Suddenly Sleepy Saturday

March 11, 2023

The Narcolepsy Network has helped to promote March 11th as Suddenly Sleepy Saturday nationwide to advance the knowledge, treatment, and awareness of Narcolepsy.  Last year only 28 states participated in this event.  Dr. Debra Stultz and her team petitioned Governor Justice. We are excited to report that Governor Jim Justice joined this movement and declared Saturday, March 11th, as Suddenly Sleepy Saturday in West Virginia!  

He claimed the proclamation to advance recognition of the diagnosis of narcolepsy; the neurologic, social, and emotional effects of narcolepsy; its occurrence in children, adolescents, and adults; and the need for further treatment/education. 

Narcolepsy disrupts sleep and its regular cycles of Rapid Eye Movement Sleep (REM) and Non-REM sleep.  Symptoms may begin in childhood and not be diagnosed for many years.  This results in various symptoms during the daytime, night, sleep, and wakefulness.  Symptoms are as follows:

Excessive Daytime Sleepiness and Insomnia

Narcolepsy is a disorder of excessive daytime sleepiness where the brain cannot control the sleep-wake cycle, and there is a “flickering” between wake and sleep during the day and at night.  This leads to daytime sleepiness and nighttime insomnia.  And can cause “brain fog” with difficulty concentrating. 

Muscle Weakness or Cataplexy

Some patients with narcolepsy have muscle weakness that can occur with strong emotions.  The muscle weakness can be subtle or extreme, occur in almost any body muscle, emerge with a wide variety of emotions, and is sometimes noticed more by friends/family members around the individual than the patient. 

Sleep Paralysis

Some patients experience sleep paralysis, where they wake up and briefly feel as if they are paralyzed and cannot move their bodies.  This is because they wake immediately while in REM sleep.

Unusual Sensations, Vivid Dreams, and Nightmares

Patients with narcolepsy often dream early in the night (they can even start dreaming before they are actually asleep), have vivid dreams, increased nightmares, sensations that feel like auditory or visual, and even tactile hallucinations while going to or coming from sleep. 

More information on Narcolepsy can be obtained by visiting the Narcolepsy Network, Project Hope, Wake Up Narcolepsy, and www.drdebrastultz.com

Dr. Stultz is available for an interview on Narcolepsy and/or Suddenly Sleepy Saturday at 304-638-6163.