My name is Alyssa Walker, and I am 27 years old. I am from Houston, Texas, and I’m a flight attendant living with narcolepsy.
In high school, I was extremely active. If it wasn’t track and field or basketball, it was dance rehearsal or pageant practice. I was always on the go. So, if I got tired after sitting for more than 20 minutes, it didn’t seem weird or concerning. But then, as a freshman in college, I started having trouble making it to my classes on time. I would wake up, only to fall back asleep and dream that I was getting ready.
I stopped going to see my parents as frequently because I couldn’t make the hour and 15-minute drive home without falling asleep on the road. (Thankfully, I never had an accident!) I was extremely irritable all the time. I would cry over silly things like it being too hot outside, or get overwhelmed by little problems, like school assignments. The more I stressed, the sleepier I would get. By the beginning of my sophomore year, I was sleeping more hours than I was awake. That semester I failed all my classes and lost both my jobs.
Looking for answers
I decided to research sleep disorders and told my primary care doctor I thought something was wrong. I was referred to a sleep specialist and received my narcolepsy diagnosis in 2013 at the age of 20. Before I met with the specialist, I thought I was only experiencing excessive daytime sleepiness. But it turned out that I suffer from all five symptoms associated with narcolepsy which, in addition to daytime sleepiness, include hallucinations, sleep disruption, sleep paralysis (yes, it’s as scary as it sounds), and cataplexy. That’s when all the muscles suddenly lose their tension and stiffness and become floppy while you’re awake, leading to the loss of voluntary muscle control.
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There are two types of narcolepsy. Type 1 is with cataplexy, and Type 2 is without. Type 1 is usually genetic, and that’s what I have. I assume that I received narcolepsy from my father’s side. His brother passed away before I was born, but he experienced sleep paralysis, and he would even sleep with a broom next to his bed, which, according to an old myth, could stop it from happening.
Managing my condition
Knowing that narcolepsy is genetic makes me worry about passing it to my children one day. I also worry about not being able to be a good mother because I’m too tired. When I have these thoughts, I remind myself of all the things I have accomplished in spite of narcolepsy. I know being a mom won’t be easy, but I am confident I can do it.
This is because I have learned ways to manage my symptoms. I have a medication that helps me sleep at night and another medicine that helps me stay up throughout the day. The medications don’t solve everything, but along with maintaining certain lifestyle habits, they help me to live a normal life.
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For instance, sitting for long periods makes me tired, and movement always puts me in a better mood and boosts my energy. So I prioritize daily exercise. Over the years, I have also learned to eat smaller portions and limit sugar, carbs, and fried foods to avoid sleepiness. Two years ago, I became vegan to better my health, which definitely has had a positive effect on my symptoms.
Everyday life with narcolepsy
I consider myself extremely fortunate to be able to work with narcolepsy. After I got my job as a flight attendant, I was initially nervous that I wouldn’t be able to handle the long hours and the different time zones. It turns out that being able to fall asleep quickly is actually very useful in the aviation industry!
For example, having to fall asleep at 8 p.m. to get enough rest to start work at 4:30 a.m. is a struggle for most people. But my medications play a huge role in allowing me to sleep and be awake when I need to be. Overall, the long hours are challenging, but I tend to be more alert the more active I am. I keep moving and grooving in the air, and everything turns out fine. I’ve never fallen asleep while working. Unfortunately, though, I’m not super human, and I still get jet lag!
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What It's Really Like Living With Narcolepsy - Prevention.com
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