People with Parkinson’s Disease have
more sleep disruptions than others at the same age, partly caused by the
disease itself and partly by the medication given to treat it.
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| From pet-mantis.com |
Anna struggles with sleep. He sleeps fairly early in the
night, 9:30ish, stretched out on his back, fingers clasped high over his chest,
impersonating a praying mantis. His sleep is disturbed by vivid dreams,
nightmares, frequent urination, intense leg ache, and talking in his sleep.
He also naps / sleeps a lot during the day time. Perhaps to
recoup the sleep lost in the night. In a 24 hour period, he sleeps
approximately 13 – 14 hours in a day, always napping after a meal, like an
infant. However, even daytime sleep can be as disturbed as his night time
sleep.
I have also found that if he is woken from deep sleep, his
disorientation increases. Either his dream continues while he is awake,
or he is confused about the time of day, or where he is, or what he should
do. So often, we let him sleep and adjust food and exercise timings
accordingly.
Each morning, when I visit to wake him, I am not sure if he will
be wide awake, or in a semi-somnambanulant state. Each morning, I will ask him
(and his attendant) the same questions. How did he sleep? Did he dream? Was it a nightmare? Were there any instances of vocalization? Did he complain of body ache? How many
times did he urinate? Was the volume of urination commensurate with liquid
intake?
So a couple of days ago, when we woke Anna up for his early
morning cup of coffee, he seemed to be half asleep. His eyes were closed,
sitting at the dining table, patiently waiting for the steaming cup of South
Indian coffee. I asked all the usual questions, to which, I got monosyllabic
responses. I thought I wouldn't be able to have a real conversation, till…..
Me: “Anna, you said you slept well last night. But why
are you still sleepy?”
Anna: “Because I am.”
If he were a young adult, I am sure this response would include a
“Duh!” at the end. I also think of how irritated he would
get when, as teenagers, we responded in the same fashion to his questions!
Me: “OK. Drink your coffee.”
The coffee has been placed in front of him and I wrap the fingers
of his right hand around the mug handle.
He lifts it to take a sip. I watch him carefully, ready to
jump and grab the cup, if it slips, as it is at its usual 45-degree angle.
Anna puts the cup down and says “I have made a profession of
sleeping.”
Me: “Yes Anna.” Not sure where this is going.
Anna: “If I got paid to sleep, I’d be a rich man”
He smiles. I laugh.
Even in his semi-sleep state, his wit is far, far better than mine!
We finish coffee in silence.
Me: “Anna, what do you want to do? Read the paper or take a
nap?” He has always chosen to nap, but I still ask the question anyway.
Anna: “Nap. I am a professional”
I smile as Anna shuffles his way to bed, assisted by his
attendant.
Things that help Anna sleep better
- Exercise. Tho' Anna shuffle walks and covers only a few meters at a time, I insist that he walks at least 2 times a day.
- Sunlight. An hour of sunlight helps not just with sleep, but also his depression and body ache. His is no longer on pain medication and takes it as SOS only.
- No caffeine after 7:30 pm. We do not let him drink coffee or sodas after 7:30pm
- Limited volume of liquids after 7:30pm. This helps reduce the number of times he needs to wake up to urinate
- Light dinner. Dinner time is 8:15pm. Anna will often have upma, or soup and toast, or khichadi or poha for dinner.
- Fixed times to sleep / nap. I have built a schedule for Anna that fixes times to nap / sleep. Definitely after a meal and a bath. And never wake him up from deep sleep
- The TV is in another room not in his bedroom.
- We give him his sleep medication 15mins before he gets into bed
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