Seeking medical help

Suspecting that you may be suffering from narcolepsy and feeling unsure of who to speak to can be very daunting.

We have outlined some tips that may help you in your initial approach and how to effectively discuss your symptoms during the consultation with your doctor.

• Your first point of contact should be with your regular GP who will take a history and decide what the next steps are
• If your GP suspects you are suffering from narcolepsy, they should refer you to a sleep clinic to allow consultants who specialise in sleep medicine to assess your sleep pattern in more detail. Investigations may be used to confirm the diagnosis before advising you on appropriate treatment
• To make the most of your consultation, it may help to take along the following materials to discuss with your GP on your initial consultation:
  • Complete our online Epworth Sleepiness Scale and print out the results to take with you to your appointment
  • Keep a patient record diary so that it is clear when your symptoms occur and how severe they are. It can also encourage discussion and help make every consultation has valuable as possible for both you and your doctor
  • If you have identified your nearest sleep centre on our ‘Find your local sleep centre’ page, it may be worth notifying your GP so they are able to contact the lead sleep expert there to get a referral for you