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Molly z.'s PLMD story Page 4 | |
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Section one PLMD personal experiences including family history, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. FAQ Odds and Ends includes my opinions about PLMD and miscellaneous. Section two Answer my Sleep Poll and also see the results so far. Section three Links
to sleep disorder websites plus a short list of books I
found at the local library when learning more about sleep disorders. Website contents Copyright ©1999 -
2005-06 molly b.
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The new neurologist contacted by this doctor ordered a sleep study. Thanks to a cancellation, my husband got an appointment within a few weeks. [Further information about a sleep study may be found in Frequently Asked Questions, Page 3] From the results of the sleep study, the diagnosis was - 1. minor
sleep apnea and The sleep apnea
is so mild that only a recommendation for weight loss was made. It's
not serious enough for further treatment at this time. My husband had some side effects from Permax, so he is currently taking Sinemet controlled-release tablets Levodopa 200mg and Carbodopa 50mg. He had regular appointments with the neurologist every few months, at first, but as of this summer, he has been told the family doctor can handle the prescribing of the medication. While my husband and I continue to sleep separately, due to the jerking movements that are still present (though not as bad as before he began the medication) it's been a relief to find a cause for the disorder. Since beginning the medication, he looks healthier. His personality has improved and he is far easier to get along with than in the years before treatment. December 2000 update -- While on holidays this past summer, we stayed in motels, and I found that my husband's sleep is peaceful until the medication begins to wear off in the early morning, about 6 a.m. This is still a great improvement over his unmedicated sleep. February 2002 update -- My husband has had some problems sleeping - dozing off for 20 minutes, then awake for an hour or so, and sometimes waking a few times during the night. By the end of the working week, he is so tired, that he says he *thinks* he's sleeping better. We have not consulted the doctor yet, but will see whether this problem continues. February 2003 update -- The problem he had last year, with waking soon after bedtime has stopped, but....my husband is not sleeping very well lately. He says that he wakes up after about 5 hours of sleep, often restless, and often unable to get back to sleep again. In the evenings, he experiences what is very like RLS [Restless Legs Syndrome], in that he has to get up from the couch, and walk around, and/or move his legs as there are crawling sensations. He must go back to the family doctor, in order to get a referral to a neurologist again. April 2003 update -- Had an appointment with the neurologist on April 21st. He says that hubby can take up to 4 tablets of Sinemet per day. He will try taking one tablet at suppertime, then another tablet at bedtime. [Previously, he took a tablet and a half, all at once, at about 8 p.m.] The neurologist says that a tablet of Sinemet lasts for about 6 hours, so this way of taking the medication makes the pills overlap, and it should help. October 2004 update -- There is no change in the medication prescriptions. Occasionally - every few months - hubby has some trouble sleeping for a few nights, only getting into a light doze, and waking often. This passes eventually, and then he is back to the more normal sleep again. I can usually tell when he has not been sleeping well, as he dozes in the recliner early in the evening, while watching TV. March 2005 update -- Hubby has frequent wakings around 4 a.m. but dozes until it's time to get up for work. No change in medication. May 2006 update -- Hubby still wakes after about 6 hours (after taking the mediations) but is usually able to doze or get back to sleep for a while before arising for the day. He may ask the doctor about trying some other medication if this gets worse. While Requip is often prescribed now, for RLS especially, he does not want to try it, since one *possible* side effect is falling asleep easily, while driving (!) for example, and this effect may occur up to a year *after* the medication has been stopped...so we are somewhat against this drug, at least at this time. September 2007 update -- Well! We traveled to Denmark and Germany in May, 2007 and guess what! I had no trouble sleeping beside my once restless hubby! I guess the medications really have helped. Plus the European bed is much different than those we have in North America - at least the ones we had. Much firmer, and twin mattresses, put together. Website contents
Copyright ©1999 - 2007 molly b. All Rights Reserved
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