Sleep Walking?

Diseases & Conditions Parkinson's Disease
1
My father-in-law has PD for almost 4 years now and recently he has thisconcerning sleep disturbance. For several times, some of my in-laws neighbours found him walking in early dawn (around 2:00-3:00 am)on the street and would go for few miles from the house. When asked if he knew he was "sleep walking", he said he became aware of it after he got home. He has no idea or recollection during the act. Is it normal? It caused concern to all of us. He is taking medications and has daytime sleep excesses.

We are putting alarm bells at the doors at their house so we know if he gets out. Is this a common RBD or something else? Is their any remedy for this?
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Arron,

Welcome to healing Well.I have had PD sor about 7 Years ,and have not experienced sleepwalking,however I would add that symptoms vary with each person that has PD.I would suggest contacting his neurologist if you haven't already,Has anyone out there experienced sleepwalking ?If you have what have you done for this problem?Best wishes for you and your father -in-law .hope you get some answers.Ed

Ed

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Thanks Yekkimo.
 
They went to his neurologist just two weeks ago and he said it was normal, however, I did my own research because I was not satisfied with the doctor's answer. I found out that walking for several miles from the house in the middle of the night is unlikely normal.
 
We've talked to my mother-in-law last night (we live in different country from them), and she told us that my father-in-law told her that the recent incident of sleepwalking (he went to the cemetery at 3:00 am, about 3 km. from their house) was triggered by "someone who told me to go and see him at the cemetery". It was a creepy story. So we thought, it must be a dream or something. I myself have lots of theories - it could be REM sleep behavior disorder or hallucination. We don't know for certain. He is scheduled for doc's visit this week though but I am not sure if the neurologist has some kind of sleep laboratory where his sleep pattern can be monitored.
 
I hope someone out there has the same case with my father-in-law. 
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Arron,

My Dad gets up almost every night to go to the bathroom and usually he goes right back to bed,,but sometimes he goes out to the kitchen,,,,thinking it's morning,,,,or he'll go into another bedroom and he has a few times left the house. Luckily my mother has become attuned to his movements and she thinks that alot of the time he's still sleeping or semi-asleep. He doesn't remember anything the next day.

I think the story of someone telling your father in law to go to the cemetary is a halluncination. My Dad doesn't mention them much anymore,,,,,but almost everyday he would see these people behind the couch or they'd be in the bathroom and he would tell us they wouldn't get out. We found out that halluncinations can be a side effect of some drugs so I would check with your doctor. My father's doctor prescribed seroquel for the halucination but it made him sleepy during the day and up & restless during the night.

Hope I've been some help. Good luck with your father in law.

Lorry

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Thanks Lorry...I appreciate your input. He is scheduled for his visit sometime this week. I hope the doctor can come up with some answers.