north shore news

__ HEALTH
epsy: a personal siory

ristiman re Suggestions

Periume Bottles

tol? Lonwlale Ave. N. Vat YS4-6700)
$730 Marine Drive. WV Van 926-7710

Narcol

Re-Elect Councillor

‘ aa

was 45 and had suffere
‘the.symptoms of this sleep dis-

Pam Ratcliff
Contrituting Writer

AWAKE or deep sleep,
there are no in-betweens
for narcoleptics.

Narcoleptics are cither
awake or jn full REM (rapid eve
movement) sleep mode; there
is nothing in-between for those
of us who suffer from this very
strange and much) misunder-
stood disorder.

It’s been more than three
years since I suffered a qrand
mal seizure in September 1996
while dining with friends at a
restaurant. I was cssentially, in
the middle of a conversation
when I (cil fast asleep.

There are different types of
_scizures, but the classic, arand
tal involves a total loss of con-
sciousness and convulsions.

In January 1998, I was
 disgnosed with narcale sy. I
with

order, since I was a teenager. |
remember,’ but. could. never
explain, the symptoms during
puberty, including ringing in
amy head and-ears, fainting

‘spells and difficulty. getting up

in the morning. .
“My. mother dismissed the

symptoms -as ‘“just . puberty”
and I don’: recall it ever being

discussed with the ‘family doc:

tor.

Since I was 16 and began. _

full-time work, I’ve had a con-
tinual battle in ens up in the
morning ‘and

ighiing | ie aad ;

den onset of afternoon “sicep
attacks” at my desk.

There was constant. stress,
trying to explain to my emplov-
er why TF was late for work or,
worse, asleep at my desk at
three in the afternoon. These
attacks happened like clock-
work, isualiy around mid-
afternoon.

Sure, many people teed
sleepy at their jobs in the aiter-
noon. But there is a big differ-
ence between feeling sleepy
and falling asleep suddenly,
without warning. It was frus-
trating and enibarrassing. It
sometimes provoked laughter
and derision from my fellow
workers whose lack of under-
standing and compassion ted
many to assume I must be lazy,
unmotivated or bored.

Eocessive Daytime
Sleepiness (EDS) is a complex
condition. Some who suffer
sudden sleep attacks may
appear “awake” but ore actual-
ly exhibiting a brief attack of
REM, or dream-stage sleep.
Others may do a complete face
plant into their food or onto
their desk and appear to have
lost consciousness, but they
are, in fact, asleep.

Over the years, my symp-
toms progressed and the sleep
attacks happened not only at

work, but also during normal

activities such as watching a

_ movie or TV, dining with

friends, attending. seminars or
meetings and while driving.

In recent years, I mentioned
my problen with EDS several

times to my family doctor.
Narcolepsy was never consid-
ered as a possible cause.

My family doctor sent me
for oan electrocardiogram
(EEG) that showed a “slight”
abnormality, That test result
prompted him to make the ten-
tative diagnosis of epilepsy and
he prescribed a drug called
Dilantin to prevent further
seizures. He also suggested J
remain on the drug fer one
year and advised me not to
drive during that period.

I had to persevere wich him
to send me for more tests. A
CAT sean was normal and the
neurologist, aiter ordering a
second EEG that was also nor-
mal, said he couid find nothing
wrong.

He also said the diagnosis of
epilepsy was incorreet, He took
me off Dilantin. Over the next
year I was becoming increas-
ingly concerned about the dan-
gers of driving when it was so
casy for me to sleep. In the
summer of 1997, while visiting

“my family doctor for a yearly
exam, I suggested he refer me
to the Sleep Disorders Clinic at
UBC. I felt perhaps I might get
some answers there.

He made the referral.

Between June and
November 1997, I did the pre-
liminary work required for hav-
ing a sleep study performed at
the clinic. Among other things,
I had to complete a lengthy
medical questionnaire and keep

2 two-week sleep chart.
T spent nwo nights and a day

STORE ZOURS -
WON TO FRI SAM TO OPM.
‘SAT & SUN SAM TO 7PM TEL:

at the clinic. In January 1998 |
was diagnused with a classic
case of narcolepsy.

My doctor at the sleep clin-

ic put me on a mild dose of

Ritalin which now geserally
seems to control the sudden
sleep attacks. To have had to
make a few minor changes to
my lifestyle such as flexible
working hours, scheduled naps,
no alcohol and ensuring I take
mny medication prior to driving.
T still exhibit other symptoms

which inchide a mild form of

catapiexy (a sudden involuntary
loss of muscle control), sleep
paralysis and disrupted night-
time sleep. [ feel much more
secure knowing I can drive
home or sit ina movie theatre
with a friend and not worry
about danger or embarrass-
ment by falling asleep.

Pm now in the process of

working with the UBC Sleep
Disorders Clinic to try and start
a support group for individuals
in the Lower Mainland afllicted
with this disorder.

It’s important that parents

and teachers are aware of nar--

colepsy symptoms, especially
since they generally start to
appear during the tecn years.

If your chitd or student falls
asleep at inappropriate times on
a consistent basis, please seck
medical help.

Eighty percent of those
with narcolepsy spend their
lives with low self-esteem and
are subjected to constant
Fidicule.

There is help available.

3080 Lonsdale Ave. North h Vancouver.
max: S67-GLSE5S:

987 “6644

Liz Byrd

West Vancouver