Meds and nightmares

I was diagnosed with narcolepsy, classic case with cataplexy in the fall of 2010. I was prescribed Xyrem, a medication which is prescribed GHB. Yup, I'm serious. If you don't know what GHB is, Google it. The street name is Georgia Home Boy. It has a street name. No lies. Anyway I started the medication on a titration schedule, meaning, I started off on a very low dose and built myself up to a stronger steady dose. From night one of Xyrem I knew it was going to cause issues. I fell asleep so fast I didn't have time to comfortably position myself so when I woke up in the middle of the night with the 4 hour alarm I set, my right hand and arm were completely asleep. I had to ask my mom to help me use the restroom. I started getting used to the medication though and used it for about three months without additional problems (which I can discuss at a later time). 

This spring I had the terribly good idea that Xyrem was causing more harm than good and I wanted to get taken off of it. It was a disaster. I was so tired and couldn't cope with the normal persons sleep cycle where you work 8-10 hours a day and still have energy for extracurriculars that I began sleeping in my office. I would take micro sleeps 1-5 minutes at a time. I learned to prop myself up, hands on the keyboard and face near the computer screen. My back faced the door so passer us would honestly think I was working. I don't necessarily think what I was doing was wrong. My coworkers did the same thing but instead of taking naps they checked Facebook, Twitter, reddit, whatever. This seemed to help. A friend I worked with even found a funny word art block decoration for my office that reads, "if you ever get caught sleeping at work just say 'thank you, amen'". Maybe I never got caught or maybe no one really cared but I didn't get fired from that job and life started getting easier. 

This spring I also graduated with my masters degree and was hired as a childhood behavioral therapist for an ABA Therapy provider in Owensboro, Kentucky. I interviewed for the job and asked to work in their Henderson office which at the time didn't have the need for a therapist so I agreed to take the job in Owensboro. That's where my story changes. The drive from my driveway to the work parking lot takes on average 48 minutes. These 48 minutes have become my personal hell. I struggle everyday to make the slow and monotone drive, not once but twice. Needless to say I'm back on Xyrem and I've switched my daily stimulant from Nuvigil to Concerta. Concerta seems to affect my dreams. 

Dreaming under the influence of Xyrem and Concerta is like living in a tim burton meets ZZ top remix. I had a sleep paralysis dream last night where neon black bats flew at my head and sent an electric current through my body and with each shock I knashed my teeth together. The electric current wasn't real, it was from my own mind but the teeth knashing. That was real. This morning my jaw was sore and tired. I'm. Little anxious to go to sleep tonight. I'm worried to have more of these paralyzingly dreams where my mind is asleep but my body is awake. 

Until next time, good night Internet, sweet dreams (hopefully)! Xoxo

The kid napper

I nap so hard you can call me the kidnapper… Because I sleep like a baby.

It took all of my energy to come up with this blog name and that joke. 

So, now I will be going to sleep. I will try to come up with a real blog post shortly. 

I bid you good night and sweet dreams. Xoxo.