AI-written summary of reporting by New York Post. No human editor reviewed this. AI can misread or omit facts — read the original, linked below.
ABSTRACT

Rylie Shaw, a two-time world champion cheerleader from Riverside County, California, spent her teenage years visiting multiple doctors unable to explain severe daytime fatigue despite sleeping through the night. A sleep study at age 17 revealed she had idiopathic hypersomnia, a rare neurological disorder marked by extreme daytime sleepiness regardless of rest, which later progressed to narcolepsy.

New York Post

California cheerleader diagnosed with narcolepsy after years of misdiagnosis

California cheerleader diagnosed with narcolepsy after years of misdiagnosis
Sep 13, 2026, 4:53 PM

Rylie Shaw, a two-time world champion cheerleader from Riverside County, California, spent her teenage years visiting multiple doctors unable to explain severe daytime fatigue despite sleeping through the night. A sleep study at age 17 revealed she had idiopathic hypersomnia, a rare neurological disorder marked by extreme daytime sleepiness regardless of rest, which later progressed to narcolepsy.

Context

Shaw said initial doctors attributed her condition to typical teenage laziness, attention disorder, or depression, and she underwent blood work for diabetes without finding answers. When she was 17, an ear, nose and throat specialist who found she had a deviated septum and a collapsing nostril recommended a sleep study before discussing surgery.

The sleep study diagnosed her with idiopathic hypersomnia. Over time, Shaw developed cataplexy, sudden conscious muscle weakness triggered by intense emotions, most frequently brought on by relief. She said that after cheerleading competitions, she would suddenly collapse to the floor and eventually quit the sport because she became an unreliable teammate.

In 2023, Shaw began medication to regulate her sleep. She said the difference has been significant. Travel remains a major challenge; a trip to Hawaii from her California home required about a week of recovery. Shaw said she avoids activities that induce adrenaline and has had to accept a slower pace of life.

Shaw has 1.5 million followers on TikTok and 61,000 followers on Facebook, which she uses to share her experience living with narcolepsy. She wrote in a Sept. 5 Newsweek article that receiving a diagnosis gave her answers and eventually purpose.

All Perspectives
Rylie Shaw: Shaw wrote that at first her condition 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." She said that after competitions, "I'd 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." On her diagnosis, Shaw stated: "Some parts of life don't come as easily to me as they do to other people. That's something I've 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's what keeps me hopeful and positive."
Gaps & Unknowns
  • The source does not name the specific doctors or medical facilities involved in her initial misdiagnoses.
  • The source does not specify what medication she began taking in 2023.
  • The source does not identify the specific year she achieved her two world championship titles in cheerleading.
  • The source does not provide details on the types of adrenaline-inducing activities she avoids.
Sources & Further Reading
  1. New York Post — original

Read the original at New York Post

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