Finding the right doctor for your narcolepsy journey

Finding the right doctor can sometimes feel like dating. Some are good people but simply not the right fit. Some may be excellent physicians, yet they do not understand your particular needs or communicate in a way that makes you feel heard. And, unfortunately, some doctors just aren’t very good doctors.

The important thing to remember is this: Not all doctors are created equal, and you should never give up searching for the right one.

Finding the right physician may require patience, determination, and the courage to start over after a disappointing experience. But please have hope. Your persistence in searching for someone who listens to you, respects you, and understands your condition can eventually pay off.

I know this because I have traveled that road myself. I have experienced difficult situations with doctors, as well as the incredible blessing of finding physicians who became important parts of my life. I once had a bad and hurtful experience with a doctor. When you’re living with a complicated, lifelong neurological disorder like narcolepsy with cataplexy, losing a physician’s trust can feel frightening and deeply personal.

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My journey began with Gregory Foster, MD, who diagnosed me with narcolepsy with cataplexy in 2002. I continued seeing him until he transferred my care to his mentor, Phillip M. Becker, MD, because my cataplexy was out of control, and I was consumed by excessive daytime sleepiness.

Columnist Rachel Nesmith and her daughter, Savannah Harrison, visit Phillip M. Becker, MD. (Courtesy of Rachel Nesmith)

Becker was my physician for 17 years until his retirement, and I absolutely adored him. To me, he was the best sleep doctor in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. But Becker was more than the physician managing my narcolepsy. He was present throughout some of the biggest chapters of my life.

He saw me through two weddings, the birth of my daughter, Savannah, and two liver resections.

Seventeen years is a long time. A doctor who cares for you over that many years doesn’t simply know your medical chart. They know your story. They witness your victories, struggles, and the incredible ways life can change while you are managing a chronic illness.

After Becker retired, I was fortunate to find another wonderful physician: the legendary Todd Swick, MD, of Houston.

And yes, I said legendary.

Swick eventually retired from clinical practice as well, but his contributions to the sleep community have continued in other ways. Once again, I faced the bittersweet reality that doctors we love may eventually retire, move, or begin new chapters. That meant I had to keep searching.

She puts the DAMM in DAMM Good Sleep

Eventually, I found my current physician, the “napsolutely naptastic” Anne Marie Morse of Geisinger Health System.

Morse is a renowned sleep specialist and neurologist, but many people know her through social media as DAMM Good Sleep. And honestly, the name says it all. She puts the DAMM (Doctor Anne Marie Morse) in DAMM Good Sleep!

From left, Marilyn Swick, Rachel Nesmith, and Todd Swick, MD, attend SLEEP 2025. (Courtesy of Rachel Nesmith)

Morse brings knowledge, personality, humor, compassion, and an incredible commitment to the sleep-and-wake community. She has devoted enormous time and energy to helping patients and supporting organizations working to make our “sleep friends’” wildest dreams possible.

A few fun facts: Morse lives on a small farm in central Pennsylvania, has appeared on “Sleeping Around The Podcast,” and supports the sleep-and-wake patient community as the board chair of the Wellness, Sleep & Circadian Network. She is also the author of “Communication in Healthcare: Charting the Course to Better Outcomes with Trust, Respect, and Teamwork,” which feels especially appropriate because communication is one of the most important qualities a doctor can possess.

A great physician does not simply prescribe medication. A great physician listens. They communicate. They respect that the person sitting in front of them is the expert on what it feels like to live in their own body.

And sometimes, if you’re lucky, they become someone who helps you believe in the possibility of a better life. So, if you are struggling to find the right sleep specialist, neurologist, or physician, please don’t lose hope. Keep searching.

Anne Marie Morse, left, is columnist Rachel Nesmith’s current sleep doctor. (Courtesy of Rachel Nesmith)

Ask questions. Get recommendations. Advocate for yourself. And remember that it’s OK to say, “This doctor is not the right fit for me.”

Because somewhere out there may be your Gregory Foster, Phillip Becker, Todd Swick, or, if you are really lucky, your own napsolutely naptastic Anne Marie Morse.

And for extra credit, true or false: Morse is beautiful inside and out, has exquisite taste in everything, and is a wildly popular millennial?

I think we all know the answer. True. Obviously.

Because when you finally find the right doctor, the journey may be worth every difficult step it took to get there. And that, my sleepy friends, is a little bit of “Do Sleep Justice.”

Note: Narcolepsy News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Narcolepsy News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to narcolepsy.