tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67821525267239303832024-02-20T19:02:19.627-08:00The Narcoleptic Single MomTidbits, information, musings and thoughts from a Single Mom in Sin City who battles Narcolepsy every day.Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10540211451686688187noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6782152526723930383.post-69649018196707374312012-08-01T14:01:00.000-07:002012-08-01T14:01:26.293-07:00The early yearsWhen I was 15 years old, I would come home from school and immediately fall asleep. Waking up in the morning for class? It was a battle every single day. It became my way of life to sleep as often as I could. (Looking back, in my senior yearbook - I listed sleeping as my favorite past time. RED FLAG!) I went through a dramatic change from being involved in 3 varsity sports and dance to just being active in one school club. I started smoking cigarettes (don't judge, I know they're horrible) and guzzling Dr. Pepper like it was going out of style. Though I didn't know it at the time, I was self medicating to stay awake and get through each day. I became the butt of all family jokes for being so lazy. <br />
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I wanted to become a broadcast journalist. I imagined myself working on the TODAY show. Unfortunately, I tried a few years of college, but could never make it through a semester with all of my classes. I was a B student in high school. I love to read and learn new things, but I couldn't handle the discipline it took to graduate from college. It's my one regret to date. I'm hopeful I can return one day soon and show my son that education is important. <br />
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Fast forward to 2007. I'm 26 years old and a single mom. For the first time, I realized that something was seriously wrong with me. I was at work and my boss had just told a funny joke. My legs felt like jello. I reached out to grab the chair nearest to me to stop from falling down. "Did you see that?!" I remember asking, but my boss didn't notice anything. This happened a few more times and I started to get extremely frightened. Logically, I knew that this wasn't right and that it was most likely neuro related. My mom asked me to pay attention to every detail the next time it happened. So, when it hit again I noticed I was telling a joke. A lightbulb went off over my head - I had been laughing every single time this happened! I had something to go on. That night, I sat down at the computer and typed in "muscle loss in knees while laughing". Cataplexy. Sudden muscle loss triggered by heightened emotions. Cataplexy is a common symptom of narcolepsy. Not everyone who has narcolepsy will have cataplexy, but if you have cataplexy you definitely have narcolepsy. (this was in 2007. The research of Narcolepsy is still in somewhat early stages. I believe there are documented cases of cataplexy without narcolepsy now.). The more I read, the more things made sense. I had a name for this and I knew that it wasn't going to kill me!<br />
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Until next time,<br />
J<br />
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<br />Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10540211451686688187noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6782152526723930383.post-28976672068593000202012-07-28T18:46:00.000-07:002012-07-28T19:36:53.569-07:00Sometimes, I feel so aloneTo date, I've never met another individual with Narcolepsy. My doctor recommended a local support group and gave me the information, but I was unable to locate this group online. My friends and family know that I have narcolepsy and they've come leaps and bounds in the way they think about me. No longer am I lazy J! Still, it would be nice to talk to someone else who "gets it". <br />
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The Narcolepsy Network <a href="http://www.narcolepsynetwork.org"></a> has an annual conference and I was unable to attend last year when it was here in Vegas. This year it is in Cleveland and I'm leaning towards going. If you're reading this - have you ever met a person who has narcolepsy? Or if you're an N sufferer like me, have you met more like us? <br />
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In the past week there was a study that came out regarding how much people know about narcolepsy. The most surprising data to me is that only 20% of SLEEP SPECIALIST PHYSICIANS feel like they know a lot about Narcolepsy. 20%.... It's things like this that make me wonder how much different my life could be right now if I was diagnosed at 15 or 16 rather than 30.<br />
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Until next time,<br />
JJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10540211451686688187noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6782152526723930383.post-24985965616852442472012-07-27T16:55:00.000-07:002012-07-28T19:35:11.316-07:00Steal my sunshine? I think notMad passengers, frazzled parents, rude lady? Don't let 'em steal your sunshine! Working in customer service, you deal with all types of people. Why is it that we seem to recall the unpleasant encounters more than the happy ones? Hopefully, the answer to that is because the happy people outnumber the mean ones. <br />
