Narcolepsy Treatment in India

Neha Bhatia, a 28-year-old software engineer,...

Neha Bhatia, a 28-year-old software engineer, had always been a high achiever. Over the past two years, she began experiencing overwhelming, irresistible urges to sleep during the day, especially during long meetings or while commuting. She initially blamed her demanding job and long hours, but the sleep attacks became more frequent and severe. She once fell asleep mid-conversation with her manager. She also started experiencing sudden muscle weakness (cataplexy) when she laughed, causing her knees to buckle. Terrified and embarrassed, she feared for her job and safety. Her primary care doctor, suspecting narcolepsy, referred her to a sleep specialist in Internal Medicine. The doctor recommended an overnight polysomnogram followed by a Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) to confirm the diagnosis. Neha spent two nights in the sleep lab, connected to wires monitoring her brain waves, eye movements, and muscle activity. The process was strange and uncomfortable, but the staff was kind. The MSLT the next day, which involved taking five scheduled naps, confirmed she fell into REM sleep almost instantly. The diagnosis was Narcolepsy Type 1. Post-diagnosis, Neha began a treatment plan including scheduled naps, lifestyle adjustments, and medication (sodium oxybate for cataplexy and a stimulant for daytime sleepiness). While managing a chronic condition is challenging, having a name for her struggle was a profound relief. The treatment gave her back a sense of control. Emotionally, she moved from fear, shame, and exhaustion to validation and cautious optimism. She is learning to advocate for herself at work and is no longer afraid to laugh.