Narcolepsy Support Group

Did you notify your company's HR department that you have Narcolepsy? Depending on your state, there are definitely laws against discriminating for such a disorder. I'd get your doctor to provide a document stating your diagnosis and provide it to the HR department.

I'd then explain to HR about the way your boss has been treating you. Explain that it probably isn't a good idea in this day and time to be known as a company who discriminates against people with disabilities.

First of all your boss was very unprofessional in leaving you a voice mail about the status of your employment, so you may be able to use that with the HR dept. But before you do anything you need to have a plan in place. If you go to HR or even your boss, you will need to be able to have a plan you can present to make keeping your job a win win situation for both you and the company. I don't know why you have such a hard time getting up but if you can get your doctor to explain to you in layman terms why you are such a hard sleeper, that can be the start of your plan, then what is your best time of day-state that as your starting time, maybe you can work some Saturdays if you don't already,be positive about wanting to work this out, don't blame anyone or anything instead just state the facts.Good luck

Hopefully between your doctor and HR, things will get sorted out. Narcolepsy is a disability (I hate the word, but it's true, we have a condition that makes it harder for us to function in certain ways), and employers need to accomodate that.

Also, maybe your doctor can help you get your sleep patterns regulated a bit better. Sleep patterns are never great for pwn, but from the sounds of it yours could be a lot better. Maybe your doctor can recommend medication and lifestyle changes that will make life a bit easier.

im just gonna give u a bear hug and wish you better luck than ive had. i hope u find someone to come help you wake up every day, because ive been looking for an answer to this medical problem for 6 years and even with SSI disability, medicaid and case management, i havent found anyone to help me with my morning assistance. except 1 company that wants 750$/month to help wake me up called Realizations LLC. i was going to move into a group home just to get morning medication assistance, but that fell thru. my best advice, and this doesnt come lightly, is find a boyfriend that will feed u morning medication. horrible advice, just dating someone for the assistance benefits, but realistically, that might be ur only choice. i have had to tolerate alot of unhappiness in relationships because of my vulnerability, but the alternative is even worse.... i hope u find better alternatives that ive found

My advice would be to nicely tell your boss you have a sleep disorder then go straight to H.R. If you play by the rules, your boss will have to as well.

I have been in that exact same position, although you are much luckier as you have the medical information to back you up! I just got diagnosed with hypersomnia/narcolepsy today, and for three years (I quit two years ago) I worked a job much like you described and suffered the same way you did (and have for about 15 total). I constantly could not wake up and was always a few minutes late.

I finally found another job that has flexible hours--even coming in an hour or hour and a half later and a shorter commute has helped a lot, though I am still incredibly groggy and disoriented and fatigued. The diagnosis today gave me such comfort that I am not just "lazy" or "unmotivated" or all those other mean things I've called myself over the years.

Other things I'd advise -- putting the alarm far away (and I have always coveted the "Clocky"--you can google it). Getting an automatic light time to turn a light on at a certain wake time. Even for me, having dogs helps (they have to go out) and I am lucky that my boyfriend is usually sympathetic and will try to help, when he's not overworked.

Also, my doctor today was telling me of Provigil and Nuvigil taken before bed and other medications (though on day one of Nuvigil, I feel sick).

I wish you the best of luck!

Reading others wake up tips reminds me of a few more:

You have tried tons of audio alerts, maybe you should try stimulating other senses?

-drink water before bed (not so much that you need to pee during the middle of the night, but enough so that you need to pee in the morning).

-sleep with the curtains open (I always need the light to wake me up in th am).

-I keep my pills for the morning by my bed. As soon as I wake up (even if I am barely awake), I take them. That way I can sleep longer, and it will be easier to get up for later alarms.

-When family or friends call to get me up, they know they have to nag me to get out of bed, and get moving around (not just call, say get up, and then hang up).

-Try different sounds with your alarms, really energetic music, or horrible annoying screeches, or some other strange sound may be more effective.

Hopefully that helps, and hopefully everything goes well dealing with HR. Just try to be patient in dealing with things. If you are reasonable, and your case is well presented, they will have to work with you, because you are not in the wrong here.

Good luck!

Gillian
xoxox

I too am afraid I am going to get fired. Not for not getting to work on time, but for calling off work when they switch me from 3rd shift to 1st shift. I get awful migranes and can't function. But when I told my supervisor that my dr. gave me a slip to not work night shift, she promptly told me, "I guess you could try it with the American's with Disabilities act, but you won't get it." Then she basically threatened me into not turning the slip in. Asked me if I was a danger at work. Said that I could transcribe an order wrong and have a nurse give a med error. So I totaly understand the rotten supervisor's out there.

As for getting up in the morning, I start at 6 am. I set my alarm for 3:30 because I can't move in the morning. I go to the kitchen get my meds and vegetate on the couch. That's the worst time for the sleep paralasis but thank God it only lasts minutes. Eventually I snap out of it to get to work. I hope this helps, but there are a lot of us out there who have been fired or in fear of being fired due to this nasty condition. Unfortunatley we are seen as lazy or not as efficient as our peers.

Thnxx everyone for responding. i def. appreciate all the help.
i told my boss i had it and my dr. is faxing a letter & documentation...my boss is suppose to tell h.r. I also wrote that the reason for me being late is due to my N. my boss is somewhat tryin to help..i guess.. she asked alot of ques. about my N. then she asked if i had sick time to use, maybe go on medical leave, short-term or long-term disability. Disability is not an option. ... i need to work, do somethin. or ill go crazy lol. at this point, im waiting for my boss to get back to mee after she speaks w the program manager on what to do. .. Its ashame that i mess up 1 time w this case manager & now my job is on the line... when im already goin thru financial hardship.
ive tried it all... diff,. alarms & sounds, noises...move alarms, hide them, sleep in diff. spots, places, positions...went to bed same time every nite woke up same time every day, .. went to bed havin to pee, i used to have a dog (he wouldnt get up until i did so he wasnt help lol) i call friends over for "slumber parties" so they can wake mee up in the mornin. i sleep w shades open. tried sleepin w layers&layers of clothes hopin that ill just wake up bc im so hot & sweaty LOL..SET ALARMS HRS before i had to beup...ive tried it all nuthin works...
id write more but im passin out... stayin on the comp. has gotten harder...i cant even look at the screen for longer than 10-15min now!!! sorry. THNXX again for replies!!!
ill try to write more tom,.
gnite everyone !!! thank youu!!!
xoxoxox

I was having a similar problem with my office manager and although I had told her in the beginning of September that I was having problems with the narcolepsy and even that I contacted my Dr. and was waiting for a prescription for Xyrem she started really badgering me about my lateness. What's worse is that the stress of being late was making the cataplexy and sleep paralysis worse (my Dr. confirmed that).

Finally, last friday I made a formal complaint to the attorney who is pretty much in charge of H.R., stating that I informed her that I suffer from Narcolepsy (a disorder covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act). The ADA is enforced by the EEOC and is Federal so no matter where you live, your boss can't do that.

Contact someone above her, if you would like, I can email you parts of the letter I wrote and copies of the relevant pages from the ADA Guidelines so you can protect your job.

ALSO, save that email because it is harassment.