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Today at work, we laughed after an encounter with a person that was just unhappy. You can't win over everyone and I get that. What you can do (and what my team & I did) is treat that person just the same as everyone else. Maybe mean lady will look back on today and remember our happy, smiling faces. And maybe she'll even smile!<br />
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Until next time,<br />
JJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10540211451686688187noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6782152526723930383.post-86739024780621820242010-09-14T21:48:00.000-07:002010-09-14T21:48:26.195-07:00Outsourcing and FrustrationsAt my work, I have to speak with different airlines every day. Most US Airlines have recognized the fact that even though outsourcing their call centers may be more cost efficient, they lose much more than that in customer loyalty. When <span style="color: blue;">a)</span> I can not understand you and <span style="color: blue;">b)</span> you're not helpful AT ALL, rather you're just reading from a script... I get majorly frustrated. <br />
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Today, I was dealing with an issue that should have taken 5 minutes maximum to fix. I know. I've done it before. The company I was dealing with preferred to make proverbial mountains out of molehills, and this has now lingered on for two days, with tomorrow being day three. <br />
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<b>What is so wrong with companies spending more money to train and hire American workers? Don't they realize that when these American workers get paid, their money will be funneled right back into OUR economy???</b><br />
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Until next time,<br />
JJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10540211451686688187noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6782152526723930383.post-15087863562451339662010-09-13T22:33:00.000-07:002010-09-13T22:33:09.384-07:00Hopes and PrayersI've always considered myself a patriotic American. However, I get complacent and take for granted the freedom that has been granted to us. <br />
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For the past year I've heard on the news about the three hikers who are being jailed in Iran, accused as spies. This breaks my heart. They were not targeted for being spies, or for crossing some unmarked border. They are sitting in an Iranian jail today because they are Americans. I hope and pray that Sarah, Josh and Shane are freed soon.<br />
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Reflecting on this brings my train of thought to another matter. One that is closer to home for most of us. America is the only place that I would ever want to be from. I'm proud to be an American. That doesn't mean that we are without flaws though. Racism is a black cloud that has been hanging over our heads from the very beginning steps of our nation, with the Native Americans, Africans, Asians and more. <br />
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Most of the time when you hear "racism", you automatically think of a white person thinking or speaking negatively about a black person, based on the color of skin. ALL races are capable of being racists, not just the "whites". <br />
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I've been asked more times than I can count "what are you?" meaning my heritage. I usually laugh it off and say that I'm an American mutt. Why am I being asked this question in the first place? Why is anyone? <br />
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As I sit here typing this, I think about my sweet little boy, in bed asleep. I hope and pray that his dreams are happy ones. I hope and pray that one day he can travel the world and not be worried about being targeted for being an American. I hope and pray that America will always be the Land of the Free for the future generations. I hope and pray that one day my little boy and all the other boys and girls in his generation will finally be able to overcome racism. So, with the risk of sounding like a silly pageant queen.... I hope and pray for peace.<br />
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Until next time,<br />
JJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10540211451686688187noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6782152526723930383.post-45603044019230544952010-09-11T16:45:00.000-07:002012-08-01T14:03:06.280-07:009/11My parents, and other people of their generation frequently say that they will always remember where they were and what they were doing when they found out that JFK had been shot. I have two sad events that I'll always remember.<br />
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April 19, 1995 - Never Forget! I'm proud to be from Oklahoma.<br />
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I was in my dorm room, getting ready for my English Comp class when my friend Cord called me, telling me to turn on the TV. I'll never forget that moment. I walked to class in a daze, and was relieved to find out that class had been canceled.<br />
