18-year-old Louisa Ball also suffers from KLS (Image: Ball family)
Posted on 06/19/2012 7:14:11 PM PDT by presidio9
A British teen suffering from a rare neurological disorder that induces long periods of sleep recently awoke after sleeping for two months.
"I've missed nine exams and my birthday in November," 15-year-old Stacey Comerford tells the Sun. "It's easier now people know what it is. It's easier to explain to them. Before, people didn't believe me. That was the hardest thing."
Comerford suffers from Kleine Levin Syndrome (KLS), also known as Sleeping Beauty Syndrome, a condition affecting only about 1,000 people around the world.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) says Kleine Levin Syndrome affects primarily adolescent males (70 percent) and can often result in an individual sleeping for up to 20 hours at a time. While there is no treatment or cure for the condition, many individuals living with the condition simply outgrow it as they age, usually over the course of 8 to 12 years.
The NINDS describes the symptoms as, "Episode onset is often abrupt, and may be associated with flu-like symptoms. Excessive food intake, irritability, childishness, disorientation, hallucinations, and an abnormally uninhibited sex drive may be observed during episodes."
"There's never any warning. I've even found her fast asleep on the kitchen floor," Comerford's mother, Bernie Richards, tells the Sun. "When she's in an episode, she might get up to go to the toilet or get a drink but she's not awake. I call it sleep mode."
Richards says doctors initially waved off her daughter's symptoms as a result of "moody" behavior.
"I was even investigated by the local education authority because Stacey's school thought I was deliberately keeping her out of school," Richards said. "They've stopped now we've got a diagnosis."
In February, ABC News profiled 21-year-old Eric Haller,
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
18-year-old Louisa Ball also suffers from KLS (Image: Ball family)
Interesting.
I remember in my early teens my mother accused me of having a mental condition because I started sleeping for two days straight once in awhile. I never missed school though. I could always force myself to stay awake(sort of) if I had to. It was summer time or other times there was no school, such as weekends. If I didn’t absolutely *have* to get up and do something, I would sleep forever.
It’s amazing what some kids will do to skip school, and not have to exams. She even made it look more real by “sleeping” through her birthday.
;)
“The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) says Kleine Levin Syndrome affects primarily adolescent males (70 percent) and can often result in an individual sleeping for up to 20 hours at a time.”
and this had nothing to do with the last 20 hours spent playing video games?
Yawn.
Prince Harry is missing all these chances to wake up young British girls.
Don't waste too much time worrying about Prince Harry. He appears to have that department well covered...
2 months.....I dream of the weight I’d lose. Oy.
How did whe get nutrients in her for two months. This makes no sense.
How did whe get nutrients in her for two months. This makes no sense.
How did whe get nutrients in her for two months. This makes no sense.
“When she’s in an episode, she might get up to go to the toilet or get a drink but she’s not awake. I call it sleep mode.”
Sounds similar to somnabulism. I used to sleepwalk, and I would go to the bathroom, get a drink, even go downstairs to the kitchen to get a snack, all without waking or remembering a thing.
Stacey Comerford
Would never have though of the weight loss, just no bathroom breaks....Into my 7th decade, sleeping about 20 is just about right. Big Bladder and have to let the dog out once in a while...In summer I go back to bed, she sleeps outside, in winter I have to wait for her to be done then go back to bed....that is a great blessing God gave all animals. Sleep, eat, nap, feed dog, sleep..repeat.
Wow.. Who knew? Thank you.
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