone may also occur and you are unable to move initially upon awakening.
In addition, there is usually an extreme, generalized, muscle weakness without loss of consciousness. This condition is known as cataplexy (as described under Symptoms and Signs, above) and often follows an emotional incidence such as laughing, surprise, fear, or anger. Weakness may be localized in the limbs and you may fall. This state will then lead to sleep in half of all people with this condition.
Sleep can occur at any time and the number of episodes can vary from few to many instances in a single day. Each episode can last for minutes or hours and you can be roused from sleep as easily as a person in a normal sleeping state. You may feel refreshed upon awakening but can potentially fall back asleep in several minutes. Nighttime sleep may be unsatisfying and can be interrupted by intense, frightening dreams.
Due to the nature of this condition, the various symptoms can put you in risk of personal injury and often interfere with work and social relationships, as narcolepsy may be embarrassing and is quite inconvenient. Activities such as driving, sports, precision work, and the operation of heavy machinery should also be limited and/or avoided.
Testing
Two tests are available to assist your naturopath or other health practitioner in properly diagnosing narcolepsy. These are outlined below.
Polysomnography/Sleep Study: This test requires you to spend the night in a special sleep lab. A number of body functions are monitored to detect arousal and fragmented (interrupted) sleep. These include airflow through the nose, blood oxygen level, blood pressure, brain waves, and eye motion. If you have narcolepsy, you will fall asleep very quickly, rapidly enter REM sleep, and awaken many times throughout the night.
Multiple sleep latency test: This test monitors how long it takes you to fall asleep and what type of sleep you have during normal wakeful hours. The test is given every two hours and measures daytime sleepiness. If you have narcolepsy, you will fall asleep very quickly and immediately enter REM sleep.
