Re: ADD and Narcoleptic

[Anonymous]

My late mother was diagnosed with narcolepsy later in life and we thought that might also be my problem since there’s a genetic component. I had a sleep study in ’92 which ruled out the narcolepsy (I couldn’t fall asleep for the second time in my life). My mom was sure she had ADHD as well (probably from her own research) but was never diagnosed. She had restless legs syndrome, cataplexy, exploding head syndrome (that one sounds really weird), etc. and was seeing Dr. Shapiro at the sleep clinic in Toronto.

I’m going in for my first assessment meeting tomorrow (one of three) for ADHD.

As for me, my husband won’t let me drive long distances alone. When I worked outside of the home (I’m now self-employed work-at-home entrepeneur), although it was only a 20 minute drive to work, I was in danger of falling asleep on the way. I tried everything, windows wide open in the winter, radio blaring, slapping myself in the face until it really hurt, etc. I also fall asleep regularly at home watching a movie, and am at risk for the same when we’re out at the movies (why do I fall asleep even when the movie’s action ramps up and it’s LOUD?) I’ve also fallen asleep at the computer at home later at night, and reading more than a paragraph of a book is often enough to conk me out. I don’t want to fall asleep but I can’t help it. If I go up to my bed and lay down during the day, I can’t fall asleep!

I did an illicit trial of my husband’s Ritalin for 3 weeks and boy did I sleep good! I slept all the way through the night. Lately i’ve been going to bed dead tired but twenty minutes later I might wake up as alert as if it was morning.

I’m hoping that the psychiatrist I’m seeing tomorrow will be able to help me.

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