Your Stories

Kay Underwood from Barrow Upon Soar in Leicestershire is a 20-year-old student.

In Summer 2007 she was diagnosed with cataplexy - a sudden weakening of the muscles brought on by excitement or anger, although in Kay it's triggered by laughter.

Listen: Interview with Kay Underwood

BBC Leicester's Rupal Rajani spoke to Kay Underwood and her mother...

When Kay first began to show signs of cataplexy, she didn't know what was happening.

Sometimes she'd be drying up in the kitchen and suddenly she'd collapse, which could be dangerous if there were sharp objects around.

Her mum says it was sometimes very scary:

"Initially when she first did it we'd be messing about, talking, chatting in the kitchen and giggling, and she'd just completely go, across the draining board, the kettle would go flying."

But Kay was eventually referred to the Sleep Clinic at Leicester General Hospital, and was told she had a textbook case of narcolepsy.

She says her diagnosis has changed her life completely:

"It's one of those things that you can't stop thinking about, it's always there, it's always at the back of your mind.

"It's always, 'can I get down these stairs without collapsing?', 'can I drink this drink without spilling it down me?', 'can I go out for a meal and not fall into my dinner?' and things like that."

"I'm sure I'll handle it"

Kay says her medication has improved things dramatically though, and now she can lead an almost normal life.

She had to surrender her driving license, but now thanks to her medication she's applying to get it back.

Her condition will mean that there are still some things she can't do, but she's very positive about the future:

"I suppose that anyone who knows me knows that I've got cataplexy, and if they've got a problem with it then that's there loss.

"But it's going to be something that everyone knows about, and obviously with my medication I've got to plan pregnancies and it's going to be quite difficult, but at the same time I'm sure I'll handle it."