Narcolepsy Support Group
A sleep disorder (somnipathy) is a disorder in the sleep patterns of a person or animal. Some sleep disorders can interfere with mental and emotional function. If you are having trouble falling asleep or having some other kind of sleep disturbance, this group is for you.
I recently had a blood test at the doctors as I have been getting even more migrane headaches than usual, that last for more than a day at a time. I also have not had a period for at least 4 months. On receiving the results my doctor said I was over producing a hormone, produced in the pituatry gland called prolactin. He said prolactin is made by pregnant women when they are breast feeding & while they are doing so they stop having periods. I was initially quite relieved as I always thought that the pituitary gland played a big part in having narcolepsy & it must be all linked. However my doctor said he did not know that the gland had anything to do with narcolepsy? This is not surprising as I don\'t think he really knows much about it! Anyway he sent me to a gland specialist who was asking about my medical history when I told her I had narcolepsy she asked if I was sure I did not have sleep aponea? I told her I had been diagnosed at Papworth hospital & have had numerous visits there since 1991. She then asked yes but was I sure it was what it was! Anyway I have to go back to have an MRI scan to see if I have a lump in my pituitary gland which occurs & produces more prolactin & she thinks might be the cause as the only other reason would be if I had just had a baby. She pretty much batted off the fact that I had said I was Narcoleptic & said I probably didn\'t! I was wondering if anyone else had had the same problem? Other than a lump or pregnancy & if it does have something to do with being narcoleptic? Men produce prolactin, has any male with Narcolepsy produced too much? I have had it before where doctors just ignore what you are telling them as they don\'t know much about narcolepsy & you end up having loads of tests & get nowhere. I don\'t want to rant but whatever I read about diagnosing narcolepsy it usually says that if a person has symptoms such as excessive sleep, sleep paralysis, hallucinations, cataplexy, automatic behaviour etc etc it cannot be much else? Why do even doctors act like you cannot possibly have Narcolepsy as if it does not exist? Sorry I am ranting! I am very glad they have found it I am lucky in that way that it is getting sorted out (hopefully) but I hate being made to feel a fraud especially by doctors who are supposed to get it!
After some discussion about my medical history and my mentioning randomly that I had once had elevated prolactin when I was being tested for some other female disorders, she nearly snapped her fingers and said that's why... I've been on this low-estrogen pill for at least six years. And others before that. I'm 25 and haven't been off them for more than three months since I was 12.
Oddly, though, my migraines have DE-creased. Very odd that yours would increase. Maybe not related? My migraines were related to my hormones 9 out of 10 times, so I'm sticking with it.