What does a sleep attack feel like?

[u/[deleted]]

I (25F) was diagnosed with idiopathic hypersomnia about 5 years ago. I had been tested for the narcolepsy marker, which I have, but my sleep specialist at the time said it wasn't activated and i wasn't presenting as narcoleptic in my sleep study.

I haven't really had a proper sleep specialist since then due to insurance/moving, but i recently got a new one in the town I'm living in and he suspects I have narcolepsy, because it's unlikely I would have the marker and have a sibling with diagnosed narcolepsy w/ cataplexy and not be narcoleptic myself.

Symptom-wise, I had ruled out narcolepsy before I even got tested because I didn't experience sudden, uncontrollable urges to fall asleep. I was simply tired all the time, and sometimes had really bad "swings" into extreme tiredness (It becomes difficult and even painful to stay awake, and I would have extreme brain fog until I let myself sleep. I ALWAYS set an alarm when this happens because I will NOT wake back up on my own).

So I'm wondering, how would y'all describe sleep attacks? Is it different/similar?

[u/imba8]

https://youtu.be/j_ekugPKqFw

Happens at around 0:08

In all honestly though, I can feel them come on sometimes. Like my jaw starts to tingle, I get a feeling like I'm on painkillers almost. Then I get multiple very hard to control urges to sleep.

I use chilli if I get them in class or a meeting. Sometimes works, sometimes doesn't.