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Why Don't The Doctors Believe Me About Sleep Paralysis, Cataplexy, Narcolepsy

by Richard
(Chesterfield, Michigan)

Hi my name is Richard, I have had Sleep Paralysis for about 15 years and when I told my doctors about it they would look at me as if I was crazy. All you know what I mean when you tell someone you can't talk, move, blink, nothing for let's say 30 seconds to a minute at most, but whatever I knew what was going on with my body I just did not know why?


By the way I am 33 and my life has been falling apart because I have narcolepsy and cataplexy real bad. I lost my job because I was tired all the time and some times my Wife would have to call my work and tell them I was paralyzed so I would be out for a day or two.

Anyway I was scared out of my mind because waking up paralyzed was something new in the past three years my whole body would be paralyzed for no less than a day, so far no more than three day's and I have not seen any one or have heard of any one's Cataplaxy lasting that like mine does. But every time I go to the E.R the Doctors treat me bad they drop my hand on my face to see if I am faking it they have slammed my arm on the bed polls the one's that keep you from falling out they all think it's fake they all tell me and my wife that you just don't become paralyzed after waking up and can't move anything and a a day later be fine like nothing is wrong. Even my Bladder shuts down and I need to have a catheter put in me every time. Can someone tell me why do Doctors think if they don't know what's going with you, you must be faking. This sucks to have I would not wish this on any one

Comments for Why Don't The Doctors Believe Me About Sleep Paralysis, Cataplexy, Narcolepsy

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Mar 14, 2015
 There is help NEW
by: Kimmery

Hi,

Have you ever taken the Epworth Sleepiness Scale "quiz", I don't know what else to call it. Here's a link to it. http://web.stanford.edu/~dement/epworth.html

Start there and I HIGHLY suggest you find a sleep specialist. Neurologist, psychiatrist, pulmonologist are just a few doctors that specialize in sleep medicine.

Most doctors do look at you like you're crazy because barely a handful even know what N is. They go over it for about 10 minutes in medical school. Even the sleep specialist don't know much about what we really go through. That's why it's important to find a support group or two,
There are several on Facebook. If you want to look me up, Kim Mackie, I will be glad to get you into some of the groups that help.

Do you take any medications for your narcolepsy. It is imperative that you get some medication. Stimulants help, but not a lot. Xyrem can be a life saver. AND if you have doctors tell you that it's not right for you please get a second opinion.

I hope I hear back from you and you allow me to help you with finding some support. Oh and BTW, sleep paralysis is very much a symptom of narcolepsy.

Kim Mackie
Mar 27, 2016
 Sleep Paralysis NEW
by: Sharon

There is a new study on sleep paralysis by John Peever, university of Toronto. Google his 2012 & 2016 work
Aug 11, 2017
 Thought I was the only one NEW
by: Michelle

I believe you it happens to me all the time and now it happens to my daughter and when I tell people they look at me the same way I guess I'm crazy it's been happening to me since I've been a child and I'm tired all the time as well and sleeping never really have any energy today's the first day that I was able to put a name with it thank you for sharing your story and I pray that you find the help that you need

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