140311

Dr. Natelie Relph, M.D.
Commonwealth Counseling
9097 Atlee Station Rd Suite 219
Mechanicsville, VA 23116

Dear Dr. Relph,

An acquaintance of mine (Everett) referenced you in a discussion on our narcolepsy. I would like to become a patient in order to receive a prescription for methyphenidate or equivalent.

My standard joke on my nodding off is that my wife and friend of almost 40 years has received all the traffic tickets because she did most of the driving. When I experience a "yawn jag" I immediately pull off because I will fall asleep in one or two minutes. If my wife assumes the driving, I am asleep in the passenger seat before she is back on the road. I take the bus or walk when I can. Based on comments by my in-laws, it must be a genetic factor since they have complained about this tendency in my brothers.

While I can work around the driving, it is hard trying to work. Several times a day I awake at the keyboard with no recollection of getting sleepy. While I have been retired since 1999, I have been engaged in many "helping others" projects. One of my current projects is adding "seed bees" to bake sales at elementary schools. Last year, I spent $500 on a prototype at Patrick Henry Elementary School.  Two months later, I received a large envelope containing numerous "thank you's" that described the students' green thumb successes. This year, I am trying to write an internet-program that allows any PTA anywhere to organize an on-line seed bee for parents by which the PTA could raise several thousand dollars. The effort would have many benefits for the student, family, and society. My wife and I probably have allocated about 25% of our disposable income in helping others. We live simply, or, as I say, like a baby-chicken--cheap, cheap, cheap--so as to be able to help others.

Because of my narcolepsy, I have to restart my thinking afterI wake up.. To optimize my juggling of several perspectives (computer programming, visual clarity, visual appeal, simple sentences, etc.), I need to stay awake without being blind-sided by narcolepsy. My main concern and driving force is climate change. In 1982, I wrote an essay saying the most immediate impact of rising atmospheric CO2 would be changes in precipitation, that is, worsening droughts/deluges with fires, famine and foolishness. You can see my research at the website on my card.

I hope my research will open more minds to initiate lifestyle changes to fulfill the "Primary Moral Imperative." I cannot proceed optimally if I am falling asleep on the job. While it is definitely the case that I am closer to the end than the beginning of my life, I firmly believe in the adage of "from those to whom much is given, much is expected." My belief is grounded in the knowledge that such morality is rewarded with richer happiness.

I am at your beck and call. Please email me at demcapu@comcast.net if you can help me--Wednesdays are best. I pay cash so there are no insurance forms. I have legacy veteran health benefits at the V.A. but am presently in a disagreement over my refusing to use the blood clinic: I feel asleep waiting for my number to be called. The staff made me wait until the end of the day to take my blood samples--a wait of over 3 hours. I wish I had taken my pills and risked blood contamination rather than what happened.

Sincerely,

Robert S. Barnett
3600 Anne Street
Richmond, VA 23225

P,S, $20 for time to review the letter.