Posted by IsoM on January 19, 2002, at 13:22:28
In reply to IsoM: adraf., AD/HD, drowsiness,'soft' narcolepsy? » IsoM, posted by nightlight on January 19, 2002, at 12:27:08
> > "...(How did u happen upon this forum, by the way?)"
I read in a science mag & heard on the news that there was a new med for narcolepsy (Provigil) & wanted to find more about it. a search a Provigil also turned up adrafinil & a search on adrafinil took me here. That was quite a while back & before deciding to order adrafinil, I did a lot more reading about it from other sources. Meanwhile I lurked on PB (as many do) for awhile before finally posting. I really had no idea how my comments would be taken, or even if they were of any value. Thanks for the kind comments - I guess they had some value after all.
> > "....Another question: did I read somewhere that you felt you might have some underlying narcoleptic features in ur profile?"
I fit all four of the major symptoms of narcolepsy & my previous doctor was certain I had it without having to do the sleep lab tests. Never did understand why I was always so sleepy & as for the dreaming stuff, it's something I thought everybody experienced a certain amount - didn't realise others didn't get those symptoms. As I've mentioned before, I read a lot but I'd always thought narcolepsy menas awake one minute, keeled over asleep the next. Seeing I didn't do that, I didn't know it was narcolepsy I had. ALWAYS sleepy & fighting to stay awake - even yawning till the tears were rolling down my cheeks while I went for brisk walks. Only real mental stimulation wakes me thoroughly but when it passes, I'm again sleepy. Lots of energy when I need it, so I explain it as not tired BUT sleepy.
> > "...I was finally dx'd with ADD recently. I've been struggling with how to cope with 'life', be normal, fight depression and confusion for decades.
>
> I have also been consistently 'sleepy', bored, easily fatigued 'mentally' throughout my highschool yrs. and beyond. I always felt like if I cd. just get enuf sleep, or the perfect 2-hr. nap, my fuzzy head wd. clear, & I'd be OK--(NOT!)
>
> I can sleep 12-16 hours a day, no problem (well, it's really a terrible problem). I have always been a vivid dreamer, talk, laugh and carry on (even sing) while sleeping (even w/no drugs in my system). I've also carried on conversations w/friends/family (while in person or on the phone) and done my fair share of sleepwalking."Yes, I used to sleepwalk as a child - one of my sons did too & talk lots in sleep. He has strong indications of narcolepsy and ADHD too. Just out of the blue, he said he wished he had something to counter all these things. Which is very unusual as he's so against taking ADs. I told him about my adrafinil & he asked if I could get him some to try too. He's 25 & is tired of feeling aimless.
Like you, both he & I can sleep 16 hours/day too. The sleep is not deep or restful though. If I refuse to give in to naps I will sleep better at night (no surprise there) but will still sleep 10 hours before I wake up properly. Both my son & I are VERY vivid dreamers too - real adventures play out in our heads. We've even been totally different characters in our dreams. I was once an old man in one dream.
> > "...I am now, finally, seeing a therapist and a shrink, both of whom I like.
> Your comments on Adrafinil as opposed to reg. pstims is intriguing. ...even tho I am much improved, I still am having a lot of trouble prioritizing and initiating/finishing tasks.Why not check out a link about narcolepsy yourself? It's very clear-cut & easy to figure if it may be a problem. I'll leave a link at the end. I must say the adrafinil helps so much better for me than stims in actually accomplishing anything without even forcing myself to.
You've been through a lot the last while. If you weren't feeling down & drained by all of it, I'd say you were unnatural. No wonder everything's overwhelming you. Then having to move? Surely your siblings can be a bit more patient? What if you told them, you'd take less of your share of the sale of the house to stay a little longer? Or even paid them 'rent' on it for a while till your head's screwed on right again? Sometimes, we hold back from telling family how bad things are. Do they know how devastating all this has been to you? I hope they're not hard-hearted.
> > "...And, I think, I am just now beginning to feel very slightly, subtly happier (wow!) with the EFF., not ruminating quite so much on death and loss. Those *happy* moments are brief, but so welcome."Try writing down on paper your thoughts about your parents dying. It's healing & helps you express the pain & get it out. You'll probably cry buckets writing it but it'll do good for your soul.
> > "...are you in the states? Are the short, dark days wearing on you? My 5 yr-old and I have so little 'yard time' during the week-I am so glad the days are 'on the wax', even tho it's a little difficult to tell yet."Yep, the "banana-belt of Canada", just a little north of Seattle. The weather is quite mild here really, but winter's our traditional rainy, cloudy season so some days it looks as dark & dreary at 1:00 PM as it does at 5:00 PM. It actually snowed last night! About 1" of wet snow now dripping from the trees & roof-tops.
> > "...I love raking, pruning, mowing, digging in the dirt-it's my only real exercise and, done somewhat moderately, helps the aches & pains."Keep up the garden work as you can. I have a religious bend & think "God put Adam & Eve in a garden, not a box-like house. Man is naturally meant for the outdoors." Take time to notice bugs, birds, little things & teach your little one too. I'm a real little kid in the garden. Every bird that chirps, I chirp back. I love being outside!
Take care, nightlight & if you do have narcolpesy sings, why not consider adrafinil or Provigil? It does so much for my mood too that I didn't expect.
Narcolepsy Signs: http://www.sleepdisorderchannel.net/narcolepsy/symptom.shtml
poster:IsoM
thread:89555
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020116/msgs/90770.html