Twin Cities Narcolepsy Awareness Patient Education Program a Success

March 13, 2006

Minneapolis/St. Paul area sleep centers and other area sleep disorder professionals sponsored a one day special event focused on Narcolepsy and Excessive Sleepiness education. Over 200 people attended the event held at the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul.

Presentations included The Etiology of Narcolepsy by Kathy Petersen, RNP, an overview of Narcolepsy research by Dr. Carlos Schenk and local Neurologist and Narcolepsy specialist, Dr. Eve Rogers presented information about treatment options. Narcolepsy patient Mali Einen, from California was on hand to share her compelling real life story living with Narcolepsy and severe Cataplexy.

The activities included exhibits offering free educational brochures and video tapes about Narcolepsy, Excessive Daytime Sleepiness and other sleep disorder information, including nutrition, the sleep diagnostic process and local public transportation assistance programs. Talk About Sleep, Inc. participated as a sponsor of the event and provided information for their Advocates for Sleep program which offers free patient to patient telephone mentoring. They also provided information about the Medic Alert program for sleep disorder patients. The national narcolepsy patient association Narcolepsy Network was represented and offered education brochures. All attendees were encouraged to join Narcolepsy Network.

Attendees were asked to sign up if they were interested in forming and participating in a local Narcolepsy support group. The response was positive and event organizers will now begin planning to meet the overwhelming need for narcolepsy patient support in the Twin Cities.