October is here

I can't believe we're in October already. What are you going to wear for Halloween? It's coming. I'm going to be a sleepy person. I'll wear pajama's, a sleeping mask, slippers, and bring a teddy bear. Starting coming up with ideas for your Halloween costume because before you know it, it'll be here. BOO!

Vanna

Most recently we got a poodle. Her name is Vanna. When we got her she was pregnant; we had her for a few weeks then gave her back to the breeder. Vanna had 11 healthy puppies. 5 girls and 6 boys. I can but only tell the truth when I say they were beautiful puppies. We are fostering Vanna for the breeder while she takes care of the other puppies and dogs. She is so cute, more than you can imagine. So cute!!!

Isn't she so cute? I think so and if you don't, you're crazy. I mean how can you not love that cute face.

Birthdays

My birthday was a month ago. It was amazing. I got to have my friends over for a sleepover but two of them couldn't sleep over. I got $55 worth of iTunes cards and trust me that's a lot. And a few other things too. But I also got to spend my birthday with my family which was awesome too. Maybe more. But my birthday isn't the only one in the summer.

In a few days I get to go to my friends for her birthday party. Which is a Drive in movie/ Pool party/ Sleepover birthday party. I've already gotten her presents which I think she'll really like, oh did I say like I meant love. I can't wait. It'll be sooo much fun with her and the other people who are coming too. I just know it will be awesome, amazing, fantastic and more.

Narcolepsy Symptoms

There are quite a few symptoms of Narcolepsy. They usually have to do with excessive daytime sleepiness and abnormal REM sleep. Other unusual side effects of abnormal REM sleep, includes hallucinations, sleep paralysis, and Cataplexy (sudden loss of muscle tone). It's usually triggered by laughter or humor, sadness, surprise or frustration. Not all people who have Narcolepsy have it come with Cataplexy. However they all suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness.

Excessive Daytime Sleepiness...

To normal people, after their naps they stay refreshed for about a few hours but to people with Narcolepsy they stay refreshed for about half that time. To people with Narcolepsy the urge to sleep is often uncontrollable. People with Narcolepsy take certain medication to help them stay awake through out their day because their brain is always sleeping incorrectly. People with this condition usually have a hard time going through long periods of physical exertion, loud noise, sudden temperature changes and other forms of stress.


 Cataplexy...

64% - 80% of all narcoleptics go through their life with the development of Narcolepsy with Cataplexy. Cataplexy is a symptom of Narcolepsy when the person loses complete control of muscle tone. It's usually triggered by strong emotions that are usually triggered often. Humor is the most

common trigger known for Cataplexy. But there are still other triggers like sadness and proudness even a surprise or frustration can do the trick. When a person with Narcolepsy experience Cataplexy they can have a complete fall or just head drops and wobbly knees. When these people are not medicated, they're more likely to have complete falls than just head drops and wobbly knees. When Cataplexy occurs the person may not be able to more or speak for about 30 seconds to a minute. But some episodes can last for 20 minutes, But it's unlikely. Even though their body cannot more or speak they are still aware of what's going on around them and they can feel themselves too. They just can't more or speak. Cataplexy is the most dangerous side effect or symptom of Narcolepsy because if you fall unexpectedly quickly on a hard surface you could be seriously hurt. When a person has a complete fall it looks like a medical emergency to strangers but it's just a medical condition that others don't know about. If a child has a complete fall in a public place like a grocery store in an isle or in a store it would just look like a child goofing around. But if an adult has a complete fall in a public place someone might think to call 911 because adults don't usually completely fall or goof around. If during a Cataplexy episode the person can't move into a comfortable position it can hurt them, a person can help them into a better position.

Hypnagogic and/ or Hypnopompic Hallucinations...

This isn't daydreaming this is real dreaming while awake and experiencing things. The brain mistakenly thinks the false and imaginative information is real. 86% of all narcoleptics experience often hallucinations of scents, visual things and auditory sensations while falling asleep. This can happen at any time of the day. This is also a dangerous side effect or symptom of Narcolepsy because if you're driving for example and you see something that isn't actually there you might cause an accident. These hallucinations can at some points be dreamlike and others be quite real. That's why it's important to try to be aware of the things that are actually happening around you not the things that are just a figment of your imagination. Some hallucinations can be quite frightening and cause anxiety. These hallucination take place from the transition from wakefulness to sleep. These are REM related abnormalities.

