Narcolepsy: A Funny Disorder That's No Laughing Matter

By Marguerite J. Utley

Book Overview

This book provides accurate facts about all aspects of narcolepsy, a little-known neurological sleep disorder. It is estimated that 150,000-250,000 people in the U.S. have narcolepsy, but most of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0964332817
• ISBN13: 9780964332812
• Release Date: January 1995
• Publisher: Marguerite Jones Utley
• Length: 166 Pages
• Weight: 0.72 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Great non-technical primer

Utley's book is a tremendous help to those who need to know more about this disorder.She's great in interjecting humor, while at the same time showing empathy for others.The only drawback is that she doesn't explore treatments for all the symptoms (such as hypnagogic hallucinations). If she didn't personally seek treatment for a symptom, she doesn't really list treatment options.It would be helpful if in a future addition, she would share stories from others as well.If you have the disorder or love someone who does, read this. It does not advocate using narcolepsy as an excuse for not living--it tells you how to live with narcolepsy.

Wonderful

Narcolepsy is a hard disorder to live with and this book really helped. It helped me to understand some symptons that I had that I did not relate to narcolepsy. It also was great to know that I am not the only one that experiences some of the things that I do. A really good book and source of knowledge. I gave it to my doctor to read.

A GOD SEND, A true inspration, there are Angles among us!

No one can possibly understand another Narcoleptic like one. Most people don't even tell the doctor alot of the symptoms for fear they will be locked away, considered nuts. Ms. Utley is honest and frank. She has a compassion and ability to touch your very soul. I Thank God every day for her and her book. This is a must read and must have book.

Well-written study of a little-known disorder by a layman.

This small book is a must read for both the victim of the disorder and the professionals who treat it. A narcoleptic herself, Utley writes about situations and cases that all of us who suffer with narcolepsy will identify with over and over. She discusses symptoms, medications and their effectiveness and side-effects; the psychological effect of dealing with narcolepsy; how the family can help the victim and how important it is to have loving support; how to deal with both scary- and ever-present episodes of catalepsy, the muscle-weakness that accompanies narcolepsy, and the problems that can ruin any kind of social life. One result of reading the book is that the narcoleptic will be able to say, "Ohmigosh, I didn't realize other people experienced this," or "I didn't know THAT was part of the disorder; why, I've been doing that for years!" The shortcoming in Utley's work is her failure to explain exactly how catalepsy affects various people...she talks about it only in vague generalities -- surprising for someone who invested so much time in spelling out the rest of the circumstances surrounding the average narcoleptic's life.

A balanced treatment of life with an incurable disorder.

Although this book is biographical in content, it is marvelously reassuring to anyone diagnosed with Narcolepsy. Narcolepsy is indeed no laughing matter, but Ms. Utley does her best to make the reader see the humor and humanity in living with a medical condition that is viciously difficult to explain to those not afflicted.Narcolepsy is a rare disorder of REM sleep, and connecting with others who have the disorder is very difficult. The author's style is insightful and compassionate and enables the reader to connect with a knowledgable member of a very sparse group.