A Blog Post on NarcolepsyGreek meaning loosely "sleep seizure." Disorder marked by recurrent and uncontrollable attacks of daytime sleepiness, often associated with temporary muscular paralysis known as cataplexyCataplexysudden, brief loss of muscle control brought on by strong emotion or emotional response (laughter, excitement, surprise, anger, etc.) This may or may not cause full body collapse. In all cases, the patient is FULLY CONSCIOUS and aware but cannot move. Episodes last anywhere from a few seconds to many minutes. from Disease Prone, at Scientific American

@NarcolepsyNews was kind enough to suggest this blog’s author, @JB_Blogs, look to Planet NarcolepsyGreek meaning loosely "sleep seizure." Disorder marked by recurrent and uncontrollable attacks of daytime sleepiness, often associated with temporary muscular paralysis known as cataplexyCataplexysudden, brief loss of muscle control brought on by strong emotion or emotional response (laughter, excitement, surprise, anger, etc.) This may or may not cause full body collapse. In all cases, the patient is FULLY CONSCIOUS and aware but cannot move. Episodes last anywhere from a few seconds to many minutes. for more information and support regarding narcolepsyGreek meaning loosely "sleep seizure." Disorder marked by recurrent and uncontrollable attacks of daytime sleepiness, often associated with temporary muscular paralysis known as cataplexyCataplexysudden, brief loss of muscle control brought on by strong emotion or emotional response (laughter, excitement, surprise, anger, etc.) This may or may not cause full body collapse. In all cases, the patient is FULLY CONSCIOUS and aware but cannot move. Episodes last anywhere from a few seconds to many minutes.. Of course, I had to read the post that prompted their discussion, and I am pleased to report that JB was not only more accurate than 90% of the articles and blogs I’ve seen on the subject recently, but he even cited his sources! For that alone, I have to recommend the article. I also enjoyed the personal flavor James added, making the piece easy to read as well as informative.

I feel the need to expand a little on certain aspects of the post, however, to get a little more in depth and help dispel some common misconceptions that often come up when we first start researching our conditon.

First, “cataplexyCataplexysudden, brief loss of muscle control brought on by strong emotion or emotional response (laughter, excitement, surprise, anger, etc.) This may or may not cause full body collapse. In all cases, the patient is FULLY CONSCIOUS and aware but cannot move. Episodes last anywhere from a few seconds to many minutes” is NOT separate from narcolepsyGreek meaning loosely "sleep seizure." Disorder marked by recurrent and uncontrollable attacks of daytime sleepiness, often associated with temporary muscular paralysis known as cataplexyCataplexysudden, brief loss of muscle control brought on by strong emotion or emotional response (laughter, excitement, surprise, anger, etc.) This may or may not cause full body collapse. In all cases, the patient is FULLY CONSCIOUS and aware but cannot move. Episodes last anywhere from a few seconds to many minutes., nor are there any “seizures” involved with the condition in the most understood sense of the word.

CataplexyCataplexysudden, brief loss of muscle control brought on by strong emotion or emotional response (laughter, excitement, surprise, anger, etc.) This may or may not cause full body collapse. In all cases, the patient is FULLY CONSCIOUS and aware but cannot move. Episodes last anywhere from a few seconds to many minutes is currently ONLY associated with narcolepsyGreek meaning loosely "sleep seizure." Disorder marked by recurrent and uncontrollable attacks of daytime sleepiness, often associated with temporary muscular paralysis known as cataplexyCataplexysudden, brief loss of muscle control brought on by strong emotion or emotional response (laughter, excitement, surprise, anger, etc.) This may or may not cause full body collapse. In all cases, the patient is FULLY CONSCIOUS and aware but cannot move. Episodes last anywhere from a few seconds to many minutes.. You can have narcolepsyGreek meaning loosely "sleep seizure." Disorder marked by recurrent and uncontrollable attacks of daytime sleepiness, often associated with temporary muscular paralysis known as cataplexyCataplexysudden, brief loss of muscle control brought on by strong emotion or emotional response (laughter, excitement, surprise, anger, etc.) This may or may not cause full body collapse. In all cases, the patient is FULLY CONSCIOUS and aware but cannot move. Episodes last anywhere from a few seconds to many minutes. without the cataplexyCataplexysudden, brief loss of muscle control brought on by strong emotion or emotional response (laughter, excitement, surprise, anger, etc.) This may or may not cause full body collapse. In all cases, the patient is FULLY CONSCIOUS and aware but cannot move. Episodes last anywhere from a few seconds to many minutes symptom, but if you have cataplexyCataplexysudden, brief loss of muscle control brought on by strong emotion or emotional response (laughter, excitement, surprise, anger, etc.) This may or may not cause full body collapse. In all cases, the patient is FULLY CONSCIOUS and aware but cannot move. Episodes last anywhere from a few seconds to many minutes, you DO have narcolepsyGreek meaning loosely "sleep seizure." Disorder marked by recurrent and uncontrollable attacks of daytime sleepiness, often associated with temporary muscular paralysis known as cataplexyCataplexysudden, brief loss of muscle control brought on by strong emotion or emotional response (laughter, excitement, surprise, anger, etc.) This may or may not cause full body collapse. In all cases, the patient is FULLY CONSCIOUS and aware but cannot move. Episodes last anywhere from a few seconds to many minutes..

