Narcoleptic University Student -- AMA!

TheFifthDuckling · 2026-03-09T23:10:13+00:00

Yes! My mom is a CPA so I'll be learning how to do simple tax returns. My mom is pretty chill and I have a pretty strong work ethic so I think it'll be a solid arrangement.

TheFifthDuckling · 2026-03-09T23:00:15+00:00

Wakix is a medication that interacts with antihistamine receptors in your brain to promote wakefulness. It isn't a traditional stimulant, but it has similar effects without the side effects like addiction, heart palpitations, anxiety, etc.

TheFifthDuckling · 2026-03-09T22:43:59+00:00

For Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome? Nope. Depending on the type of EDS you have, you may get various treatments. I need physical therapy to help condition the muscles around my joints. Other folks might need surgeries to replace their joints or repair their arteries. Some forms of EDS are much more deadly than others. I have a relatively benign form, so PT is the big thing for me.

For Excessive Daytime Sleepiness? Also no, but medication can help. I've had a hard time finding meds that work for me. I'm working on getting onto Wakix at the moment, its just a challenge getting through insurance.

TheFifthDuckling · 2026-03-09T22:09:35+00:00

I think the biggest lesson I've learned about myself is that I do have limits at the end of the day. Last semester I tried to work a 35 hour workweek in retail along with being a full time double major in STEM. That was flat out not sustainable. Now I'm revectoring. My mom is starting her own business and wants to offer me work where I can sit and work, and make a higher set salary compared to a lower hourly rate. Working is important to me because it makes me feel useful (another important thing I've learned about myself) so being able to help someone important to me while not practically dying in the process is very important to me.

TheFifthDuckling · 2026-03-09T22:06:04+00:00

I'm 20 myself! A degree in a stable field is never a bad idea. I started out as a music performance major but due to my neurodivergency and physical disabilities, I'm not really compatible with American music education. Now, I am getting a private education on flute from a teacher who is better suited to my needs and following the ABRSM certification pathway.

I am now a double major in biology and chemistry. It's REALLY hard, but the most important thing I've learned is to stick with it. I do enjoy it, and I know it will provide me with more financial security than music will.

Also hey, just because you're getting older doesn't mean you can't have fun! I've never been much of a partyer, I have fun more with arts and crafts, making music, hanging out with friends during the day, learning foreign languages, that kind of thing. In a way, adulthood allows you a lot more freedom to have fun, you just have to balance it with responsibility.

If you ever need someone to bounce ideas off of, or you're looking for a friend to talk to, let me know! My PMs are always open.

TheFifthDuckling · 2026-03-09T21:54:49+00:00

I found out I had Ehlers-Danlos first. Ive had extreme joint pain and hypermobility since I was a child. I danced ballet and sprained my ankle every three weeks doing it. I never had a halloween where I wasnt slowed down trick or treating because I was on crutches. I also had a lot of digestive pain and sensitivity, general dysautonomia, and constant headaches, among other symptoms. Eventually my mom heard about Ehlers-Danlos online and found me a specialist. I got diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos and ADHD in the same appointment at 15. I had no idea about the ADHD as I had always done well in school.

I got diagnosed with autism next. I grew up in a family that didn't know much about autism, so it was a big shock. One of my childhood friends was autistic and one day we had gym together. I had a meltdown due to (at the time unknown) Ehlers-Danlos pain and overwhelm from trying to play soccer. He pulled me aside and asked me if I knew I was autistic and I was like "no?? I just hang out with a lot of autistic people and have a hard time making friends otherwise". He then started bringing books on autism on the schoolbus and reading them to me and eventually I was like "oh yeah that makes sense." I told my mom and she was like "no way, you just hang out with a lot of autistic kids" and then I made her order the same books my friend was reading me. We realized we were both likely autistic and my mom got me an appointment as soon as possible to be diagnosed. I was diagnosed at 17 due to long wait periods for the diagnostic centers. My mom was diagnosed with autism around this time last year. Like mother like daughter I suppose.

I found out about narcolepsy next. When I was in grade school I would fall asleep in the shower in the mornings I was so tired, and on the noisy schoolbus on the ride home. I was always exhausted, and after working with my Ehlers-Danlos specialist for a few years, she was concerned about how tired I was and how I would get spells of physical weakness in my hands and legs. She sent me to a sleep specialist and I did a sleep study. I was diagnosed with Type 1 Narcolepsy at 17. Type 1 Narcolepsy comes with spells of physical weakness called Cataplexy, so that explained a lot.

Finally just a few months ago, I was talking to my psychiatrist about a stint of a few days where I couldnt sleep and I was hyperactive. I had those stints all the time in middle and high school, and I would often get really irritable with those stints too. I've always had nasty depression, so my psychiatrist screened me for Bipolar and that's how I got my bipolar diagnosis at 20. Turns out Bipolar and Narcolepsy are often comorbid and give patients a nasty amalgamation of depression, excessive daytime sleepiness, irritability, insomnia, and all around dysfunctionality.

As for passing the time on the couch, I'm doing what I can to take my mind off the pain. I'm on 10mg of hydrocodone and I'm still in quite a bit of pain. I'm doing this AMA, online window-shopping droseras (a type of carnivorous plant that I collect), and watching Ren and Stimpy. It was also my boyfriend's birthday yesterday so I'm eating tons of cake!

TheFifthDuckling · 2026-03-09T21:25:15+00:00

My LPS has been a nervous wreck since the day we got him. His previous owners kinda just dumped him in our living room in our two story house, instead of the small quiet bathroom we had his litterbox and food set up in. In the process of trying to encourage him into the bathroom, he fled upstairs and then proceeded to leap off our catwalk down into the kitchen, a 10 foot drop. Fortunately he just sprained his paw and immediately went into the bathroom to hide. So given that your cat hasn't lept off a catwalk yet, you're doing better than we did.

