It’s 3:50 am, and sleep isn’t happening. A trip to the bathroom 20 minutes ago and back to bed. And I still can’t sleep.
Last night at 11 pm, I turned out the light, started a Yoga Nidra meditation on my phone, wearing my new headband with Bluetooth speakers embedded in it so I don’t have to disturb Mr. Twitchy and the dog. I settled into bed for the night.
I started the meditation, which usually works within a couple of minutes to put me out. But this time, no sleep. My legs ache, my arms, too. My muscles are rebelling. They are screaming at me! Thank you Parkinson’s.
A calming voice tells anyone who will listen to get into a comfortable position. And then make it 5% more comfortable. Is she joking? I can’t even get into a comfortable position, let alone make it 5 % more comfortable.
I think about a hot shower but can’t drag myself out of bed to the shower, even though I know it will help.
At midnite, I take a sleeping pill. I start the yoga nidra again but still can’t find 5% more comfort. I take a hot shower. Eventually the sleeping pill and the shower kick in and I get some blissful sleep…..for 3 ½ hours.
So here I am, trying to figure out what to do next. It’s too early to walk the dog. Maybe I will turn the television on and hope that will help me sleep.
Many nights, Mr. Twitchy and I will watch TV downstairs, never in the bedroom as advised by unknown experts. Maybe they are unknown because their advice doesn’t work. So we take turns dozing off while watching something we like and have to go back and figure out exactly when one of us fell asleep in spite of that glowing blue screen. We eventually drag ourselves upstairs to get some real sleep without the dreaded glowing screen. But that doesn’t work because we already got some sleep downstairs. You see where I am going with this???
So back to 3:50 AM. It is too late to take another sleeping pill. I take some Tylenol, hoping it will settle my fragile nerves so I can go back to sleep until the dog wakes me at 5:30 to go out. Next thing I know, the sun is up and it is a new day. Time to get up and walk the dog.
Sleep and Parkinson’s
Sleep issues are a hallmark symptom of Parkinson’s Disease. I had trouble sleeping for many years before my diagnosis. If you are having trouble getting enough sleep, speak to your doctor about it. Melaton works for some people. It did nothing for me. A hot shower helps me a lot, but it may not do the same for you. Yoga Nidra is a form of meditation designed to relax you so that you can sleep. If all else fails, you may need sleeping pills to help you get enough sleep. It may take a while to find out what is best for you so that you can wake up rested and ready to take on the day. But beware, PD is always trying to find new ways to disrupt your sleep and your life.
Turning Grief into Action
Super Advocate George Ackerman joined me last Sunday to talk about advocacy and his never ending battle to eliminate Parkinson’s Disease, all in memory of his mother, Sharon. You can watch it here.
Next Up on Sunday Mornings
Another author in our book series. Steve Yellen will join us on Sunday, May 3 at 1:00 PM ET to talk about his new book “Living Parkinson’s” and his 7 Strategies for Living a Full Life with Renewed Purpose.
Register here
Another Parkinson’s Story
by Susan Koehn
March of Memories
Silence dropped around us as they waited for me to speak. I couldn’t say a word. I sat in the operating chair, tucked under blankets and draped with surgical sheets. Members of the operating team were watching – nurses, the anesthesiologist, the neurosurgeon and two techs from the company which manufactures the Deep Brain Stimulation system the surgeon was implanting to help control my Parkinson’s Disease. Their eyes showed concern when I began to cry. Both leads had been implanted and the team was ready to test the placement. After connecting the leads with a temporary generator, the device was switched on. I watched my hands shaking like dry leaves in a fall breeze, then they relaxed and lay still in my lap. To describe how I felt was impossible. “I just can’t believe it!” I finally managed. The date was March 13, 2019. I still can’t describe the emotion of the moment, but that’s why I celebrate “Thanksgiving in March.” …..Read the rest here.
Have a great week!
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