CataplexyCataplexysudden, brief loss of muscle control brought on by strong emotion or emotional response (laughter, excitement, surprise, anger, etc.) This may or may not cause full body collapse. In all cases, the patient is FULLY CONSCIOUS and aware but cannot move. Episodes last anywhere from a few seconds to many minutes, in combination with other narcoleptic symptoms, such as micro-sleeps, automatic behaviorPerforming regular tasks without being fully conscious or aware. May cook, clean, drive, or hold conversations and not remember. Almost always, the task is not performed entirely properly (notes are just scribbles, items put away in the wrong place, etc.), and the like certainly resemble seizures, but they are caused by a misproduction and misregulation of certain hormones, to which the body responds appropriately, but which should not be being utilized at the time.

The common cause for actual seizure activity is electrical misfiring in the brain, caused by any number of reasons, and producing similar symptoms. It is the reason narcolepsyGreek meaning loosely "sleep seizure." Disorder marked by recurrent and uncontrollable attacks of daytime sleepiness, often associated with temporary muscular paralysis known as cataplexyCataplexysudden, brief loss of muscle control brought on by strong emotion or emotional response (laughter, excitement, surprise, anger, etc.) This may or may not cause full body collapse. In all cases, the patient is FULLY CONSCIOUS and aware but cannot move. Episodes last anywhere from a few seconds to many minutes. is so often misdiagnosed originally as epilepsy or another seizure disorder.

That being said, people will notice both narco-lepsy and epi-lepsy contain the Greek “lepsy,” which is loosely translated to “fit, or seizure” meaning a more general definition of “a short, sudden period of…” in narcolepsyGreek meaning loosely "sleep seizure." Disorder marked by recurrent and uncontrollable attacks of daytime sleepiness, often associated with temporary muscular paralysis known as cataplexyCataplexysudden, brief loss of muscle control brought on by strong emotion or emotional response (laughter, excitement, surprise, anger, etc.) This may or may not cause full body collapse. In all cases, the patient is FULLY CONSCIOUS and aware but cannot move. Episodes last anywhere from a few seconds to many minutes., “narco,” which is “sleep.” Sleeping fits.

Secondly, don’t forget symptoms 3a and 5. Hypnagogic(Hallucination) pertaining to hallucinations, dreams, or images occurring just before the loss of consciousness (also hipnagogic) hallucinations are only half of the symptom involving these sensory hallucinations around sleep. While both involve the period between wake and sleep, “hypnagogic(Hallucination) pertaining to hallucinations, dreams, or images occurring just before the loss of consciousness (also hipnagogic)” refers to the period in which you fall asleep (think hypnaGOgic(Hallucination) pertaining to hallucinations, dreams, or images occurring just before the loss of consciousness (also hipnagogic), GOing to sleep), whereas hypnopompic(Hallucination) Of or pertaining to dreams or visual images persisting after sleep and before complete awakening hallucinations occur upon waking (think hypnOPOMpic(Hallucination) Of or pertaining to dreams or visual images persisting after sleep and before complete awakening looks like OPENing your eyes).

