Hi Jana-Lynne—
I am glad to hear that you are scheduled for a second round of tests. You are following a standard progression of exams for discovering why someone is pathologically sleepy—which is what you are when you fall asleep at the wheel of an automobile.
This next series of tests—which will measure your sleep and REM latencies, that is, how long it takes you to fall asleep, and then, once asleep, how long it takes you to begin dreaming, are performed to test for narcolepsy. Narcolepsy is a genetically inherited condition which causes excessive sleepiness in inappropriate situations—all of which—I might add, you have already described. You have fallen asleep repeatedly at school, at work, and while driving. These are all times when sleep is undesireable—to say the least! If you test positive for narcolepsy, which I suspect you may, you can relax in the knowledge that treatment for narcolepsy is safe, effective, and easy.
I have worked with thousands of patients suffering from various sleep disorders. One of the most common remarks I hear after a patient receives treatment is “I wish I had done this years ago.” I am glad you are receiving treatment. In one month your problem is going to be completely behind you. Sleep disorders are one of the most successfully treated of all medical conditions! I hope other readers—who are tired of being tired—will follow your example.
Good Luck!
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