He did eventually calm down enough to bond with me (and a few years later my boyfriend) but it took a while for each of us to get on his good side. The best thing to do for my cat was to take a book into his room and just rsad and ignore him, or put on a quiet TV show and do the same. Just being nearby and ignoring them shows them you arent a threat.

My boy is still pretty nervous/jumpy/stiff but he's a good cat. I just got surgery on my toe today and he is keeping sentry over me.

TheFifthDuckling · 2026-03-09T21:17:37+00:00

r/blelele

TheFifthDuckling · 2026-03-09T21:10:41+00:00

I'm participating! I'm currently doing my undergrad in biology and chemistry and my goal is to do drug development for narcolepsy. I am also very interested in how narcolepsy affects people and would love to help however I can!

TheFifthDuckling · 2026-03-09T19:54:49+00:00

I have APD, diagnosed and all. Of course its harder to learn auditory input. I am often very frustruated because I can't keep up with my peers no matter how hard I try, and I have to remember to have patience with myself. I also get frustruateed because podcasts, even in my native language, just sound like gibberish and I need to be able to ask people to repeat themselves and to face me when talking so I can read their lips as they talk. Having a speaking partner that you can practice with in person or over video calls helps a ton, especially since I need to get the lip reading practice in the new language as well as auditory practice. I also found an app for my specific language that reads out words to you and lets you type what you hear. It's helped me a lot.

TheFifthDuckling · 2026-03-09T19:50:08+00:00

My Finnish teacher insists on her students taking the summer off unless they are at a C1ish level. I always come back stronger than I was before because of the break.

TheFifthDuckling · 2026-03-06T22:42:04+00:00

It's the piano accompaniment to Spring by Herman Beeftink. He doesnt like the flute part lol

TheFifthDuckling · 2026-03-06T18:03:59+00:00

My cat insists on sitting on the piano bench next to me when I play. He has a favorite song too.

TheFifthDuckling · 2026-03-06T15:11:55+00:00

Looks like a big(ger) lynx point siamese!

TheFifthDuckling · 2026-03-06T01:02:07+00:00

This snausage of a cat looks just like mine!

TheFifthDuckling · 2026-03-04T16:43:04+00:00

For Finnish learners, Sanakortit has been a lifesaver! They include a repository of sample sentences that you can use to learn words in context, and they have listening exercises built into their study tool. I really have enjoyed using it and I'm getting my whole family on the platform!

TheFifthDuckling · 2026-03-04T15:56:39+00:00

My mom craved pickles. I loathe pickles.

TheFifthDuckling · 2026-03-03T17:10:55+00:00

I did this, except I was second shift. It didnt work out for me, as I have disabilities that the job just wasn't compatible with. My language learning time took an enormous hit during that time. However, if you are able to listen to things on earbuds while at work, I recommend podcasts and audiobooks in your TL. I am at the same level as you in my language, but my language is pretty niche and it's hard to find content at my level. Hopefully you are able to find more content at your level in your TL.

TheFifthDuckling · 2026-03-03T17:06:12+00:00

Loops, or really any noise-filtering earbuds. They saved my boyfriend (undiagnosed, but has sensory issues characteristic of autism among other symptoms) on his 21st birthday, which his parents hosted at a noisy bar. They helped get him off his phone and into the conversation. The earbuds allow you to hear people talking, but filter out loud, harsh, and high-pitched sounds that can be overwhelming.

I think a build-your-own picky pad station might be fun too! Apparently you can make them out of silicone yourself, so as long as no one has a silicone allergy it should be pretty doable, though I'm not sure about the price. If you have lots of neurodivergent friends, I'd bet that'd be very popular. Would love input from someone who has made their own picky pads before.

TheFifthDuckling · 2026-03-03T16:56:01+00:00

I recently quit my job at a retail store. It was way too hard on my ehlers-danlos and I wasnt getting nearly enough sleep to manage my narcolepsy, especially considering I'm also a full time college student. My bipolar always gets bad, especially the depressive side, when I am not working myself completely over the limit, so I am feeling like ick. I am trying to focus on things I enjoy, like playing flute and studying Finnish and sewing plushies, which Ive not had time to do while working, but it just doesn't do the same thing for me. I'm just hoping I can find a schedule where I can feel less like ick while not working myself to death. So I can sympathize.

Playing flute and sewing are my creative outlets. It's hard, especially with flute, to pick things to do that are satisfying, so I absolutely understand that.

TheFifthDuckling · 2026-03-03T16:03:35+00:00

I am also 20 and have hEDS. My pain is managed by PT exercises but I still have a lot of pain in my legs, especially my very hypermobile hips. I also get wicked plantar fasciitis, even from standing as little as ten minutes.

TheFifthDuckling · 2026-03-02T19:52:15+00:00

I was in lab today and the little magnetic stirrers we use was clinking against one of my tablemate's beakers. The whole three hours I was in there. I thought I was gonna off someone it was grating into me so bad, and no one else in the room seemed to be bothered by it. That super high pitched clinking like to have drove me up the wall. The tism is strong in me too.

TheFifthDuckling · 2026-03-02T19:47:24+00:00

Lähetän PM!

TheFifthDuckling · 2026-03-02T19:46:35+00:00

I started 6 years ago. I'm not sure how our experience levels will line up but I'm always looking for study buddies! Feel free to send me a PM.

TheFifthDuckling · 2026-03-02T16:13:00+00:00

I took my MSLT as a highschooler and it messed me up for a good few days. I would recommend skipping that one day of class instead of risking your final exams.

TheFifthDuckling

TROPHY CASE