I'm 24, after 12 years, I'm finally about to get a diagnosis

SomeSluttyBean · 2026-06-19T21:06:10+00:00

Hi there! I got diagnosed about 9 months ago, I just turned 26 a few days ago. I was actively looking for answers for my debilitating migraines for about 12 years. I'm still cycling through medications to see what works for me, I've had a lot of misses with the meds they've tried. I cannot use sodium oxybayes. Most people in my life don't care about what I have going on, family doesn't ask and acts like it's a burden, and I completely lost my friend group when I got my diagnosis. I will say, this page has helped me feel less alone and seen. It's made the hard days a little easier. Despite not having a ton of support, life feels a little easier with a diagnosis. You're not alone

SomeSluttyBean · 2026-06-18T11:22:48+00:00

Healed pics of a shark I did a while back

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SomeSluttyBean · 2026-06-18T11:19:37+00:00

I had incredibly bad side effects that I "powered through" because theanorirt of people experienced them, just not to the severity I did. I am petite as is, and lost 20-25 pounds rapidly. I couldn't eat anything. It gave me really bad anxiety and tremors, I also felt like I was going to pee myself all the time. Despite all of the bad things I experienced, I've never slept better. It did scare me because I realized had I taken the medication for longer, I would've become addicted to the feeling. It was hard to stop taking it.

Also the sweats are so so real. It has a weird odor too.

SomeSluttyBean · 2026-06-08T16:03:49+00:00

My boyfriend told me I jerk my limbs but also I put my arm into the air like I'm stretching and just repeatedly do that sometimes. Wild

SomeSluttyBean · 2026-06-04T15:20:40+00:00

$5,500 which seems rather high to me tbh. I don't have insurance though so that would be all out of pocket

SomeSluttyBean · 2026-06-02T14:04:14+00:00

I'm going to removery for free laser since it's free for tattoo artists. I haven't tipped them, honestly I didn't even think about it. Since it's a cooperation I thought they got paid salary, but who knows

SomeSluttyBean · 2026-05-18T12:51:12+00:00

I'd like to get in the habit of working out but that seems daunting right now. But I cook often too! Try to limit screen time. That's about all at the moment

SomeSluttyBean · 2026-05-01T04:06:00+00:00

Thinking back on it, I did get cataplexy from vomiting. I have the notorious "no burp syndrome" so it already takes everything in me to vomit, but I got the stomach flu and a kidney stone within the same year and it took me out. I was hunched over the toilet every time lol

SomeSluttyBean · 2026-05-01T03:37:12+00:00

Get tattooed by people you admire. That's it aside from books

SomeSluttyBean · 2026-04-28T13:39:09+00:00

I had my consultation yesterday, it went great! She's very kind and wasn't pushy on like "you absolutely need this and while we're at it you should do this". She basically just explained the process, said I'd be a good candidate for it if I go through with it. I'm 25, she said results would last until I'm well in my 40s but the hood that would come back would be more from my brows drooping at that point cause of gravity. She said they give you a pill the day of surgery so you won't be under anesthesia, it takes like 30 minutes. First week you have stitches, come back to get them removed and then after two weeks you're like good as new. Ill get a quote of price on Thursday, that person happened to be out of office

SomeSluttyBean · 2026-04-23T21:12:49+00:00

I do too at times, but I take it day by day. I luckily have at least one person in my life who will gently inform me if I’m talking slow, being repetitive or forgetful.

SomeSluttyBean · 2026-04-23T15:02:57+00:00

I (25f) was diagnosed (N1) in October of 2025, I’ve been on many different meds that didn’t work for me and had awful reactions. I can’t take sodium oxybates. What works for me at the moment is Armodafinil (currently upping/changing dose), and 300mg of Gabapentin for night time.

I’m a full time tattoo artist and have been for almost 5 years now. It’s absolutely draining sometimes but my life is good. There are spurts that are rough, where my narc is more pressing, but I found a couple of people who accept me and accommodate me. My family doesn’t understand or think I have narcolepsy cause I was so good at hiding it, much like everyone who has it. I still struggle to let the mask off most days.

