Question
Hi, I have been a migraine sufferer for over 1.5 years. I have had lot of changes; so I started see a great neurologist who has gotten my migraines from everyday to three a month. (We are still working on them) He ordered a sleep study and it showed symptoms of Narcolepsy. I have all the symptoms except that laughing for no reason or having seizures. It is what I consider mild because I still function. But when not stimulated I am asleep at the drop of a hat. When I was a kid, probably started around age 7, I would talk in my sleep. It would range from full conversations (I would answer the person back), sometimes scream and swear, to complete gibberish. Sometimes I would remember But other times nothing at all. After this long story; do you think there is any correlation between the two sleep disorders or anything to do with my migraines? Thank you for your time- Liz
Answer
Headaches and narcolepsy go hand in hand, I myself am narcoleptic and suffer from migraines, use maxalt and it works like a charm, Ive been told is that because of being so tired in the day and fighting it so, it gives us a headache. If you go to NAPS, they are sleep papers click on keyword letter H and headache you will find many papers on it, also go to sleepnet.com click on disorders narcolepsy, and sleep forums where you can read about others you can post also . And the part of you speaking gibberish I think was in a way cataplexy as speech is garbled when you have them, the part about screaming sometimes, is simple its natural phenomenon as well as a symptom of narcolepsy when it happens alot, they are called hypnagogic hallucinations , usually the brain and body fall asleep the same time, but in narcolepsy it happens often there is a nano second lapse and so one is dreaming or awakening still dreaming with ones eyes open which result in terrifying and vivid dreams. On sleepnet under the narcolepsy it explains it better. Well I hate to say it but you sound clinically like a narcoleptic, but welcome to the group. Go to narcolepsy network, I use to be the chairman of the NY chapter of the Ameerican Narcolepsy Association but that went bankrupt years ago so now its narcolepsy network. Stay in touch and feel free to email anytime. karel
