{"id":847157,"date":"2026-09-14T06:00:12","date_gmt":"2026-09-14T06:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/847157\/"},"modified":"2026-09-14T06:00:12","modified_gmt":"2026-09-14T06:00:12","slug":"california-cheerleader-diagnosed-with-narcolepsy-after-being-called-lazy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/847157\/","title":{"rendered":"California cheerleader diagnosed with narcolepsy after being called lazy"},"content":{"rendered":"

A two-time world champion cheerleader<\/a>\u00a0from California\u2019s Riverside County struggled to stay awake during the day despite sleeping through the night \u2013\u2013 until a study revealed she was suffering from a chronic brain disorder<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Rylie Shaw, 22, spent her teenage years running from one doctor to the other with her parents to figure out what was wrong as she could not stay awake, no matter what.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt first, it was brushed off as typical teenage laziness. But I was exhausted all the time. I had to cancel plans, cut back on cheerleading and miss out on things I enjoyed because my body never felt rested. I could fall asleep anywhere,\u201d she wrote in a Sept. 5 Newsweek<\/a> article.<\/p>\n

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A sleep study at age 17 revealed Rylie Shaw had idiopathic hypersomnia, which later progressed to narcolepsy. Instagram\/@rylie_shaw_<\/p>\n

Shaw is a two-time world champion cheerleader who was diagnosed with narcolepsy in high school. Instagram\/@rylie_shaw_<\/p>\n

Different doctors had different diagnoses \u2013\u2013 some said she may have an attention disorder, other said it could be because of depression.<\/p>\n

She even got blood work done for diabetes as she didn\u2019t want any stone unturned. But, nothing seemed to explain what she was going through.<\/p>\n

When she was 17, she ended up visiting an ear, nose and throat specialist because she thought \u201cbreathing problems might be affecting\u201d her sleep. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe doctor found that I had a deviated septum and a collapsing nostril, but before discussing surgery, he recommended a sleep study<\/a>,\u201d she wrote.<\/p>\n

Shaw celebrating her world championship win, balancing competitive cheerleading with a neurological sleep disorder. Instagram\/@rylie_shaw_<\/p>\n

Despite severe daytime fatigue and sudden cataplexy collapses, Shaw won two world championship cheerleading titles. Instagram\/@rylie_shaw_<\/p>\n

The sleep study provided clear answers by diagnosing her with idiopathic hypersomnia<\/a> \u2014 a rare neurological disorder marked by extreme, unyielding daytime sleepiness regardless of how much rest she got \u2014 which later progressed to narcolepsy.<\/p>\n

Over time, she developed cataplexy, a condition marked by sudden, conscious muscle weakness triggered by intense emotions. In her case, these episodes were most frequently brought on by a simple sense of relief.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was heavily involved in cheerleading at the time. After competitions, I\u2019d feel relieved that the event was over and sometimes suddenly collapse to the floor. Eventually, I had to quit because I became an unreliable teammate. Nobody knew when I might suddenly fall asleep or experience an episode,\u201d Shaw wrote in the article. <\/p>\n

Simple trips can disrupt Shaw\u2019s body for days, requiring her to plan recovery and avoid adrenaline-inducing activities Facebook\/@Rylie-Shaw-<\/p>\n

Shaw leverages her online platform to build community and raise awareness for narcolepsy. Instagram\/@rylie_shaw_<\/p>\n

In 2023, she shifted to managing the disorder with medication that helped regulate her sleep and provided her body the rest it needed. \u201cThe difference has been significant,\u201d the 22-year-old said. <\/p>\n

Travel poses one of her greatest challenges, as sleep disruption impacts her far more severely than it does most people. Despite living in California, even a relatively short trip to Hawaii left her needing about a week to fully recover once she returned home.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have had to adjust my expectations and accept a slower pace of life, which can be difficult because I am naturally ambitious. I avoid activities that induce adrenaline, and I have to be careful about how much I take on,\u201d the competitive cheerleader said. <\/p>\n

Shaw, who has 1.5 million followers on TikTok<\/a> and 61,000 followers on Facebook<\/a>, uses social media to share her experience of living with narcolepsy. <\/p>\n

\u201cSome parts of life don\u2019t come as easily to me as they do to other people. That\u2019s something I\u2019ve had to accept. But receiving a diagnosis also gave me answers, and eventually it gave me purpose. Helping others and bringing attention to this condition gives me a sense of meaning, and that\u2019s what keeps me hopeful and positive,\u201d Shaw added. <\/p>\n

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