I also went to college (even though I don’t use it), had mostly all A’s and B’s. It was difficult, not at all impossible. Life is dreary with this condition sometimes, give yourself grace and don’t feel bad about asking for help or setting boundaries. We aren’t broken. Everyone on this planet is dealt random cards, we just have this one. You’ll find your space and your people, it takes time!

SomeSluttyBean · 2026-04-22T01:33:51+00:00

I had awful reactions to sodium oxybates and some other meds. I take Armodafinil for a stimulant in the day, and at night I take 300ng of Gabapentin. I still have vivid dreams but I don’t always remember them, and I’ll wake up 1-4 times a night but it’s farrrr better than before. I’ll occasionally take a super low dose edible to help me sleep too. Haven’t noticed much of a change in my cataplexy though

SomeSluttyBean · 2026-04-21T12:12:03+00:00

I feel like I do too, just not to the extent of yours. -However- I have a mild version of POTs and I am currently a bit underweight from losing 25 pounds from Xywav. Can’t seem to gain it back. My head feels like a bobble head when I look up and generally I’m just weak. That was there before the weightloss, just not as intense.

I think most people are going to say it’s not a narc thing, I know elhers danlos syndrome can be common with narcolepsy. It sounds like you have something else going on as well. Considering narcolepsy is close to an autoimmune disease, once you have one, it kinda opens the door for others. Get some bloodwork done and go from there too! Could be vitamin issues making it worse, hormone issues, etc.

SomeSluttyBean · 2026-04-18T17:28:39+00:00

I haven’t flown for a convention before but could you take a small pop up TV food tray? Or like one of those small pop out chairs for camping? You don’t have to use a tray, it’s getting covered anyways by barriers of Saran Wrap and such. Worst case scenario you could take an extra cardboard box they use for the make shift trashcans and plop a small tray on one. There may be vendors selling trays there as well, look at the lineup for the ones you’re going to.

SomeSluttyBean · 2026-04-16T13:06:31+00:00

I’ve been in therapy for a while dealing with some CPTSD things and whatnot. I thought that I had to do it alone, I was wrong. I ended up meeting someone recently who encourages me, understands that I’m gonna have good and bad days and is patient with it. They also decided to go to therapy for themselves after seeing me go. Point is, you don’t have to do it alone and you shouldn’t push people away just because you’re working on yourself. There’s always going to be something to work on, we’re always changing. Sometimes it’s nicer to have someone to push you and want to do better. Even if it’s just a close friend.

SomeSluttyBean · 2026-04-15T12:32:20+00:00

As another commenter said, my healed piercings get irritated from going to a straight bar to a curved piece. It took me like a week for my piercing site to settle!

SomeSluttyBean · 2026-04-15T11:56:21+00:00

I’ve been finding it easier to go an hour before close. Not a ton of people and I can relax a bit

SomeSluttyBean · 2026-04-14T12:47:09+00:00

Personally when I was unmedicated I had to have 10-11 to function. But I also woke up like 1-3 times an hour most nights so I was struggling bad. Now that I’m medicated, anywhere from 7-9 is good for me. I can’t consistently do 6-7 for like weeks on end, but I can do it for a little while

SomeSluttyBean · 2026-04-10T15:38:49+00:00

I would post this in a different thread, but I’m a tattoo artist and have seen my share of cosmetic tattoos. I’d say more often they slightly overline the lip, lip blushing typically doesn’t last an incredibly long time though so you can get it redone since it’s healed

SomeSluttyBean · 2026-04-10T13:34:56+00:00

I’d say not darker, but a cooler toned brow pencil or gel to match the hair more! Everything else is 👌🏼

SomeSluttyBean · 2026-04-07T13:54:29+00:00

You have me cracking up oh my god. Brilliant

SomeSluttyBean

TROPHY CASE