I am a 30 year old mother of three, who has been diagnosed with narcolepsy over two years ago. I can first start by saying my father also has narcolepsy and as a child I saw how it affected his life or should I say our (my family) lives. And today it affects me in the same way.

Before I was diagnosed, I lived a somewhat normal life, or at least what I considered normal. I worked but always struggled to be on time and even would fall to sleep at work and during meetings, up until the point that I was fired. I did the soccer mom activities, but always had an excuse why we could never be on time and even miss events because of me being exhausted. I had an active social life, but I would fall asleep at the movies, I would always be the first to call it a night, I have even fell asleep in an active social setting before (numerous times). So you can see what I mean by somewhat normal…..

About two years ago I went through a period were I just had NO energy and even then the last thing I thought was narcolepsy. I had multiple testings done and every thing came back negative. During this time I was thinking I know it’s my anemia and the doctor is either overlooking it or thinks I’m exaggerating. After taking my Iron consistently and even increasing the dose I was still suffering with the same fatigue. Finally I spoke with my mother and she suggested that I request a sleep study. The sleep study of course came back positive and all of my imnormality made sense.

I’m now under the care of a neurologist that has tried mutliple combinations of medicines and they all seem to work for a short period of time but I would just like to be NORMAL. I’ve been on long-term disability for a year and have applied for SSI/SSDI which I’ve been denied for by the ADJ.

I continue to do my duties as a mom and even have had to relocate for family support. Narcolepsy is a frustrating disease, it seems so simple but when you’re the one going through it, it’s very complex. Narcolepsy is more than just falling asleep more often than others it actually affects your life.