Sleep Paralysis...

Sleep paralysis is the inability to move or talk at the beginning or end of sleep for several seconds or minutes. 63% of all narcoleptics have experienced this symptom of Narcolepsy. When someone first experiences sleep paralysis it can be quite frightening and they say they feel unable to be when in fact they actually can. This is also another REM abnormality. Everyone meaning even people without Narcolepsy experience paralysis when they enter REM sleep but people with Narcolepsy, their brains are out of sync with whatever the stage of wakefulness the body should be in. So sometimes it might take a few minutes to for the brain to let the muscles release from the grasp of REM sleep.

Insomnia... 

Insomnia is having a real hard time falling asleep at night. While most people can fall asleep just like that people with insomnia need a little bit longer to fall into REM sleep.

Excessive Hunger and Obesity...

The part of the brain that controls your sleep stage cycles also controls your ability to control how much you eat. People with Narcolepsy when tired may feel the urge to eat. They eat when tired because they're trying to get more energy when in fact they're getting less exercise  they get quickly exhausted by physical exertion and they suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness. Many narcoleptics suffer from the after effect of sleepiness when they eat carbs/sugar.

Slurred Speech...

Slurred speech is a symptom of Cataplexy. Because of when you have an episode of Cataplexy you lose all muscle tone in your body you also lose it in your mouth as well. That's when slurred speech makes it's way through into the symptoms category.

Nighttime Wakefulness...

Nighttime wakefulness is when you have a sudden burst of energy at night. Which comes with a bunch of hot flashes, elevated heart rate and intense alertness. Some people feel full of great ideas and others are darkly depressed but before anything really happens they just fall back asleep.

Fun Facts...

Want to hear some fun facts about Narcolepsy, well I'm hear to tell you that. Did you know that if a person without Narcolepsy stays up for 30 hours that's equivalent to what a person with Narcolepsy feels like all the time. Narcolepsy is not as common to see in kids as it is in adults.;
 
     

It's my Brother's Birthday!

Yay! He's turning 17 years old. Can you believe it because I can't. No way! We have a wonderful beautiful cake for his birthday. I can't wait. I got him some pop and sweets and chips. I'll tell you the rest later.

What's that I hear, Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day is a day that you can spread you love to each other meaning friends and family, teachers and even enemies.

Inspiring Narcolepsy Quotes

 I believe that these inspiring narcolepsy pictures can get people to understand that even when you live with Narcolepsy your whole life there's always a new day coming with lots of fun adventures

that people with Narcolepsy can experience and enjoy.

Life Style Changes 2

Breakfast: Breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day. You should be eating fruits and veggies and maybe some dairy but probably NO CARBS for people with Narcolepsy but just in general it's still not a good idea to have them because it makes you tired.

Snack: Snack time is what holds you off until your next meal like lunch or supper. You shouldn't be having snacks constantly like every half an hour or so.

Lunch: Lunch is the 2nd most important meal of the day because whatever you eat for lunch keeps you going or doesn't. Lunch time should be around 11 am - 1 pm maybe 1:30 because if you have your lunch around 2 pm it's to close to suppertime you won't be hungry. Lunchtime should be made up of a few carbs and protein.


Supper: Suppertime is the last meal of the day for most people. For Supper you shouldn't eat a lot of whatever you're having because what usually happens is that you never burn off the calories you ate unlike lunchtime and breakfast because those are in the middle of the day. Supper should be made up of a few carbs, veggies, salad, and protein.


Dessert: Dessert is what you would call having your sweet treat for the day. Dessert is usually after supper not before. People sometimes have cookies, cake, ice cream, pies anything like that. There are tones of sweet treats out there but you still have to remember the consequences of what you ate and of how much you eat of it.


Bedtime: Most people don't have a bedtime snack but I do. My bedtime snack is usually fruit, veggies, dairy and NO CARBS.

It's the New Year!

It's  the New year, YAY! I'm so excited to start this new year off with a great start. It's almost time to go back to school with your friends. Today is the last day before school starts off again. Well I hope everyone out there had as much a GREAT Christmas as I did. Well go to go, see you when school has started again. Bye