Bite Size Life

Imagine you and a cheerished friend are at a classy bistro dining out, when all of a sudden your friend makes a comical reference to how the brussel sprouts look like little alien brains. You take a quick look at them, and realize he is right. You start to laugh, when before you know it, you notice a strange sensation immediately take over your body.

Then you loose all muscle control, and fall over. You try to move, but you can’t. You realize your head is planted firmly in to the small pile of alien brains. You think, “I am sorry for making fun of your brains, if you are listening my alien friends!” You hope that the aliens actually do have mind control, so they can here your remorse.

Just to be sure, you try to speak to the aliens. You try to speak up, and say, “I’m sorry I luaghed at your small, green brains!” But all that comes out is “Im sthhhhhh”. You can’t move the muscles around your mouth to speak. Your breathing becomes so shallow that you’re not sure IF you are breathing.

The waiter stops by just in time to ask if you’d like your water glass freshened up, when he notices your face is plowed into your plate. He looks at your friend and asks, “What is wrong here? No more wine for you!”

You hear this while your face is planted to your plate. It upsets you because you have no control over your embarrassing position, and you haven’t even touched your wine yet. Come to think about it, you haven’t even ordered any wine yet.

After awhile, You’re able to regain the functions of your body. You’re breathing comes back as you look at your friends face. You look around to scope out people’s reaction to your quick body abuduction as you wipe food off of your face.

What you have just experienced is Cataplexy. It can be the most embarrassing thing you can experience.

Cataplexy is usually brought on by strong emotions. Stress, anger, fear, joy and laughing have all been known to cause a cataplectic episode. It’s a quick loss of all muscle control, leaving you paralyzed. You lose ability to speak while able to hear and comprehend what is going on around you. Sometimes it lasts for only a few seconds. It can go on for several minutes.

While this is the most common definition of cataplexy, as with everything else wrapped around narcolepsy, there are some variations. Most cataplectic episodes are brought on by laughter, but other mental stimulation can also trigger an episode.

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Seizure or Episode or cataplectic attack? WHich is right?

sei·zure (s?’zh?r)
n.

1. The act or an instance of seizing or the condition of being seized.
2. A sudden attack, spasm, or convulsion, as in epilepsy or another disorder.
3. A sudden onset or sensation of feeling or emotion.

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ep·i·sode
n.

1. 1. An incident or event that is part of a progression or a larger sequence: “South Africa may remain one of history’s most tragic episodes” (Bayard Rustin).
   2. One of a series of related events in the course of a continuous account. See Synonyms at occurrence.
   3. A separate part of a serialized work, such as a novel or play.
   4. A separate program that is part of a television or radio series.
2. A portion of a narrative that relates an event or a series of connected events and forms a coherent story in itself; an incident: an episode in a picaresque novel.
3. 1. A separate part of a serialized work, such as a novel or play.
   2. A separate program that is part of a television or radio series.
4. A section of a classic Greek tragedy that occurs between two choric songs.
5. Music A passage between statements of a main subject or theme, as in a rondo or fugue.