Number five, although apparently relatively new to the list of symptoms, is automatic behaviorPerforming regular tasks without being fully conscious or aware. May cook, clean, drive, or hold conversations and not remember. Almost always, the task is not performed entirely properly (notes are just scribbles, items put away in the wrong place, etc.). Just as cataplexyCataplexysudden, brief loss of muscle control brought on by strong emotion or emotional response (laughter, excitement, surprise, anger, etc.) This may or may not cause full body collapse. In all cases, the patient is FULLY CONSCIOUS and aware but cannot move. Episodes last anywhere from a few seconds to many minutes is the is the body paralyzing itself to resist acting out dreams at inappropriate times, automatic behaviorPerforming regular tasks without being fully conscious or aware. May cook, clean, drive, or hold conversations and not remember. Almost always, the task is not performed entirely properly (notes are just scribbles, items put away in the wrong place, etc.) is essentially the body acting out dreams at times it is not entirely asleep. And while cataplexyCataplexysudden, brief loss of muscle control brought on by strong emotion or emotional response (laughter, excitement, surprise, anger, etc.) This may or may not cause full body collapse. In all cases, the patient is FULLY CONSCIOUS and aware but cannot move. Episodes last anywhere from a few seconds to many minutes is the other side of the coin from sleep paralysis (when the body turns the paralysis mechanism on too early or turns it off after waking), automatic behaviorPerforming regular tasks without being fully conscious or aware. May cook, clean, drive, or hold conversations and not remember. Almost always, the task is not performed entirely properly (notes are just scribbles, items put away in the wrong place, etc.) is essentially a waking form of REM"Rapid Eye Movement" - the stage of sleep in which we dream. Named in reference to the actual movements our eyes make during this time Behavior disorder (acting out your dreams).

NarcolepsyGreek meaning loosely "sleep seizure." Disorder marked by recurrent and uncontrollable attacks of daytime sleepiness, often associated with temporary muscular paralysis known as cataplexyCataplexysudden, brief loss of muscle control brought on by strong emotion or emotional response (laughter, excitement, surprise, anger, etc.) This may or may not cause full body collapse. In all cases, the patient is FULLY CONSCIOUS and aware but cannot move. Episodes last anywhere from a few seconds to many minutes. is essentially the body completely mixing up all parts of sleep. Those of us that have the condition tend to have increased REM"Rapid Eye Movement" - the stage of sleep in which we dream. Named in reference to the actual movements our eyes make during this time sleep, decreased deep and restorative sleep, and often find ourselves tired at times we should be awake, and insomniac when we should be sleeping.

A “normal” sleeper enters the first stage of sleep generally within 15 to 20 minutes of lying down. The first REM"Rapid Eye Movement" - the stage of sleep in which we dream. Named in reference to the actual movements our eyes make during this time cycle occurs approximately 90 minutes later. All told there are five stages of sleep, all with different purposes, the majority of which science is just beginning to untangle and understand.

In someone with narcolepsyGreek meaning loosely "sleep seizure." Disorder marked by recurrent and uncontrollable attacks of daytime sleepiness, often associated with temporary muscular paralysis known as cataplexyCataplexysudden, brief loss of muscle control brought on by strong emotion or emotional response (laughter, excitement, surprise, anger, etc.) This may or may not cause full body collapse. In all cases, the patient is FULLY CONSCIOUS and aware but cannot move. Episodes last anywhere from a few seconds to many minutes. and certain REM"Rapid Eye Movement" - the stage of sleep in which we dream. Named in reference to the actual movements our eyes make during this time disorders, the sufferer may completely skip stage 1 sleep, and goes directly into REM"Rapid Eye Movement" - the stage of sleep in which we dream. Named in reference to the actual movements our eyes make during this time sleep. This, combined with shorter cycles and frequent arousals, is part of why we narcoleptics seem to have so many and such vivid dreams.

