If I Fall Asleep In Public, Does That Mean I Have Narcolepsy?

I will never forget it, because it was hilarious and I am pretty sure Julie was inhaling popcorn from a few rows in front of us. Back in the early 90s, my college friends- Julie and Robert- and I went to see the movie Flesh and Bone, which starred Dennis Quaid, Meg Ryan, and James Caan. We went to a really late showing in Louisville and, well, Julie didn't make it through it. In her defense, the movie wasn't great. But, she fell asleep. And snored. Mercilessly. Every single time she inhaled, it sounded like someone has turned on an asthmatic wet/dry vac.

Just the other day, my co-host Mary-Katherine told me about her mom. We call her 'Mimi'. Mimi fell asleep in a chair in the driveway of her house. Though we weren't there to witness it, we have no doubts that there were a few neighbors in the hood wondering if this was a Weekend at Bernie's situation.

Look! I have been there. I can literally fall asleep anywhere. There's no shame in my game either. One time in college, I fell asleep on a bus trip to Shaker Village in Harrodsburg. This wasn't your run-of-the-mill nap. I was OUT COLD and I drooled down the window. When I woke up, it looked like my bus window had been French-kissed by a St. Bernard.

I also fall asleep- and snore- in the movies. Just like Julie! I don't know whose idea it was to transition movie theatre seating to recliners, but that was a REALLY bad idea. Horrendous actually. I haven't made it through a movie in years.

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WHAT IS NARCOLEPSY?

So, are Julie, Mimi, and I just undiagnosed narcoleptics? The good news is this. Apparently, falling asleep in public does not necessarily mean that you (we) have a neurological malady. Since we're on the subject, what is exactly is narcolepsy?

Okay, that's comforting. I definitely don't have cataplexy. I don't think I have ever been in a situation where I couldn't speak. I'm not sure there's any neurological condition powerful enough to keep these lips from flapping.

So, here's a question. I mean, I sometimes battle the urge to drift off to sleep during the day. There are times at work when I could literally put my head on my desk and go to sleep.  When should I (or anyone else, for that matter) get tested for narcolepsy?

WHEN SHOULD I GET TESTED FOR NARCOLEPSY?

Healthline.com says you should consult a doctor or sleep professional if you're experiencing extreme sleepiness and it's accompanied by muscle weakness and/or hallucinations. You would likely be experiencing those hallucinations during the onset of sleep or while you're in the process of waking up. Also, it's important to note that the extreme sleepiness would be happening at inopportune times- specifically those situations in which you should be alert.

The Mayo Clinic outlines extensive diagnostic procedures, which include obtaining a detailed sleep history based on your own sleep records, polysomnography (a sleep study), genetic testing, and even a spinal tap.

Okay, that doesn't sound fun at all. But, I suppose it's a necessity if there's really a chance you're narcoleptic. I actually don't think that I am. I think I just succumb to the conditions when they're just right.

In fact, now that I I think about it. I'm in the mood to go to the movies, throw that recliner back, and drift off shortly after those opening credits roll.