Thank you, Dr. Oz!

I will never forget the first time that I saw the word cataplexy.  It was November 2011, and I was online doing Dr. Oz's Transformation Nation challenge.  A fellow colleague told me about this weight loss challenge that was more like a lifestyle challenge.  She emailed me the link to the website to enter the competition.  As I filled out questionnaires for the challenge, I was alerted to the fact that I may have EDS (excessive daytime sleepiness).  I did not disagree with this assumption that the computer had issued on my behalf, from me simply filling out a few questionnaires. As I navigated my way through the info regarding EDS, narcolepsy links kept popping up.  In no way did I think that I had narcolepsy, but when I clicked on a link it took me to a page that was talking about cataplexy.

Until this point I had never seen or heard the word cataplexy before, not even in nursing school.  As I read the definition of this strange new word- tears welled up in my eyes.  This is it! This is what I have! This is what's wrong with me!  It was a huge relief to say the least to finally know, after years of wondering, what my mild cataplexy was. I knew without a doubt that the funny feeling I felt when I laughed and the knee buckling I experienced with anger or embarassment, was not a circulation disorder- but cataplexy.  It seemed harmless enough however, every time I cross referenced cataplexy, narcolepsy links and info would pop up.  So I read more about narcolepsy.  Since I self diagnosed myself with cataplexy, the realization of the possibility of having narcolepsy was starting to set in. There was no self diagnosing my narcolepsy.  Roughly four months after my new found knowledge, I sought answers from a sleep specialist M.D. 

So I have Dr. Oz and his website to thank for providing the info I needed to discover my unseeable disorders.  Have never met the man, but he was more helpful than my regular docs whom I had spoke with face to face.  Thank you Dr. Oz!!!