My Narcolepsy Story:
I have been dealing with fibromyalgia symptoms for over a decade. Exhaustion, body pain, lack of energy and mostly miserable a lot of the time but.. I recently moved to California and now that my hubby has good insurance I went to see a rheumatologist who thought I had sleep apnea. Off I went to the sleep study where I was covered with electrodes and given a nice quiet room with a soft bed. I stayed there from 9pm to 6pm the next day so they could test my sleep overnight and in the daytime. I slept overnight and the next day I was allowed to take a 20 minute nap every 2 hours which they closely monitored.
I do not have sleep apnea, what I have is narcolepsy. Most people go into a REM state after an hour or so of sleep, I go into a REM stage within 20 minutes thus missing the greater part of restorative sleep.
I am now on a medication (Xyrem) I take every night in bed just before sleep and once in the middle of the night usually after 4 hours.
I feel great! Pain is GONE. Fatigue GONE. Energy levels are high and I am now optimistic and happy!
After over ten years of symptoms I am finally all but cured!
So, my suggestion is to get a sleep study if you can - it may take complaints of snoring to get your insurance to cover it, but if it resolves or rules things out that puts you further ahead.
Good Luck!
I have been dealing with fibromyalgia symptoms for over a decade. Exhaustion, body pain, lack of energy and mostly miserable a lot of the time but.. I recently moved to California and now that my hubby has good insurance I went to see a rheumatologist who thought I had sleep apnea. Off I went to the sleep study where I was covered with electrodes and given a nice quiet room with a soft bed. I stayed there from 9pm to 6pm the next day so they could test my sleep overnight and in the daytime. I slept overnight and the next day I was allowed to take a 20 minute nap every 2 hours which they closely monitored.
I do not have sleep apnea, what I have is narcolepsy. Most people go into a REM state after an hour or so of sleep, I go into a REM stage within 20 minutes thus missing the greater part of restorative sleep.
I am now on a medication (Xyrem) I take every night in bed just before sleep and once in the middle of the night usually after 4 hours.
I feel great! Pain is GONE. Fatigue GONE. Energy levels are high and I am now optimistic and happy!
After over ten years of symptoms I am finally all but cured!
So, my suggestion is to get a sleep study if you can - it may take complaints of snoring to get your insurance to cover it, but if it resolves or rules things out that puts you further ahead.
Good Luck!
