Sunday, January 17, 2010

Cataplexy Awareness!

Cataplexy: A debilitating medical condition in which a person suddenly feels weak and collapses at moments of strong emotion such as laughter, anger, fear or surprise. In so collapsing, people with cataplexy may injure themselves.
Laughter and other emotions trigger a reflex in persons that can bring many of the muscles of the body to the point of collapse. The phenomenon can be measured by sending electric signals through the muscles and gauging their response. In cataplexy, what is known as the H-reflex, a neurological pathway that causes muscle contractions, virtually disappears.
Cataplexy often affects people who have narcolepsy, a disorder in which there is great difficulty remaining awake during the daytime.
The word "cataplexy" comes from the Greek "kata" meaning "down" + "plexis" meaning a stroke or seizure = a falling-down seizure

I have posted the above today as a lot of people have asked me about it and this explains it the best I know.
You can also find other information at Sleep Disorders. net. I hope this has been helpful.
I hope you all have a great weekend. Be well. Until next week.

11 comments:

  1. Dear Cinner -
    Great, informative post!
    Hope all is going well for you.

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  2. That must be a very frightening condition to have to cope with. Thank you for the information. Is there any hope that you will recover from this, or that the symptoms can be reduced through medication? xx

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  3. What a tough condition, all the more because so few people know about it. I bet a lot of people are misdiagnosed or just suffer alone...very upsetting...hope you are doing well...it's 72 here today...going to play outside!!!

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  4. HI CINNER-

    Well stated. For me with my illness it is the unpredictability that causes unrest. sigh..............and so it appears trhe same is true for you.
    Praying for you, for us both...

    Love you girl
    Gail
    peace.....

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  5. cinner I had never heard of Cataplexy before I met you and I thank you for informing me about it.....:-) Hugs

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  6. Hi Cinner, Just stopping by to wish you a great day!
    xo

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  7. I, too, had never heard of cataplexy before I met you. You are enlightening more people to what it is. I think you are a very strong individual....and....guess what? I'm continuing to drink my water...every day!!! Yes!!!
    J.

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  8. Cinner - I left a blogging award for you on my post today!

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  9. Anne, thankyou so much. I will be by to see it...have a great day.,

    jACKIE, yesterday I was a bad girl, hardly any water, 2 bottles so far this morning, and I am trying for eight. yes most people have not heard of it, but I feel with info more people will know about it,,,it even gives me some peace of mind...hugs to you.

    Joanna, thanks for poppin in. How have you been. I am coming for a visit, hoping to get caught up on my blog visiting this week. take care.

    Bernie, no thankyou for learning about it. have a great week Bernie. Take care.

    Gail, that is exactly it, is the unpredictability of it, you just never know from day to day, but it is getting easier for me if I follow the rules of getting my rest.I am praying for you too. I got your email about Icy today. your so lucky! Big Hugs.

    Dame Penniwig, 72 degrees in my dreams....We had pus four a couple times this week and we felt like we had hit the motherload. 72 degrees I would probablly be getting sunburnt. Enjoy, Enjoy...Our summers here are great, lots of 80 degree weather,,,,I can hardly wait to feel the heat on these bones....I have heard stories of people taking years to be diagnosed for Cataplexy. My family doctor said he had no idea what it was, but he sent me to a neurologist really quick. and he knew right away....so I am one of the lucky ones as far as diagnosis goes.
    It is livable too, so all is good. have a great week my friend. take care.

    Cambridge Lady, the condition does not go away, of course they are always trying to find a cure, the medication I am on helps a great deal, but if I get off my schedule at all, then it gets bad for a few days...but there are so many worse things it could have been....hope you are well. thanks for your visits, they mean alot to me.

    Anne, all is good here. Coming for a visit right now.

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  10. I didn't know that Cinner please take care of yourself today dear one.

    xoxox

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  11. Thank you for this info..I had read it before on your blog but it was good to reread! I admire your postive attitude!! You are such a wonderful person!!

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