Today I met with a doctor from The Sleep Disorders Center here in town.Recently, a friend of mine was diagnosed with narcolepsy. As she shared her story, I saw my own life played out in her symptoms.
Tired. Never feeling like I had enough sleep. Could fall asleep anywhere.
I even went in to be tested for thyroid problems about 2 years ago because I was so fatigued all the time...
Today, I have an answer. I have narcolepsy. Just like my friend.
The doctor asked me about my childhood, about how I would take two naps a day for much longer than other children. He asked about junior high and high school, whether I would fall asleep in class or while studying. Ummm...yes. All the time. I told him that I thought I was tired from practice.
He asked me the most embarassing time that I've ever fallen asleep, and I told him about the time that I fell asleep in a booth at a live music event. The band was only a few feet from where I was sleeping and surprisingly, I hadn't been drinking.
He asked me about taking naps, and about how likely it is that I would fall asleep during different activities: reading, watching tv, sitting quietly. I had to tell him that in fact, I almost fell asleep in the waiting room.
His response, "it looks like you can't afford to sit still."
As I sat today, listening to the information on sleep disorders and the specific disorder he thought I had, tears came to my eyes. I was so relieved to finally know what was wrong! I will go back for a sleep study next month to find out more.
I have been lucky to have parents who understood the importance of sleep and napping. Never giving me a hard time about being tired. Gareth is great too, unless he wants me to get up and make breakfast ;-)
Sadly, not everyone in my life has been so forgiving. I have had coaches who thought I was lazy. Who thought that I slept too much. I have had friends and ex-boyfriends who thought I was inconsiderate.
Looks like they were all wrong.
