Cataplexy

[RySerr21]

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I was watching this show on discovery health called "I woke up in the morgue" and it told the story of this lady who was pronounced dead 3 seperate times....each time waking up later in the morgue. it turned out she had cataplexy. I tried to google more about the condition but didn't really find anything so I thought i'd post in the med student thread b/c you all probably have/will learn about it....

My question.... even though you become paralyzed, cant speak or do anything (but can still hear), how could the person still be pronounced dead? Do you lose your pulse too? Does your heart stop beating? The show never mentioned this.

Secondly, how does it happen 3 times to the same person? Why wouldnt it be in the persons record that he/she suffers from cataplexy. The third time she was taken to the hospital the son even told the doctors that she wasnt dead, but they took her to the morgue anyway....

Note: from the sounds of the accents i would assume they were not in America

 

[braluk]

Cataplexy is a relatively unknown condition, as far as I know, compared to conditions similar to it. So its hard for doctors to realize exactly whats going on and it might be attribuetd to some other psychological condition. its also difficult since these individuals are also diagnosed with Narcolepsy, etc.. so these concomitant syndromes may actually mask Cataplexy.

 

[tdd340]

According to wikipedia, I know the best source of medical information, vital signs are often very weak in this condition and can't be detected by manually taking a pulse

 

[OncHeme2B]

OH MAN I couldn't imagine waking up in a morgue, wrapped in a plastic coffin. AHHHH!!!!!