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  • Do you find yourself napping more and more?

    Posted by Mary Beth Skylis on November 30, 2023 at 11:26 am

    My dad has always had a hard time sleeping solidly. And Parkinson’s has complicated his relationship with sleep. Over the past year or so, he finds himself napping more than usual. And he thinks it’s at least in part to the medication that he takes. 

    How do you manage fatigue? Do you find yourself napping more and more?



    Alan M replied 3 months, 3 weeks ago 9 Members · 10 Replies
  • 10 Replies
  • Toni Shapiro

    Member
    June 29, 2024 at 8:46 pm

    Hi Mary Beth,

    Yes, I have been napping a lot. A few times a day a wave of fatigue covers me and pretty much knocks me off my feet. I feel like I am walking through thick mud and in slow motion. If I don’t lay down at that minute I am sure I will pass out on the floor. A few times when it happened I forced myself to take my Blood Pressure and it was always very low during those times which I understand is common in these situations. I am so exhausted I don’t want to get out of bed. On the other hand there are days I am the energizer bunny. It is the story of Parkinson’s, isn’t it? You never know what you are going to get day to day, hour to hour.

    I hope your Dad is doing well.

    • Mary Beth Skylis

      Moderator
      July 1, 2024 at 10:32 am

      Toni, It’s really lovely to hear from you. Thank you for sharing. I know that my dad’s energy comes in waves, as well. That’s really interesting that your blood pressure coincides with the fatigue. And it sounds like you do a really nice job of listening to your body.

    • Alan M

      Member
      July 4, 2024 at 6:54 pm

      Tony and Mary Beth:

      My wife complains that I need to have a lie down daily (around 3:00 to 3:00pm). I can’t seem to stay awake and alert these days. I don’t believe my energy comes in waves. I doesn’t seem to be related to less sleep overnight, either. It must have something to do with my dopaminergic neurons becoming overwhelmed in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of the brain and project to the nucleus accumbens, amygdala, and hippocampus.

      I wish I could just speak with my Neuro about this but he isn’t readily available to do so. That’s why I like connecting with others through our Forum.

  • neurodoc

    Member
    July 3, 2024 at 3:29 am

    It has been proven that prior to the onset of the disease the “pt” has sleeping problems.Napping is due to the disease,not enough dopamine,like the off phenomeno.We call it non-motor symptoms of Parkinsonism.It may accompany low blood pressure or it may not.What I have seen as a neurologist is that u ve got to check the heart,not focus on fatigue and kinetic symptoms only.Many sudden arrests happen out of the blue.Best of luck and take care with that heat which is never on our side in Neurology

  • John Wick

    Member
    July 4, 2024 at 2:26 pm

    Yes, I attribute to sleeping less at night.

  • andylondon

    Member
    July 9, 2024 at 9:54 am

    Before diagnosis at 63 I slept like a teenager, now I have difficulty sleeping mostly due to leg pain. This, combined with general fatigue means I tend to nap more, usually mid afternoon for an hour or two. If I try and miss the nap I’m tired for the rest of the evening. I’ve decided naps are good.

  • DonFiresmith

    Member
    July 9, 2024 at 3:01 pm

    I definitely do, which really makes it hard to get everything done I need to do. The fact that I take melatonin for my REM Sleep Behavior Disorder and remeron for depression do not help.

  • Robert Ruiz

    Member
    July 9, 2024 at 3:50 pm

    I nap all the time! I love it! I ain’t doing nothin else. Lol

    I try to to think too much about it. I used to play in a metal band before I was diagnosed and wouldn’t get into bed till about 3am! And then I’d be up all night from all the excitement.

    I’m one of those early on set guys. I was 42 when I was diagnosed.

    Now uncle Sam pays my way, I’m a combat veteran (Iraq 2004). And I never really worried about anything anyway. So I would say. If you find yourself napping alot. Don’t trip. As long as you’re waking up! Lol

    Just be thankful and grateful to be alive! Because everyone is suffering from something some worse than others.

    But yeah sleep is all waky now but like I said I don’t worry about.

  • Karla Burkhart

    Member
    July 9, 2024 at 6:29 pm

    I was never one to nap but now I find I stumble through the day needing a nap every day. In spite of naps I am so tired in the afternoons I can hardly stand to prepare any dinner. I’m thinking of fixing dinner in the morning and saving it until evening. I go to Rock Steady Boxing 4 times a week but am getting weaker as time goes on.

  • Alan M

    Member
    July 12, 2024 at 10:04 pm

    Hey there Mary Beth:

    I wake several times during the night due to incontinency. As a result, I find myself napping more (and longer) when my night sleep isn’t the best. I’ve napped for up to two (2) hours in those instances.

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