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One of my floor-mates was celebrating her birthday that beautiful September day. We somehow managed to get her a cake and be happy for a little while that evening.<br />
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9/11/2001.Jhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10540211451686688187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6782152526723930383.post-25012072100869628142010-09-10T23:52:00.000-07:002010-09-14T21:59:06.653-07:00Music, Sweet MusicI believe that I have a pretty eclectic taste in music. If you stole my iPod, you'd probably think that I'm a schizophrenic (don't worry, I'm not. one debilitating ailment, narcolepsy, is enough for me!) for the artist list I have. <br />
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I grew up in the South. Or Midwest. Or West. Oh hell, I grew up in Oklahoma. More defining than that though, is that I attended Oklahoma State University. What does this have to do with music, you may ask. Everything. Google "red dirt" music and you'll find more than you ever wanted to know about Stillwater, OK and the bands that got their start there. I swear if I could carry a tune, I'd be one of them. These bands, more specifically, The Great Divide and Cross Canadian Ragweed (hey, it was 2000!) allowed me to break out of my top 40 hits and love different music because I actually liked the music. For the first time, lyrics spoke to my heart. I felt as if the songwriters were writing about me, my family or my best friend. Recommendations of this genre?<br />
Check out:<br />
<b>Cross Canadian Ragweed</b> - Anywhere but here. Alabama. <br />
<b>No Justice</b> - The Toast. Turn to A Smile<br />
<b>Pat Green</b> - Carry On<br />
<b>Stoney LaRue</b> - Shot Full of Holes. Downtown.<br />
<b>Randy Rogers Band</b> - When the Circus Leaves Town<br />
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I've got more red dirt recommendations where that came from, but as the beginning of this post says, its all about the variety of musicality.<br />
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I discovered a song over the summer, by listening to Wyoming Public Radio that I fell in love with instantly. Seriously. 2 months later and it's still my ringtone.<br />
<b>Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros</b> - Home<br />
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A song that I heard first on The Hills (back when LC was on and Heidi was pre-Barbie) that I still love to this day is:<br />
<b>A Fine Frenzy</b> - Almsot Lover<br />
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Others that top my "play count" are:<br />
<b>Jeff Buckley</b> - Hallelujah. STILL. GIVES. ME. CHILLS.<br />
<b>The Grass Roots</b> - Let's Live For Today<br />
<b>P!nk</b> - Crystal Ball<br />
<b>Johnny Cash</b> - God's Gonna Cut You Down<br />
<b>Schuyler Fisk</b> - What am I to You<br />
<b>Julie Roberts</b> - Rain on a Tin Roof<br />
<b>Allison Krauss</b> - Let Me Touch You For Awhile<br />
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So... what do you think? Do these artists/songs suck more than the PAC-10? ;-)<br />
Let me know if there's a certain artist or song that you think I need to be playing Right Now.<br />
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Until next time,<br />
JJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10540211451686688187noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6782152526723930383.post-70577713219409732732010-09-10T16:07:00.000-07:002010-09-13T22:44:31.818-07:00Lazy? Not So MuchYou know that feeling that you get, first thing in the morning? Okay, maybe it's after you've had a cup of coffee or your shower. The feeling that you can take on the world and that it's a Brand New Day....<br />
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Well, I don't. Once upon a time I suppose I must have felt that way. I first noticed changes when I was about 15 or 16 years old. It became harder and harder to get out of bed in the morning. After school, I took a nap every day. My parents just thought I was lazy.<br />
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Fast forward about another 15 years.... I still have trouble getting out of bed every morning. I down two or three cups of coffee before I can coherently speak or think. I am extremely tired throughout the day, and to make things even worse, my new job is B-O-R-I-N-G. Painfully so! I've been lucky enough in my life to have a job that I absolutely love doing. Until now.<br />
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I laugh and I have to catch myself from falling because my knees buckle. This is called Cataplexy. Google it. Be glad you don't have it.<br />
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The best part of my life? My four year old son. He's my sunshine, my whole world. Parenting is hard work, even more so when you're a single parent with a sleep disorder. Sometimes, I feel so ashamed that I don't have the energy to play with him like I should. We do our best though.<br />
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Any questions? <br />
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Until next time,<br />
JJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10540211451686688187noreply@blogger.com0