My doctor has told me to cut out my coffee. But I can't. It helps me to function to some point. But I can also drink a pot and fall asleep 10 minutes after that.

If I don't have my coffee in the morning along with my stims and Happy Light I am non-functional.

Kimmers, your reply cracked me up. I feel like a dead woman if I wake up late or forgot to get coffee and so can't have any. I too can drink it and fall right to sleep. I remember taking those caffeine pills once as a teenager and all I could do was actually take a nap. Maybe they rev up only part of the nervous system but not the right part?

I had a headache again today and took excedrin. Can't sleep.

So, let me get this straight - if you use caffeine, when you want to stay awake you'll fall asleep and if you want to fall asleep you'll stay awake?? Something like that? :-p

Beth - The one thing you need to remember with Narcolepsy is
THERE ARE NO RULES

Some people (like kimmers and dadda) need coffee to survive and function and it helps them sleep. Some need to avoid it like the plague.

Sleep Drs try the normal things on us to help us with our insomnia, don't eat too much before bed, don't do caffine etc etc.

For me I don't drink hot drinks but if Coke Zero could be inserted intraventiously I would have it instead of blood lol.

Research the meds you are on to see if they cause headaches. There are caffine pills that keep you awake just try to not take them when you need to sleep lol

Insomnia is a really common thing with PWN. It sucks big time but you will be able to find out what your body needs and what works and doesn't.

Good luck

Just in retrospect - that week I had several bad headaches and I resorted to excedrin multiple times. One friend was even commenting that I might have a sinus infection. However, I was in the middle of a move, and as soon as that was over the headaches went away so I think it was all stress related.

Beth85... I had a headache again today and took excedrin. Can't sleep...... Excedrin is caffeine ..

I think it depends on the individual. I drink 5-10 cups of coffee a day and can fall asleep in an instant. Give me a cup of tea and I'm up forever!!! BUT, I have found that DR.Pepper keeps nice and jazzed up until my hubby gets home....down fall......I'm getting fat:(

LOL! My sleep specialist said I could drink all the coffee I want since it wouldn't be strong enough to keep me awake. He was right. I can drink a cup o'joe at 11pm and fall alseep five minutes later.

I think everyone's body chemistry is different and it may help some and not others, like me.

Before they knew what my daughters dianosis was her primary told me to give her coffee. But, from what I have read in other blogs you should stear clear of it

I've never really consumed large amounts of caffeine. When I do it's usually from coffee or the lower amounts in teas. I've been told to utiliz caffeine if it helps at all with staying awake or focusing more, even if just a little. I get chronic migraines as well, but my neuro's said to not worry about drinking caffeine, provided I'm drinking it during periods when I'm trying to stay awake and not disrupting my sleep schedule.

Also, caffeine in some ppl, can cause rebound headaches (not migraines) so if caffeine is a headache trigger for you, you would likely be better off avoiding it. Each doctor will give a different response.

I wish you could get excedrin in Canada!!!!!

My neurologist told me not to drink coffee. He said it has to do with the way it metabolizes. I don't drink it. I used to drink at least a pot of coffee a day. I stopped drinking it in February 2010. I've tried an occasional cup since then and it makes me nauseous and jittery now.