I got diagnosed but can't trust the results
Today l (27, M) got diagnosed with IH.
I thought I would feel some sort of relief to find a name for my condition, yet I can't help but be sceptical.
I've always been extremely tired and sleepy, and what brought me to a sleep expert is risking my life every time I drive due to uncontrollable sleep attacks.
During my first appointment, the doctor collected my history and did an EEG, where I slept most of the time without even realizing it.
He immediately suspected IH over narcolepsy because I don't have cataplexy nor sleep paralysis. Still, he mentioned multiple times that I also don't have hallucinations while I told him that I do hear voices and have vivid dreams when I doze off.
The following appointment I took an MSLT. That day I was extremely anxious and I felt observed, hence I could not fall asleep, at least not as fast as I normally do. Every time I realized I was dozing off, I'd have an adrenaline rush and wake up.
Despite this, I still managed to nap all 5 times but I guess for very short period.
Today I got the results. I had an MSL of 9'40" and no REM. Despite the pretty "long" MSL, the doctor confirmed I have IH. However, there are a few things that prevent me from trusting the diagnosis.
First of all, I don't fully identify with the IH general experience. I rarely sleep for long periods of time. I wish I did, but I have pretty light sleep and wake up super easily, sometimes multiple times per night. Occasionally I even wake up and fail to fall asleep again, but that's because I've anxiety and probably ADHD and my thoughts can be overwhelming.
Secondly, I did no other test besides the MSLT; no overnight study or stuff like that, and I can't help but think that the anxiety I felt that day might have compromised the results.
I tried to bring my doubts up to the doctor but I perceived he got slightly irritated as if I was questioning his diagnosis, so I didn't push it further.
I know this doctor has way more knowledge and experience than me, so I should trust him, and I do. However I'm also scared that the diagnosis was rushed. Part of me is convinced I have type 2 narcolepsy and I just can't change my mind.
Rationally, I also think I might want a narcolepsy diagnosis because people seem to take that more seriously than hypersomnia and I desperately want my colleagues and family to realize that I'm someone who's trying but struggling, rather than just a lazy sleepyhead that keeps messing up (not that I belittle hypersomnia, that's just what I've always been called by my parents).
So now I don't know what to do. Part of me wants to accept the diagnosis and move on, but part of me wants to keep digging, contact other doctors and do more tests.
For now I think I'll sleep on it (hehe) and decide what to do sometime in the foreseeable future.
In the meantime, I'd really love to know what you think of this situation and appreciate any advice you'd like to share.