I am 28 and i am living without any medications.I struggle a lot to keep myself awake and fed up of people around me making fun of my sleep. Now that i started driving and things are getting worse and already i made a couple of accidents within a month. Fortunately they wer mild and both were lane change accidents. Should i start medication, will that affect my family life in anyways…? I am planning to be married in another 6 months.
In my opinion… It sound’s like you are at the point where I would say set down with your doctor. Talk about what is going on and come up with a plan. Yes it will affect your family life when you start any new medication. I say that in a good way 
After I started medication… I started to realize how much I had been sleeping, not only that but I started to understand how much not being on medicine was hurting my family. I will say it’s not always easy to find the right combination of medicine and life style change’s. But it’s one day at a time. I’m still finding what work’s for me. But think we are on the right track. Also keep in mind stress can set off r narcolepsy too. So, like if I’m driving and I feel it coming I pull over to sleep for a moment. I hope this help’s.
Why aren't you taking anything? It sounds like not getting help is already affecting your life. Like you, I am terrified of the side effects of medication. Before I got my medical diagnosis and sleep study I researched about narcolepsy and treatment for it, side effects and read all reviews. I found out that Modafinil/Provigil is the medication with the lowest and mildest bad side effects reported, so I was prepare to argue with my doctor and my insurance by the time of my appointment. For me Modafinil side effects are milder than birth control pills. I refuse to try Xyrem, it is a terrifying substance. Some people get help from it, especially those with serous cataplexy. Research, read as much as you can about it and talk to your doctor.
I am afraid to consult a doctor here i my country. They will cancel my license and also sleep related issues r not covered in my medical insuarance.
Wow! Ok let’s see if we can think of something to help you with the narcolepsy. That is crazy that they won’t cover you for it.
They call it pre exsisting conditions.WTF…
Kayrin, do you see a sleep specialist, and have you had a sleep study done?
No… It costs me a lot here in UAE… Also I am worried they will report to road transport authority and cancel my driving license. I have to find natural ways either.
Karyn, can you just buy Modafinil over the counter? How restricted is this medication?
I just did a quick Google search for stimulants available in UAE and it seems that all of those who need medication for Narcolepsy, ADD, etc, etc, are pretty much screwed. Sorry. I complain about the pharmaceutical/political bent regulations that inflate the prices of Modafinil. I never even thought of those countries like yours, where things are much worse. I'm so sorry. If it helps I always carry energy drinks, bars, caffeine pills and if I feel foggy while driving I stopped and buy coffee. Good luck to you.
I agree with Narkie - it sounds like your sleep disorder is affecting your life in serious ways. If you are having car accidents you don't know if the next one will hurt you or others.
None of us here are doctors. Without a proper diagnosis you may not know what to treat. Start by having a thorough examination by your regular doctor and be clear about your symptoms. After ruling out thyroid problems and other possibilities a sleep study done by a sleep specialist is next. There may be help for low income patients.
Don't be shy - stop to take a nap if you're drowsy while driving. Lots of us do that :) ! Be safe, and let us know what you decide to do.
Narkie said:
Why aren't you taking anything? It sounds like not getting help is already affecting your life. Like you, I am terrified of the side effects of medication. Before I got my medical diagnosis and sleep study I researched about narcolepsy and treatment for it, side effects and read all reviews. I found out that Modafinil/Provigil is the medication with the lowest and mildest bad side effects reported, so I was prepare to argue with my doctor and my insurance by the time of my appointment. For me Modafinil side effects are milder than birth control pills. Be aware of Aderall and Rittalin, those can damage your brain and do change people's personality in a bad way. I refuse to try Xyrem, it is a terrifying substance. Some people get help from it, especially those with serous cataplexy. Research, read as much as you can about it and talk to your doctor.
Is there a waiting period for pre-existing conditions?
kayrin said:
They call it pre exsisting conditions.WTF..
You need medicine. Narcolepsy is such a serious condition without medicine you are putting yourself and everyone around you in danger. You can always try home remedies to help keep you awake. Coffee helps me but that's of course along with my meds. But there is also tons of herbs and food that can give you energy.
Thanks everyone for the greatest support and advices. I really started feeling like i have reached another world, wer everyone is supporting. Im am really fed up of this world around me, who cant understands me and always making fun of my condition.
Comparatively my condition is very low. I have seen some videos in youtube how narcolepsy with cataplexy is haunting people n families.i have very mild cataplexy which i noticed during suddenly triggered laughters and during my O’s…
I love those condition as it takes me to a different realm of relaxation.
Recently i made a ear tickler for myself to help me during my drives. I accidently invented it. I bought a back massager for my car seat and it was such a waste of money that it cannot fit into any of the car seats. I pulled out the vibrator inside it and was eagerly reverse engineering the mechanism. Yes that was what i was search for years… i tried it in different tickle points of my body and when i brought it near my ears and around the pinna, i felt so adrenaline pumped. Now that helps me a lot. Traffic Police gave me a fine last week thinking i am using mobile phone during my drive and i was so helpless that i cannot explain this because they may think this is a Sex toy.
Thanx again for all the supports.
Thanx for understanding…
Please share your natural tip of keeping you awake… so that others can try them.
Try the vibrators in ears and share me your experience.
I was given a tens unit to alleviate pain while recovering from foot surgery. A tens unit is an electrical simulator with difference frequencies and settings. One day at work I could not keep myself awake, and since my neck was stiff I decided to place the electrodes on the back of my neck and boom! It woke me up! The electrical stimulation on my neck woke me up! It did not give me energy or the brightness that a well rested brain gives you but it kept me awake. I just a little sleepy, like I knew I needed a good nap but I stopped getting the micro sleeps. I carry my tens unit with me all the time in case I need it, but since I take Modafinil I have not needed it. So Karyn, I totally see how a vibrator can help us stay awake.
kayrin said:
Thanks everyone for the greatest support and advices. I really started feeling like i have reached another world, wer everyone is supporting. Im am really fed up of this world around me, who cant understands me and always making fun of my condition.
Comparatively my condition is very low. I have seen some videos in youtube how narcolepsy with cataplexy is haunting people n families.i have very mild cataplexy which i noticed during suddenly triggered laughters and during my O's...
I love those condition as it takes me to a different realm of relaxation.
Recently i made a ear tickler for myself to help me during my drives. I accidently invented it. I bought a back massager for my car seat and it was such a waste of money that it cannot fit into any of the car seats. I pulled out the vibrator inside it and was eagerly reverse engineering the mechanism. Yes that was what i was search for years.... i tried it in different tickle points of my body and when i brought it near my ears and around the pinna, i felt so adrenaline pumped. Now that helps me a lot. Traffic Police gave me a fine last week thinking i am using mobile phone during my drive and i was so helpless that i cannot explain this because they may think this is a Sex toy. :)
Thanx again for all the supports.
Thanx for understanding..
Please share your natural tip of keeping you awake.. so that others can try them.
Try the vibrators in ears and share me your experience.
Hello Kayrin,
Very sorry that people are making fun of you. They just don't try to understand and we have to learn to know ourselves and not take the comments seriously.
Taking medication is a very personal decision that only you can make for yourself. I was diagnosed at age 49 and decide I would not go with medications because I've had narcolepsy all my life.
I wish you well with what ever you decide :-)
Take care,
Ranger