MEG Military energy gum. 1 piece is the same caffeine as one cup of coffee. You get 5 pieces in a pack and I buy a little case of it that comes with 24 packs. I get it from amazon for $28.36. I go through one to two of those a month. It doesn't taste good but the chewing helps me stay awake. If I keep on top of the energy it helps break the sleep cycle. If I'm non stop crashing I chew 2-5 pieces at once. You must drink a lot of water all day to mega dose of caffeine. Your skin will also dry out. I average between 2-3 liters of water a day.

The trick is to punch the sleep in the face. So as the sleep builds you take a piece. If that doesn't work you do 2. If that doesn't work you could do 5 but your probably gonna crash so it's best to give into the nap and take a piece when you first wake up. You also need to do something. Yesterday I started scanning bills. Sometimes it's folding laundry. It's not perfect I also drink coffee and sometime 5 hr energy but that's mostly for the vitamins. If you like 5hr energy you can buy that buy the 2 liter as well. I found that it stops working after a few times. The gum has been my best weapon.

Please note: Be careful, the amount of caffeine I consume every doctor will tell you it's crazy. On a good day I consume 12 cups of coffee worth of caffeine a day but on terrible day I can consume as much as 35-45 cups. It's terrible for the skins and the heart but I do pretty good most days. I make my lists and I get most done. Start small with the lists and then get better. I can even study online on good days. Today is starting off as one. I started everyday with one piece of gum as soon as I woke up. I'll probably get away with 2 more pieces and 3 shots of espresso by lunch because of the driving. I'll also drive 190 miles by lunch and another 210 miles after. If I eat breakfast it will be light maybe oatmeal. If I eat lunch it will be as little as possible. Food makes me crazy tired. That's what did me in yesterday.

I recommend the gum because it can jump start you and help without making your stomach bad like coffee does. It's not magic and you can go too far so start slow your going to do it. The caffeine in the gum is gone after 15 minutes. Most that have tried it don't like the taste so I expect you won't either but for me I need to be awake so I don't taste it anymore.

Hi Teri. It is true that one's life changes and we also become anti-social just because we just don't have the strength to put up with socializing. You are not alone in feeling that way.

I am depressed all the time I take meds for narcolepsy and still sleep! I take meds for depression I’m still depressed and want to sleep! I haven’t been on here for months because just because, don’t really know why! Found out my hubby has inoperable lung cancer! I want to trade places with him he is a very productive person and I am not! Narcolepsy sucks and I would never wish it on my worst enemy!!!

I understand not wanting to be involved. When asked, I tell people and then make a joke. If pushed, I say it's not contagious and change the subject. I then make a joke. In time, if I fall asleep, I wake up and tell the person well now you know. I regulate my energy and abuse energy gum to get through events.

For a long time, narcolepsy made me feel like less of a person because in my mind I wasn't able to do as many activities during a day that I thought I *should * be doing. But once I got rid of the "should be" thinking patterns, I was able to find peace. That's not to say I don't still have the occasional frustrated feeling of wishing I could do more, but I am generally more at peace now that I've accepted it. Great question!