Sleep Awareness
Visiting Ireland to Speak at Ireland’s Narcolepsy Awareness Day 2016
This National Sleep Awareness Week, I had the honor of traveling to Ireland to be the keynote speaker at Ireland’s 4th Annual Suddenly Sleepy Saturday Narcolepsy Event on March 12, 2016. This experience, and my entire trip to Ireland, was totally unforgettable and surreal. After the long journey from Los Angeles to Ireland, I arrive in…
Read MoreA proud moment – publishing a chapter in narcolepsy clinical guide
A few nights ago, I returned home from work exhausted and found a mysterious heavy package on my doorstep. Inside was a brand new copy of Narcolepsy: A Clinical Guide (2nd ed.), edited by Dr. Meeta Goswami, Dr. Michael Thorpy and S.R. Pandi-Perumal. As a patient advocate, it was a HUGE honor to contribute the chapter…
Read MoreHappy Rare Disease Day 2016!
Today, February 29 is Rare Disease Day! With 350 million people around the world living with a rare disease, HUG someone with a RARE DISEASE today. For Rare Disease Day 2016, I was SO honored to contribute to two great articles for Mashable’s Social Good program. Author, Katie Dupere eloquently describes: “For those living with rare…
Read MoreSleep in to speak out! Join Project Sleep’s SLEEP IN 2016 today.
On March 11-13, Project Sleep is taking to our beds for SLEEP IN 2016 to make PEACE with SLEEP during National Sleep Awareness Week! Challenge yourself to stay in bed for 12-48 hours over the weekend and join an international movement to raise awareness about sleep health and sleep disorders. Register today (it’s free): www.crowdrise.com/sleepin2016 With…
Read MoreNap Shame. I’ve got it. Do you?
In this short audio clip, I explore my feelings of shame and embarrassment around taking a nap at work. (Also available here) Do you have nap shame or are you an empowered napper? I want to hear your thoughts!
Read MoreCelebrating 3 years of Wide Awake and Dreaming: A Memoir of Narcolepsy – An Honest Reflection
Writing for me is time-traveling. On January 16, 2012, I sipped a steaming hot soy latte at my favorite coffee shop in Arlington, Virginia, cued up the classical piano in my headphones and closed my eyes. Here we go! On this day, my time-traveling destination was a hotel room in Albany, New York – four years earlier. The subject…
Read MoreWATCH NOW: MedX 2015 Ignite! Talk by Narcolepsy Advocate, Julie Flygare
I’m thrilled to share my 5-minute Ignite! Talk from Stanford Medicine X 2015. Please share with friends and family to raise narcolepsy awareness (https://youtu.be/MXTd8xd_f8s). In this video, I describe my journey with narcolepsy from people laughing in my face to living proudly and creating the NARCOLEPSY: NOT ALONE campaign. I emphasize how feeling “misunderstood and alone” with…
Read MoreWhat I Said: Julie Flygare’s MedX Ignite Talk Transcript
REM Runner’s Note: On Sept. 24, 2015, I had the huge honor of stepping on the MedX main stage at Stanford Medical School to give an ePatient Ignite Talk. This is (more-or-less) what I said: ************ Diagnosed with narcolepsy at age 24, I was excited to tell my friends and family. Finally! I had legitimate medical terms…
Read MoreWarning: Xposure to MedX May Xpand Your Mind – Attending Stanford’s Medicine X 2015
Goosebumps raised on my arms as we shuffled into the fake hospital exam room at Stanford Medical School. I hate hospital exam rooms, even fake ones apparently! About twenty of us lined the walls to watch two simulation exercises. Patient wears doctor’s white coat: In the first simulation, a real-life patient played a “doctor”, wearing a…
Read MoreThe Simpsons Modifies Homer Narcolepsy Episode “Somewhat” After Reading Narcolepsy Article
When the Simpsons premieres tonight at 8pm ET/PT, Homer will get “narcolepsy”. I’m thrilled to report that Executive Producer, Al Jean tweeted me: “The episode was modified somewhat after I read the extremely compelling article you wrote. Not sure you will be 100% happy…” Thank you, Al Jean and the Simpsons for thoughtfully reading and modifying…
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