To tell or not to tell...

Since my diagnosis with narcolepsy, I have struggled with who to tell and who not to tell. I haven't even told everyone in my family that I have narcolepsy. Clarification: I have told everyone in my family, not everyone in my husband's family. I never even told my mother-in-law. My husband thinks he may have told her somewhere along the road, but she never asks me any questions. She would be the type to think that I just nod off and you can give me a shake, and Voila! I am awake! If only it were that easy...

At work, I had a few close friends that I told, one of which had been with me more than once when an episode hit prior to me being diagnosed. But what would happen if they weren't around or I couldn't reach them before I went out? I was torn. It isn't anyone's business, my medical history. And how would they take it? Would they realize how serious it was? How it affects each and every moment of every day of my life? Truth is, some will, some won't. I learned the hard way, but that is a post for another day!

After having several serious episodes in a row, I finally got a medical bracelet. You see, when I fall asleep, you would think I was completely unconscious. At first, I can hear what is going on around me but can't move. At all. Not even lift a finger. I have cataplexy, which is also called 'sleep paralysis'. I lose all of my muscle tone. Pick up my arm, it'll flop right back down. I drool. A lot. Good luck finding my blood pressure or pulse; they drop so low that sometimes they are unable to be detected. Think of how you are in deep sleep in the middle of the night. Your blood pressure and pulse slow, your respirations slow...same thing for me during an episode. Coming out of an episode, same deal. I can hear what is going on around me but can't move yet. When I am finally able to move, I need assistance. My speech is slurred, my gait unsteady. All of these symptoms can be mistaken for something else, hence the medical bracelet. I don't need it to save my life, just to save an unnecessary trip to the ER if someone were to find me fast asleep...