To Sleep?

“Restorative sleep is vital for optimal physical, mental and emotional health. Sleep disorders are one of the most disabling non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD), affecting more than 75 percent of people with PD, ” according to the Parkinson's Foundation.

Sleep- it's a big deal to not be able to sleep. Today I am very tired. I went to bed at 10 pm and slept until 2am. And then got up to do my first of 3 pee breaks (I know it seems excessive but if you got to go you got to go.)  I didn't get back to sleep. I remember my mom saying “You rested, don't worry about it, you will sleep tomorrow.” Which for some reason I have always found comforting.  But these days, often I can't sleep the next night either. That leaves me mighty tired mom.

The 2 sleeps bit sometimes works. Sleep from 10-2, get up, read a bit, or whoops, more than a bit if the book is exciting, and then go back to sleep from 4-8.  But will I go to sleep for the second half? Who knows?  I do know sleep is important, everyone says sleep is important. I've read a lot of how to's including a good booklet from the Michael J. Fox Parkinson's Foundation.

But often it just eludes me.  Any tips?  How do you handle getting a good night’s rest? I'd settle for a so-so night's sleep.  From today's lunchtime phone research, (thank you Steven) we think people who take Sinemet can take Melatonin. So, I will try that tonight.

I'm going to go upstairs and try for a nap.

Didn't work. But I rested mom.

Corrine suggested that I take Melatonin gummies.  The gummies are delicious but the sleep is still iffy.

…..................

Now it's been 5 days of 4 hours of sleep. I'm getting a bit goofy from lack of sleep.  On rereading the Sinemet page that I got from the Pharmacy, it says that sleeplessness can be a side effect. Is that the problem? How do I check? Should I not take the last one I take at 6 pm?  One time I forgot to take it but I don't remember if that was a better night. 

And if it is the sinemet, what do I do?

Eileen has suggested tart cherry juice 2 times a day. That is what I am trying next.

Yawn! Hope we are all getting a good night's sleep tonight,

Nancy and the Snark- who doesn't sleep at the bottom of my bed

P.S.

I wrote this a couple of weeks ago and will have more to say about sleep in another post!  Or two. Or three.

Footnotes from Corrine

If only we could just snooze like a cat on those tough nights.

There are some nights when

sleep plays coy,

aloof and disdainful.

And all the wiles

that I employ to win

its service to my side

are useless as wounded pride,

and much more painful.

Maya Angelou