In diagnosing narcolepsyGreek meaning loosely "sleep seizure." Disorder marked by recurrent and uncontrollable attacks of daytime sleepiness, often associated with temporary muscular paralysis known as cataplexyCataplexysudden, brief loss of muscle control brought on by strong emotion or emotional response (laughter, excitement, surprise, anger, etc.) This may or may not cause full body collapse. In all cases, the patient is FULLY CONSCIOUS and aware but cannot move. Episodes last anywhere from a few seconds to many minutes., a “short sleep onset,” meaning the time between laying down and falling asleep, is less than 10 minutes. This is also referred to as a short sleep “latency.” In the daytime nap study to diagnose narcolepsyGreek meaning loosely "sleep seizure." Disorder marked by recurrent and uncontrollable attacks of daytime sleepiness, often associated with temporary muscular paralysis known as cataplexyCataplexysudden, brief loss of muscle control brought on by strong emotion or emotional response (laughter, excitement, surprise, anger, etc.) This may or may not cause full body collapse. In all cases, the patient is FULLY CONSCIOUS and aware but cannot move. Episodes last anywhere from a few seconds to many minutes., sleep latency is measured, as well as REM"Rapid Eye Movement" - the stage of sleep in which we dream. Named in reference to the actual movements our eyes make during this time latency, which is the time between sleep onset and REM"Rapid Eye Movement" - the stage of sleep in which we dream. Named in reference to the actual movements our eyes make during this time. I, personally, did not have any REM"Rapid Eye Movement" - the stage of sleep in which we dream. Named in reference to the actual movements our eyes make during this time sleep on my tests, due to certain medications I take, but my sleep latency averages about 3 minutes.

I won’t comment on anything related to the genetic studies or specific medications, because I do not focus my personal research in those areas. However, one should understand that one of the biggest reasons anti-depressants (SSRIs, SNRIs, tricyclics) appear to be useful in treating certain symptoms is because they actually repress REM"Rapid Eye Movement" - the stage of sleep in which we dream. Named in reference to the actual movements our eyes make during this time sleep. No REM"Rapid Eye Movement" - the stage of sleep in which we dream. Named in reference to the actual movements our eyes make during this time, no hallucinations (waking dreams), no acting out “dreams” (automatic behaviorPerforming regular tasks without being fully conscious or aware. May cook, clean, drive, or hold conversations and not remember. Almost always, the task is not performed entirely properly (notes are just scribbles, items put away in the wrong place, etc.)), and no reason for the body to paralyze itself (cataplexyCataplexysudden, brief loss of muscle control brought on by strong emotion or emotional response (laughter, excitement, surprise, anger, etc.) This may or may not cause full body collapse. In all cases, the patient is FULLY CONSCIOUS and aware but cannot move. Episodes last anywhere from a few seconds to many minutes, sleep paralysis). Now, that is a HUGE oversimplification, and there is no guarantee any medication will work on any individual’s symptoms, as we all react to different medications differently.

As for Xyrem, it is the only medication that actually IMPROVES sleep quality, as opposed to sleeping pills and anesthetic agents that only sedate. It does not suppress REM"Rapid Eye Movement" - the stage of sleep in which we dream. Named in reference to the actual movements our eyes make during this time, but does seem to significantly reduce cataplexyCataplexysudden, brief loss of muscle control brought on by strong emotion or emotional response (laughter, excitement, surprise, anger, etc.) This may or may not cause full body collapse. In all cases, the patient is FULLY CONSCIOUS and aware but cannot move. Episodes last anywhere from a few seconds to many minutes in some patients. It seems to operate on the principle many sleep physicians work by, that improving night-time sleep will improve daytime symptoms – which certainly seems to be a reasonable expectation, and supported by the symptom improvement many of us show when we are able to follow a nap schedule or get that rare “real” night’s sleep. Currently, Xyrem is an “end of the line” treatment, and so far, insurance companies will not pay for the medication until anti-depressants and stimulants have been tried.

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Food for thought:
Did you have some of these misconceptions when you started looking into narcolepsyGreek meaning loosely "sleep seizure." Disorder marked by recurrent and uncontrollable attacks of daytime sleepiness, often associated with temporary muscular paralysis known as cataplexyCataplexysudden, brief loss of muscle control brought on by strong emotion or emotional response (laughter, excitement, surprise, anger, etc.) This may or may not cause full body collapse. In all cases, the patient is FULLY CONSCIOUS and aware but cannot move. Episodes last anywhere from a few seconds to many minutes.? Do you find that people who are interested in learning more about your condition fall into these traps? Why do you think these confusions continue to persist?