Recovering addict just diagnosed with sleeping disorder

[Deana1970]

My problem is I have had issues with falling asleep throughout the day even though I get plenty of sleep at night. I recently fell asleep driving on the freeway and that was the final straw. I saw a specialist last week and had testing..he diagnosed me with EDS...and wants to put me on  a narcolepsy medication. I am terrified that I will become addicted to these meds. This will compromise my sobriety, and feel like Im screwed. Is this cheating or what??? Also wondering if my history of drug use and meth use for 10 yrs in my 20's had caused this to happen. I did not tell the doctor about my addiction history because I was afraid he would think I was just being a poser. I need help to fix this sleepiness problem but dont want to jeporadize my sobriety. Does anyone have this issues or suggestions???????????

[notordinary]

Hi, wow that is a tough one.
Someone here knows I'm sure.
Just offering support as i know we all need it.
Someone will be along soon that can help with this.  

[OpenMind24hours]

I don't know anything about narcolepsy medication. But I'd feel free about discussing addiction with your doctor if I were you. Addiction isn't a bad thing we do or did, it's a treatable disease like any other disease that we have. As long as you're on the recovery side you're fine. Is narcolepsy medication mind altering? Could it lead you back to your drug of choice, that you've been recovering from, and you went through hell and back to get off of? What are the chances of addiction to narcolepsy medication? These are questions he should answer for you. Don't be afraid Deana, you're clean now! Your Doctor will view you as protecting your sobriety.

As far as cheating? Not sure you go to NA. If you do, the basic text has info about that subject on pages 102 and 103. It deals with pain meds pretty much. But they do say: We, not our doctors, are ultimately responsible for making the decisions about what we take and don't take. They also say: Our doctors should be completely informed about the fact that we're addicts with the desire to stay clean.

Above all, you don't want to fall asleep at the wheel! ...a hard call for you to make. Hope it all works out for you.

[vicki595]

Deana-  understanding that addiction is a progressive, terminal illness, I think the narcolepsy is far more deadly. If I had this choice to make, you can be damn sure I'd take the meds to treat the narcolepsy rather than fall asleep at the wheel and kill an entire family!  

Talk to the doctor if you feel you have to but this decision doesn't compromise anything, in my opinion. You have a serious sleep disorder that requires treatment right now.   All the best!

[viyanna]

I know this is an old post but am hoping that you get this message.  I was just diagnosed with Narcolepsy also and I am a recovering Meth addict.  My doc knows my history and I am struggling to get the appropriate help here.  Did you find any helpful ideas   Has anything worked for you