I was wondering if anyone has had problems with having vivid dreams and not being able to stay asleep at night? I have the diagnosis of Multiple System Atrophy as of this month but my symptoms started in 8/05. I also have Multiple Sclerosis and heart problems due to the MSA. The last few nights I have had some weird and colorful dreams. I dont usually remember what I dream so these have been standing out I guess. Also, I go to bed between 9 & 10 pm and wake up at 2:30 or 3 and cant get back to sleep. Is this normal? Thanks
~elisha
Elisha,
i also have vivid dreams on occasion.I don't know if it is an effect of the meds or a dopamine shortage.Guess I'll never know but most of the time they are extremly scarey.They seem to occur only about once a month as does the occasional apparition.I have come to the conclusion over the years that parkinsonis and parkinsonism diseases create their own unique challenge.I can't say I enjoy the challenge,but I will meet it head on thru educating myself to this disease,and maintaining my contact with others that have this affliction.I wish you the best.Stay in touch we are here for you Godbless.Ed
Ed-Diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 1998.I am also Diabetic,and have major arthritis issues.As long as I can fish life is good.
support Healing Well thru the sponsors and with donations.The light is always on stay well,and listen to your neurologist.
My husband is a newly diagnosed Parkinsons patient. he has been having very vivid dreams for the last 9 months. In one he dreamed that he was playing soccer and I got a swift, painful kick inthe shin! Almost nightly, he is tossing and turning.
My Mom has VERY vivid dreams, to the point that she has been known to kick and hit my Dad, hollar out and even pulled the curtains down from the window about 2 feet from their bed. She rarely sleeps through the night, most nights, she is very restless. This all started after she was put on her PD meds. The doctor pushed her evening dose to late afternoon and that seems to help some but she still has the restless nights and and dreams at least 2 nights a week.
Elisha
I started having vivid dreams a couple of years ago. There was no apparent reason as I didn't have any change to the dosage of my meds (sinemet and selegiline). They are not nightmares (some I must admit are even enjoyable at the time !!!) but the very vividness of them is scary and the detail of actions and conversations in the dreams are often more real than real life. I find the best way to cope with them is to not think about them or relive them...just shut them out of your mind. I have them every single night of my life but overtime they become less bothersome.
I think the sleep problems come with most illnesses. Sometimes I go to sleep at 10.30pm only to wake up again at 1115pm hoping against hope that its morning. If I feel that I am not going to drop off straight away I get a book and try not to fight it because my experience is that the more you worry about it the harder it is to get back to sleep. If I lay there thinking of family problems or what I will do next day I just get anxious and sleep then becomes impossible. Thats why I get a good book. Give it a try and let us know how you get on
God Bless
BILLY
Hi billy, Thank you for the suggestions. I am not on any meds for PD at all, actually my dx is MSA (multiple system atrophy). I also have Multiple Sclerosis and take quite a few meds for this and also for my blood pressure due to the MSA. My doctor did prescribe Lunesta to take a night and it has helped get to sleep and I usually stay asleep for the first 4 hrs or so then I wake up and start to wonder the house. Going to the bathroom 10 thousand times it seems and have been known to sleep walk. I had to move back in with my mom so she keeps on what I do most times. It is frustrating. Take care ~ Elisha
I also get not only vivid but very, very strange dreams. I have PD not MSA but perhaps the common link is neurological illnesses in general.
Hi Chris, Yes I understand what you mean...just this morning I had very vivid and disjointed dreams that made not sense what so ever. When my blood pressure gets low I tend to have hallucinations and I have started to wonder if these dreams are so sort of strange hallucination...It is weird to say the least.