Has anyone seen narcolepsy?

[nurscee]

I had a 70 yr old man last two days with very odd symptoms.

If anyone has seen anything like this I would like to know!

He would clutch his heart (sometimes) and then was just "out" for about 5 min maybe.

For all intents and purposes he appeared to be in a deep sleep.

He was on cont pulse ox and his VS remained stable. O2 SAT about 93%.

He has CHF & COPD.

He would not respond to sternal rub, loud talking, shaking etc.

When coming out of it he had a very hard time opening his eyes.

His wife said this was a new thing.

On line I read that it is rare for narcolepsy to manifest after age 30.

Do you think he was faking?

How would I know???

Several of us saw this happen and attempted to arouse him.

It happened once right in the middle of a respiratory treatment.

Sure would like to know something.

Any tips as to what I should do when a patient does this to see if he is faking...or ?????

I'm a fairly new nurse on a med/surg unit (15 mo.) Thanks!

[kukukajoo, LPN]

It can manifest later in life. I know two men that have it- one would literally fall asleep while walking, talking whatever. Strange illness.

The other was taking meds and had control of it.

Of all the episodes I have witnesssed, I have never seen them clutch anything, they are just awake one second and out the other. The one who has it more severe is about 80 now and developed it in his 70's. He has to have someone on either side of him to walk as it happens so frequently. But then, he is awake just as fast like nothing happened. Could be out for a few moments, to minutes to a nice little catnap.

[bullcityrn]

My great-aunt is in her 70s and has narcolepsy...she's never done the chest clutching thing and I've only seen her fall asleep in the middle of talking. Like the other poster said, sort of a little cat nap. It's not all that difficult to wake her up and she'll just continue on like nothing happened. It's a very strange illness indeed.

[CHATSDALE]

I have this orderly who the others say that his strange behavior is due to a 'falling asleep' sickness says that he is being treated at lsu...they are having poor results if this isthe case

interesting in a patient...utterly frustrating in an orderly

[nurscee]

Hmmmm, he doesn't meet all the criteria. I wonder if I'll ever hear what they find. I have 2 days off. They may send him elsewhere for further testing. Thanks.

[TazziRN, RN]

Was he ever on a cardiac monitor? It sounds like a cardiac event to me.

[Phenomenon]

Could be a cardiac event such as a run of v-tach?? Also consider the possibility of seizure. Some can manifest themselves in different ways,not to mention the unresponsiveness and difficulty waking up afterwards could be the post-ictal phase (after seizure). This is NOT narcolepsy. I have seeni t and though they do fall asleep suddenly they are usually easy to arouse. This pt needs a cardiac and neuro work-up. Hope that helps!

[RNin2007]

My neighbor had an episode of narcolepsy while using a power saw! I saw it with my own two eyes.

~J