hypersommnia and having strange episodes

[twigletnurse]

Dear medhelp,
I have anorexia secondary to depression following traumatic stress disorder, havn't eaten a meal since christmas, I now have hypersomnia of 16 to 18 hours, doctors wont help me with eating as I don't have the nervosa!!!!!!!!!!!!! yet my bmi is 16 for 5 years and every assessment says  she is clearly desperate for help but not from here basically. This makes my eating disorder so much worse, what I want help with is information about the sleeping, and i have had episode of feeling very strange indeed, very scary, lost control of muscles, had to hang onto a pole to remain standing as body wanted to collapse in public, didn't look ok as the shop keeper said, are you ok, if you are going to be sick please go outside, i phoned 999 and after 20 mins they still hadn't arrived and very slowly i started to feel better, I phoned and cancelled the ambulance, i have found  no help in the self help books on sleep as are all insomnia but one of them referred to cataplexy and hypersomnia and it seems to fit my experience, my gp is not taking me seriously at all,  please can you tell me anything  more about cataplexy, thankyou very much,

[weezer555]

You have not eaten a meal in 2 months! No wonder youre faint,no energy and sleeping too much! The depression you experience is also a possibility for excessive sleep.
You sound intelligent and also aware of your problems. Are you in denial regarding malnutrition? Narcolepsy is difficulty rfemaining awake/alert during the day despite good sleep.Episodes of extreme sleepiness during the day while awake, not sleeping 18 hours a day.
A stimulant would put you in the grave since you already have food issues.
But if you are indeed looking for meds to decrease/eliminate your apetite meds for narcolepsy and ADHD would be the way to go.
You need nutrition and without it you will die my friend. I just want to shake you!

[nananeedsthis]

in my experience, and I've had a lot with doctors, most of them have to be reminded that they work for you. You pay them to help you, so make them get on the bandwagon and find out what is wrong, or do as I did and search for a doctor who is willing to listen and help you. It took me quite some time to find one, but when I did she and I have developed a working relationship that has helped me tremendously. Maybe one of these options is the best for you.

[KatEyes]

Cataplexy is using seen in conjunction with narcolepsy. You need to be under the care of a team of physicians who will work together to sort out your issues and determine if they are connected in any way. Your eating problems could cause weakness too, so you need formal testing in the form of a sleep study and not go on maybes. One time after another round of negative test results my doctor was ready to be dismissive again, so I said, "I don't care what's not wrong, I need you to not stop till you can tell me what IS wrong." A sleep study soon followed. That was the beginning of me finding answers.