A baker with narcolepsy receives surprise packages she’s accidentally ordered from Amazon in her sleep – from air horns and dog toys to prom dresses.
Rachel Lane, 27, from Maine falls asleep at funerals, concerts and in the middle of conversations, and can’t drive two miles down the road without dozing off behind the wheel.
She was diagnosed with narcolepsy in 2016 but has been suffering with chronic sleepiness her whole life.
Rachel even shops online in her sleep and estimates she could have accidentally spent $396.15 to date – in the past also receiving a Pitbull t-shirt, a chopping board and a set of butcher’s knives – none of which she can remember ordering.
Rachel Lane, 27, from Maine (pictured napping with her dog, Lewis), suffers from narcolepsy. She has spent about $400 on online shopping in her sleep, but can’t remember making the purchases
Rachel bought several random items while sleeping, such as this air horn. She explained she had no memory of making any purchase
She said: ‘A package came to the bakery and when I opened it, it was a prom dress. I’m 27-years-old and definitely wasn’t going to prom.
‘I didn’t remember ordering it but I checked my bank and email and I definitely had. I must just think I deserve a treat now and again.
‘I’ve ordered household items like a block of butchers knives, chopping boards and dog toys. I’ve probably spent around £300.
‘I mostly order from Amazon. I think my brain is still active when I’m sleeping, so it starts doing things that I would normally do while awake, and my credit card is already set up.’
Rachel’s narcolepsy began after she suffered a virus following a cat scratch in 2015. Pictured with a pitbull t-shirt she bought while sleeping
Rachel said her narcolepsy began after she suffered a virus after she was scratched by a cat in 2015.
Now, she is forced to take prescribed stimulant, Adderall, throughout the day and pull over in her car to have a nap when she finds herself dozing off behind the wheel.
The baker said: ‘I fall asleep at funerals, concerts, the movies and if someone is talking to me, I fall asleep.
‘I have a moment where my head will drop and jerk back up again.
‘I even fell asleep at a funeral because I was sat idle and my dad was nudging me to wake me up.
‘I became ill in 2015 and never felt the same. I was always tired, even more than usual.
Rachel can fall asleep just about anywhere, and had even snoozed off at a funeral. Pictured during a bout of narcolepsy
Rachel’s husband Andrew, 32, tries to be be supportive but she says he doesn’t quite understand the extent of her condition
‘I couldn’t drive two miles down the road without dozing off. I’d have to have a nap or get out of the car and walk around for a bit.
‘I didn’t know what narcolepsy was at that point. I just thought it was because I was ill.’
Rachel went to see a sleep specialist in 2016 because she was injuring herself during the night while sleepwalking, who gave her an explanation for her tiredness.
Rachel also suffers with hallucinations when she falls asleep, and has adopted a rescue dog, Lewis, a four year old pitbull, to help comfort her.
Rachel said her mechanic husband, Andrew, 32, tries to support her but doesn’t understand the severity of her condition.
The young baker, who experienced sleep walking before, was advised to have a ‘sleeping partner’ to keep her from harming herself while she sleeps (pictured with her dog Lewis)
Rachel with a prom dress she also purchased while sleeping. Rachel explained she suffers from strong hallucinations during sleep
She said: ‘Before I was diagnosed, my doctor suggested a sleep partner to be with me to stop me from sleep walking because it was becoming dangerous.
‘I was obsessed with my mouth and I would jab anything on the roof of it until it was bleeding, like metal straws.
‘My sister in law caught me jabbing knives and pens into the mattress once so I bought a dog to help wake me up and now if I go into a state of paralysis, he lays on top of me to keep me safe.’
Rachel said family and friends struggle to understand her condition, which she compares to living in Alice in Wonderland.
The baker compared her condition to Alice in Wonderland, due to the strength of her hallucinations, which nobody understands
Lewis and Rachel enjoying a nap together. Rachel bought rescue dog Lewis to keep her safe when she experiences sleep paralysis
Rachel and her fluffy companion Corey. During a bout of narcolepsy, she has jabbed knives and metallic items in the roof of her mouth while sleeping
She said: ‘I’m super open about it but no one wants to educate themselves. It’s really frustrating.
‘They don’t understand why I get so cranky when I’m tired.
‘Andrew tries to be supportive but he doesn’t quite grasp how hallucinations can affect me. If I get upset, he’ll say it’s ok, it’s just a dream but it’s not.
‘I always explain my life of narcolepsy as like how Alice felt when she fell down the rabbit hole.
‘Hallucinations seem so real and leave me distraught. I have a cupcake tattoo on my wrist that says “eat me.” It’s my narcolepsy warrior tattoo.’
Step-daughter Lana naps with Rachel. Rachel also bought butchers knives, chopping boards and dog toys on Amazon
Rachel and her husband Andrew during a day trip. Rachel said Andrew doesn’t understand how strong her sleeping hallucinations are