I think it is different for everyone. Mine started with the face and
progressed to the neck, then knee buckling, then full collapse. It varied in
time from a few minutes to 1 1/2 hour but the last was very rare. If I get
upset that I am down it triggers continuous attacks so I have learned to
cope better and they are shorter and less severe.I am most vunerable when I
have done to much. I know this sounds strange but if you don't get hurt in
the fall, they are really not a big deal. They scare others tho if they
aren't use to it. I warn people I am with it that it is no big deal and that
helps. I have lots of bruises from falling or falling against the wall etc
trying to break my fall or just running into things cuz I'm off balance. My
geneocologist (sp?) thought my hubby was abusing me cuz of all my bruises -
lol. I'm not sure she believed me when I told her I fall and run into things
a lot. I think the clomipramine and not getting upset about the attacks has
helped the most - although they still occur occassionaly. What does your
research on the progression of C conclude? Danita in Snowy Illinois

Does Cataplexy Follow A Body Flow?

The thing I need help with is: My son's C started with partial face and
eyes. It then spread to the remainder of the face and now includes the
neck and head as a whole for the most part. I have researched my
back-side off on the topic throughout the web and via most
of my contacts. But, the results are too vague and ambiguous. The
question he has posed to me is; ' If my C has changed to my whole head
and neck now, does that mean my shoulders and both arms are next to get
paralyzed when I have a C attack'? What is the consensus out there among
the PWN on this topic? Does C follow a pattern of body part paralysis?
If so, or not so in adults or late teens, does anyone have a thought or
info on young children. As in the case of my son who is only 11 years
old. I'm digging like heck for as much info and thought process on the
subject. I would like to be able to at least give him some type of
answer, even if it is an average or a possible. I don't want to make
something up for the answer, but what I'm hoping to do is use what I
have from outside research mixed with this forum to give the best
possible answer I can.

I was a little concerned the other night at school. It was presentation
time, where students and their partners presented (live) to all the
parents and other kids, their PowerPoint presentations on why we should
go to their Caribbean Island for vacation. Each partner had to speak and
then switch to the PC to move to the next slide(s) when it was the
partner's time to speak and so on. Which they alternated doing several
times thru the entire presentation. I could tell he was nervous and
being at the end of the day, when he is most tired. I wondered if the
combination might trigger a C attack. Thank goodness it didn't and all
the kids did a great job. Whoops, Sorry, I rambled......

Living on hope & love in Indy........ Tony