REM Behavior Disorder

[livingwith]

for several years we have been going through a very tough time. My husband went though health issues that lead us to closing a 20 very successful business. closing the door, was difficult but he had another job, after two years here work became very slow and he was laid off. went to work and same thing, he became depressed, very depressed and began cymbalta. which rapidly lead to glaucoma.
before being dignosed he lost 75% and 50% perferal vision. we had to sell our house at a tremendous reduc...Read the full article

[yfitn]

You are NOT alone! My husband also has REM behavior Disorder. We have been married for 37 years now and are also going through the health problems and financial problems. We had our own business for 25 years and had to close it because he just couldn't work any more. He would have episodes come and go for years but in 2004 he lost his Mother and his brother was badly injured in a wreck we had hurricanes destroying everything as well as financial issues. After that it would be everynight for awhile and then he would be good for awhile. We took him to the Dr and they did a sleep study on him and diagnosed him with Sleep Apnea and REM behavior disorder. They gave hm the CPAP machine which helps him sleep better and put him on .5 mgs of Clonazepam. He is now up to 3 mgs and still does his thing every night. He has periods when it really gets to him and feels like he just can't take it anymore. I used to wake him up when he would start moving but I have found that if I just let him sleep through the dream that he does better. It has something to do with retraining the REM sleep cycle. I have been very scared and went through periods of not being able to sleep because I was so scared. I moved to another room but he got so down and depressed that I had to move back in with him. I know he must feel all alone with this horrible disease. Try and get your husband to talk out how he is feeling with you. He will need your support now more than ever. I get up and research and watch him now to make sure that he doesn't hurt himself. I have the computer in his bedroom so I can be there with him. Try to get him on the medicine and it will at least make him not as strong if he is hurting you. Take care.

[sich1]

I have been married to my husband for 41 years and he has had sleep problems for at least the last 25 years. Eight years ago I finally had enough of being kicked, punched and choked. I moved into another room. Six years ago he lost most of his eye sight due to Macular Degeneration. He went into a severe depression. The past year he began walking in his sleep. He has left the house on three occasions and ended up at neighbors doors in just his underware. It has been three different neighbors. Sometimes he thinks that he is in a different town than where we live. On two occasions he has called 911 and told them that we had four terrorest in our house. I wake up to a house full of police. I hear him roaming around the house all hours of the night. He eats a lot during the night and carries food all over the house. Because of his low vision, I have 90% of the household work to do. I get very little sleep and feel tired all of the time. Neither one of us work outside of the home any more. I spend most of the time taking him to doctors. I have recently been told that he has RBD-MSA.
A couple of times when I worke up in the morning I have found rooms trashed. Night stands turned over, drawers pulled all of the way out and things on the floor. How bad is this going to get? How do I take care of him and myself?

[yfitn]

Is your husband a Veteran that served in Viet Nam? It just seems like a lot of the V/N Vets are having the same issues with the RBD.