by Student4Now

Hey there, right now I am a student (Lpn) and am worried about my future. I have cataplexy, which is pretty scary. I am just wondering if any of you have this and can make it through the day w/o falling or dropping. I havent had any episodes at school yet because things are pretty ho-hum there.I know that If I were to be surprised, excited, or especially if I laugh or think something is really funny I will drop no matter where Im at.I am def. gonna make an appointment, but for now just looking for some coping techniques, encouragement or tips (not asking for medical advice Thanks

Re: Any other nurses with cataplexy?

What will happen when you walk into a pt's room and see that they've pulled their IV out and there's blood on the floor? When a doctor yells? When you are working short-staffed? When a pt codes?

Nursing is sooo stressful... I just don't see how anyone with cataplexy can work as a nurse....

Re: Any other nurses with cataplexy?

I am not mentally unstable Valerie. I'm sorry but for some reason the examples you gave were kind of offensive to me. My cataplexy is most usually triggered by laughter or a heightened pleasurable emotion, with being startled (like someone jumping out from behind a door). I havent always been this way. Last year I was fine. The examples that you gave prob. wldnt trigger my cataplexy although other simple things could. Its frustrating.But I am looking for encouragement not discouragement, as I obviously already have doubts. Thanks- Forgot to add that I am not unable to control my emotions ie I can handle stress.

Re: Any other nurses with cataplexy?

I apologize in advance but in your initial post you said:

"I know that If I were to be surprised, excited, or especially if I laugh or think something is really funny I will drop no matter where Im at."

This would be very concerning because as Valerie pointed out, there are many surprizes in nursing, some pleasant, many not so pleasant.

I found some info at the National Institutes of Health website:
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/n...narcolepsy.htm

Re: Any other nurses with cataplexy?

Thanks for the info although I am pretty familiar with what I have lol I do have the muscle weakness (cataplexy) and thats the biggest problem for me. I do not "go to sleep" which is a pretty common misconception when I say that I drop, some people make the assumption that I just drop, lay there and sleep, which isnt that case. Although in some severe caes people do go to sleep, I do not. My legs give out from under me and I fall to the floor and have to get right back up. I am concerned that this would happen while I am doing a procedure if I saw something too funny for example. The only portion of narcolepsy that would affect me at work is the cataplexy. I do have ESD but I dont have to sleep at work/at the store/ while driving (things of that nuture). The sleep paralysis obviously wouldnt affect me at work as I have to wake up from sleep to have that. I guess ultimately I will just have to talk to the dr. about treatments that could control the cataplexy, or maybe find some mental coping techniques to block out anything funny. I would never put a pt in harms way by not having control. Maybe I will be able to find a non-clinical area such as case nursing, or phone nursing that I could try. Just looking for a little support......