My SD’s tasks include guide work, navigation (find exits/entrances/car/bathroom/home/etc), light mobility (counted balance and momentum pull), retrieval (including auto-retrieve dropped items in case I don’t notice), and DPT, among others. Although I will likely owner-train again, I try to keep track of what programs are open to my life disabilities in case I change my mind! What tasks does your dog do, and which tasks do you find most useful/use most frequently? Is your dog a natural alerter? Did you owner-train, get him privately trained, or go through a program? If you used a program, I’d be interested to know which one - my SD is almost 10 and will be retiring in the next few years. I initially trained mine to help with my autism, but he helps with the narcolepsy too. It’s definitely an under-utilized assistive device for this disease. I have a service dog as well! I’m honestly surprised more people don’t use a service dog for narcolepsy. Tasks are things that are requested by the handler (me) using a cue word or signal. The last 2 bullet points are referred to ask “work.” These are things he does without command, just on his own at any moment. He is very good at alerting to cataplectic attacks, however! I’ve been able to reduce related injuries significantly. It’s not something you can train, it has to be shaped, so learning can be very slow. if my heart rate gets too elevated, he’ll sometimes alert. He has a patch on his vest that says “if handler is down do not call 911.” And a pouch wth “additional medical information inside.” I really didn’t want another $5,000 ambulance ride to the hospital for me to tell them it’s cataplexy. If we’re in public, he’ll lay down next to me and wait. Because he never barks naturally, we were able to teach him to bark for the alert. when I do have a full-body collapse, he’s trained to do one of two things: if we’re at home and my husband or another person is home, he’ll run to alert them. I don’t know if anyone else can relate, but I often feel like I’m moving through molasses. For me, the worst cataplexy days are when my body is just especially difficult to move. Once he’s old enough and cleared by his vet, he’ll also be able to provide counterbalance, forward momentum, and bracing. For instance, waking me up if I sleep through my alarm, or guiding me to the exit or where I parked). responds to cues when I’m just having an extra sleepy day (these are called tasks. Narcolepsy Fact Sheet: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).You should try to maintain a structured sleep schedule, which can include napping during the day if required. Currently there is no cure for Narcolepsy, but the symptoms of narcolepsy are controllable with medication.These tests help doctors rule out signs and symptoms that could be linked to similar other sleep disorders. The following are used in determining a diagnosis of narcolepsy: This testing often takes place overnight at a sleep clinic, under the watch of professional medical staff. If symptoms of narcolepsy are visible, provide evidence & ask your doctor to refer you for further testing with a specialist. Source: US National Institute of Health: NHLBI Heredity/Genes create a disposition towards developing narcolepsy, rather than causing the disorder itself. " Toxins may include heavy metals, pesticides and weed killers, and secondhand smoke." Some research suggests that environmental toxins may also trigger narcolepsy. It is thought that a combination of the following factors cause low levels of hypocretin: What causes low hypocretin levels isn't well understood. This is a chemical in the brain that helps promote wakefulness. Most people who have narcolepsy have low levels of hypocretin. Narcoleptics suffer from the inability to remain awake during the day and to stay asleep through the night. The name is from the ancient Greek narco- ( to put to sleep) & -lepsis ( to have a seizure).
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