Narcolepsy: Living the Dream

Narcolepsy is a condition that causes sudden REM sleep in the sufferer. It shouldn’t be joked about… unless the narcoleptic is in a bar with a carrot in his ear… then, he’s just asking for it.

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If someone you live with is diagnosed with narcolepsy, at least you’ll have the comfort of knowing you aren’t as boring as you thought you were…

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There is the myth that sufferers of narcolepsy are lazy or unmotivated. People who believe this myth also believe that people with shingles are masochists and those who contract the mumps are attention whores.

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There are two types of narcolepsy: Type one is narcolepsy with cataplexy; Type Two has no cataplexy but does have a delightful sour cream and onion flavor.

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Cataplexy is the sudden loss of all muscle tone due to strong emotions or trauma. What does it feel like? Like chugging a bottle of tequila then rolling down a steep grassy hill.

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The average amount of time between symptom onset and diagnosis of narcolepsy is seven years; so, doctors recommend you start treatment before you develop any symptoms.

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Narcolepsy is very important if only for the fact that it makes an effective rhyme for the word “Pepsi”…

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Narcolepsy can only be diagnosed in a sleep lab where the patient’s head is connected to more wires than you’d think possible and then is told to sleep while they watch through a two-way mirror. If you’ve seen Hell, it’s a lot like that.

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Scientists say less than half of narcoleptics are diagnosed with the condition… so, if they tell you you don’t have narcolepsy, you still have a shot at it.

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Mice have been genetically created that have the symptoms of narcolepsy. They didn’t learn much more about the condition; but, the sight of mice sleeping halfway through a maze and the faint sound of mouse snoring was HILARIOUS.