[livingwith]

I will be 62 in a couple of months and I am at the point that I am afraid to go to sleep.
I think my problem started out when I was young because I remember talking and walking in my sleep. The last couple of years I started fighting more in my sleep and I wife would tell me that I constantly argued in my sleep which was mostly about my work. Of course I would not believe her. She would tell me that I would sit up or get up and fight and kick.
I got worst. One night I rolled over and h...Read the full article

[rpda]

Hi Frank,

I came across your post today and just wanted to offer my support. My Father has RBD (REM Behavior Disorder), and I actually posted about it here about a year ago in a desperate attempt to get some help and support (the post is entitled My Dad's Story). He is 66 and was diagnosed several years ago. I swear he asked himself all the same questions you are and got to the point where he was not only terrified, but quite depressed.

For awhile he was successfully treated with Klonopin, but after several months he'd build up a resistance to it and the medication kept having to be increased. He became increasingly groggy in the mornings and unable to function in the manner he was used to. Which of course, led to more depression and also anxiety. We saw some of the supposed best doctors in CA and nobody had any alternative treatments plans to offer us.

Fast forward to Sept. of 2008 and we finally got a referral to a specialist who has literally changed my Father's life. I'm almost hesitant to discuss his treatment plan, because I vehemently believe that anyone with this disorder needs to be seen by a professional, but in the hopes of being able to offer some help, I will tell you that he was titrated down to a very low dose of Klonopin (actually the dose he started on many years ago) and simultaneously put on Melatonin (there has been increasingly more research on this supplement in the treatment of parasomnias). It has been astonishing.

For the first time in YEARS my Father is able to sleep without restraints (he used to restrain himself at night with all sorts of contraptions), go weeks without an episode (and when he does have one it's not even comparable to what he used to have), sleep in the same room with my Mother (they will never be able to share a bed as he's too afraid of having an episode and harming her, which he had done in the past), and he is living a more productive life than he has in a loooong time. And emotionally he is stronger than ever.

If there is anything I can to do to help, please don't hesistate to let me know. You might also look into the work of Dr. Carlos Schenck (do a Google search and you will find him, unfortunately this site won't let me post links). He is the authority on RBD and his books, DVD (called SleepRunners) and research were helpful beyond words for my Dad and our family. But above all, please see a doctor.

[CODad74]

Frank,
I can totally empathize with what you are going through. One night I got on my knees, turned around and punched a hole in the wall. My wife (now ex-wife for different reasons) told me that I then tried to run out of the bedroom, hit the skinny part of the door, head first, bounced back, staggered and went back to sleep. Another time I tore the posters off my wife's cousin's wall where we were sleeping. I am afraid to sleep anywhere that is different to me.

All I can say is that I am pulling for you and just read a post on this site, titled "REM Sleep Disorder cured" about a possible blood pressure med that has positive effects treating this.

I am praying for you,

J

[Kbarnar]

Hello,
There are so many doctors out there that don't know anything about this problem. Could you give me the name/location of your father's doctor?

My husband and I have read Dr. Schenck's book about sleep disorders and he mentioned that 3mg of melatonin worked for some people. Thanks

Kathy