Well, ha. This was inevitable.
I'm trying to keep myself in study mode, but I KNEW sooner or later I'd learn some factoid I'd feel compelled to share with you guys.
So I take a brief break from studying nonstop to tell you about Ondine's Curse.
It's an extremely rare medical condition in which a person can only breath voluntarily.
Meaning...if they fall sleep, they don't breathe and can die.
Ugh!!!
How can that be, you ask? Well, in the congenital form in infants, it's often fatal. It's so rare, doctors don't usually look for it. But in adults, it's caused by an auto accident, stroke, or neurosurgical complication to the centers of the brain that control breathing. They often need to use a ventilator machine to breath at night or an electronic device to zap their diaphragm muscle into helping them breathe.
The name Ondine's Curse comes from a German myth. Ondine was a water nymph in love with a mortal man. She gave up her immortality when she fell in love with him and bore him a child. He had promised, "Every waking breath will be a testament to my love for you."
When he became unfaithful, she cursed him—if he ever fell asleep, his breath would be taken from him and he would die. Eventually, from exhaustion, the man did fall asleep. And he succumbed to the curse.
!!!!
Please keep in mind this post is for writing purposes only and is not to be construed as medical advice! (See sidebar disclaimer)
If you've got a fictional medical question, let me know! Post below or email me at
All I ask in return is that you become a follower of my blog and post a link on your blog when I post. Easy peasy.
Also, don't forget to check out Mental Health Mondays at Laura's Blog!
44 comments:
Thanks for the lesson--I was not familiar with Ondine's Curse.
You just don't mess with women...especially those with power.
I just read about this the other day. Weird, huh?
I hope the studying is going well.
Wow! For a story purpose, this is ultra cool. In reality, it's extremely tragic. I'd never heard of this before. Wow. Thanks for sharing and, just for the record, it's good to take a break once in a while. Good luck!
Thanks for this. I have beautiful sculpter of Ondine and never knew who she was.
Hope your studies are going well.
That would make an interestin retelling!
Whoah, that's a freaky, but interesting, one. I'd heard about Ondine, but never realised the story behind her. :)
Wow. Puts a real spin on the saying 'as natural as breathing', doesn't it? I can only imagine how it must be for those under the real-life curse. My brother-in-law sometimes forgets to breathe (while awake), so it can't be the same as Ondine's Curse, can it?
Eek! (Remembers to breathe.)
Interesting trivia.
WOW! LOVED this snippet of medical minutiae.
Now back to your studies!!
LOL.
Blessings,
Patti
Wow, talk about a woman scorned. I guess that's one way to make sure your man keeps his promise. In all seriousness, though, what a horrible thing for actual people to face. When I read about it's cause in adults being an auto accident, I took a deep breath and thanked my lucky stars that didn't happen to me.
Good luck with your studying, Lydia. And thanks for taking a break to post this. =o)
Wow, that must be seriously inconvenient to live with... During the day time while trying to do anything having to consciously remember to breathe each breath. Yikes.
Very interesting.
-
Gambatte on your studies!
How cool - love the myth :)
I learn the most interesting details here. Glad you had to pass this on!
Now...go study some more :)
OH.
MY.
GOD.
That's so crazy and yet so cool ;)
Never knew there was such a thing.
Wow! I'd never dreamed of that problem. How scary.
How can I work it into a story? ;-)
Happy Labor Day!
How neat! I now wonder how many medical terms/names come from Greek myths. I sometimes wish we could still create myths instead of using old ones. Hmm...maybe we can.
Weird disorder but interesting myth! It made me want to read the whole story now lol!
I love medical Mondays
That's crazy! I couldn't imagine having that curse. Interesting how it was named, though.
Wow, how cool. Well, I mean it's not cool, cuz you can die and stuff, but I had no idea. Thanks for enlightening me! :)
Wow, I'd hate to have this disease! Very interesting how it was named, though.
Cool - the myth not the medical condition.
Wow, thanks for sharing. Now, get back to your studies. :)
Thanks for sharing. Glad this is a rare thing. You are taking breaks for chocolate, right?
jiminey christmas! that would be HORRIBLE!!! the feeling of not being able to breathe is one of the worst things ever!! thanks for the education!! :)
That medical condition sucks so much, but the mythology from which it gets its name is SO COOL! I love that kind of stuff - mythology, that is. Talk about a nasty curse. LOVED this tidbit!
Thanks for this post. I was not familiar with Ondine's Curse.
Oooo..I love mythology but OMG this illness is horrid! I had never heard of this before, the myth or the disease. Always a' learnin' something over here. Thanks for sharing and hope you had a great weekend!
Now that is interesting! The curse is almost as creepy as the reality of the illness!
How fascinating! I'm glad you took a little time from studying to tell us about Ondine's Curse.
Jai
*Gasp*
Lydia, since your title (Gone In a Gallop)came so close to winning, I am giving you a $15.00 Barnes & Noble gift card. Shoot me an email with your address, okay?
Congrads. :)
I had heard about the rare Ondine's Curse but not the legend behind it. :o
Heh heh, that's what he gets.
Oh yeah, this takes me back! Thanks for the medical and "classical" lesson! :D
I didn't know that legend! That is awesome! And kind of frightening. After I suffered a head injury I woke up a few times because I had stopped breathing. Thankfully I'm back to normal now, but now I know it wasn't my imagination!
Thank you, Lydia, this is a fascinating story!
Oh great, now that I've read this I'm hyper aware of my breathing and will probably forget to breathe because I'm thinking about breathing and then I'll get all panicking and think I have the disorder and pass out and then...
Oh, nope, I'm okay now. ;)
Thanks for the crazy info!
Crazy stuff, but so cool. Has to be a book of some kind in there :) Thanks for bringing the awesome, Lydia!
this is one of the scariest conditions i've heard of-- at least until i hear of the next scariest. that's what gives it such literary value, the major fear factor for the reader and tragedy for the character.
i already snap awake some night thinking i stopped breathing. now the snap awake may be even more explosive:)
these exotic medical conditions are so much fun. reading about them is like going to a horror movie i know will keep me up at night, which they do to me.
good to see you again:) good luck with your certification and studying. i'm just getting some balance and organization back in my life and am looking forward to reading your back posts (to me anyway) over the next few weeks.
oh, Lyds, this was probably your most interesting MEDICAL MONDAY post. I've never heard of this illness, it's so scary and intriguing. And the myth is amazing as well. I wonder why nobody has put this in a film or on TV so far?
Well, after a lot of thinking, I'm going to put this trait into my next manuscript. Cool!
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