Doug Jones wrote:
>
> "Michael S. Lorrey" wrote:
> >
> > Actually, what Samantha describes is what is known as a hypnogogic trance, the
> > same sort of phenomenon that is now thought to trigger sleepwalking, OOB
> > experiences, and alien abduction experiences (which used to be thought of as
> > visitations from the eldritch fairies). It has more, I think, to do with
> > narcolepsy than epilepsy (having had two rather odd experiences myself once, and
> > being a known narcoleptic from excessive caffiene use (its an odd allergy, that
> > only comes up when I am taking about a half a pack a day of no-doze).
>
> Mike, that ain't an allergy, that's an *overdose*.
>
> Been there, done that, broke the coffee mug.
I first noticed the overt symptoms while at tech school while in the Air Force.
We were outside Champaign-Urbana, at Chanute AFB. A hot muggy, corn pollen
filled summer (AH AH AAACHOOOO). Classes were from 8 am to 5 pm. 50 minutes of
class, 5 minute quiz, 5 minute break. Old air conditioning (but effective). I
was popping a no-doze every hour trying to stay awake during class, but I'd
always fall asleep at least 10-15 minutes into it. Of course it was a
narcoleptic seizure, not really sleep, as I was fully aware of what was going on
in class. They'd wake me up for the quiz, expecting me to flunk it, but I'd ace
it every time. The instructors, of course, hated me, but so long as I kept
getting A's, there was little they could do. I think I finished the four month
course (aircraft electrical/electronic systems) with an average of about 98,
which was one of the top 5 class averages ever, most of it 'asleep'.
It was only about 6 months later that I read of a medical study that showed that
some people have an allergic reaction to excessive caffeine that manifests as a
narcoleptic seizure....
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Mon Oct 02 2000 - 17:38:29 MDT