PLMD/PLMS
periodic limb movements in sleep and other sleep disorders
I hope these pages will be useful to anyone looking for sleep disorders information especially about PLMD. My husband was diagnosed and began treatment for this sleep disorder, after several years of symptoms.
This site was created as the result of that experience.
Note: Any information you read here or elsewhere on the web should not replace your doctor's advice and treatment.
I hope these pages will be useful to anyone looking for sleep disorders information especially about PLMD. My husband was diagnosed and began treatment for this sleep disorder, after several years of symptoms.
This site was created as the result of that experience.
Note: Any information you read here or elsewhere on the web should not replace your doctor's advice and treatment.
PLMD Story
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PLMD story
Family History father - snoring, sleep apnea and probable PLMD - undiagnosed brother - sleep terrors in childhood brother - rhythmic movement disorder in childhood Husband's History Loud snoring if very tired. Dilantin for epilepsy (grand mal) since 1965. He would often fall asleep while watching TV in the early evening. 1979-1980 - Tests that included an EEG, plus the absence of seizures since 1972 led to family doctor's recommendation that the very low dose of Dilantin be discontinued. Symptoms, Treatment What husband noticed - nothing! What I noticed - within 6 months of no longer taking the Dilantin, every 2 or 3 nights, most noticeably on Sunday nights (before going back to work on Monday) my husband's legs or arms would 'jerk' every few seconds, after he'd been asleep for about an hour.This became more frequent as the months passed, increasing to every other night and occurring every 24 to 27 seconds. First a leg would 'kick out', then an arm. At first I believed the jerking movements might be related to the stress of returning to work on Mondays, when it happened mostly on Sunday nights. Later, as the episodes occurred more often, but not every night, we thought they might be caused by general anxiety, seizures, foods or by caffeine. After many months, my husband finally took some time off work to see a doctor about the symptoms. In fact, over the next 15 years he went to several family doctors about the problem. What the doctors suggested - - take sleeping pills [prescribed by 2 different doctors, even though I was the one who had trouble sleeping!] - get lots of exercise [my husband has a physically demanding job, and gets plenty of exercise] - avoid caffeine and 'heavy' foods before bedtime [we'd tried this before going to the first doctor for help] - sleep in separate beds [no diagnosis/treatment of the problem with this suggestion] - if you're sleeping okay at night, maybe your wife is just making it up [this is what a doctor actually said] The PLMD eventually began to occur every night, without a break, but my husband continued to sleep through and was still completely unaware of the symptoms. More symptomsMy husband's personality gradually changed. He was very difficult to get along with. Due to the poor quality and amount of sleep that I was getting, I was probably much the same! He was short-tempered, moody, absent-minded and hostile. He didn't look well, his face was drawn and he had poor skin color. A couple of years before he was finally diagnosed, he began taking afternoon naps on his days off from work, because he was very sleepy during the day. The doctor who had suggested the problem was all in MY head made my husband think that maybe I was imagining things, and that he really didn't have a sleep disorder at all. We had arguments about this, and I'm amazed now that we didn't get divorced, with all that went on through these difficulties. Finally we moved 'back home' to a large city, and went to a doctor we used to see several years before. He sent my husband to a neurologist. Klonopin (clonazepam) was prescribed. The clonazepam seemed to help a little, but the jerking was still bad enough that we had to sleep separately. We went to a new doctor and asked that a sleep study be arranged at a sleep center. At Last - diagnosis The new neurologist contacted by this doctor ordered a sleep study. Thanks to a cancellation, my husband got an appointment within a few weeks. From the results of the sleep study, the diagnosis was 1.minor sleep apnea and 2.PLMD (periodic limb movement disorder) The sleep apnea is so mild that only a recommendation for weight loss was made. It's not serious enough for further treatment at this time. PLMD, which is thought to be caused by the over or underproduction of some substances in the brain, said the neurologistis often treated with Pergolide (Permax) or with Sinemet (Levodopa and Carbodopa). My husband had some side effects from Permax, so he is currently taking Sinemet controlled-release tablets Levodopa 200mg and Carbodopa 50mg. He had regular appointments with the neurologist every few months, at first, but then was told that the family doctor can handle the prescribing of the medication. While my husband and I continue to sleep separately, due to the jerking movements that are still present (though not as bad as before he began the medication) it's been a relief to find a cause for the disorder. Since beginning the medication, he looks healthier. His personality has improved and he is far easier to get along with than in the years before treatment. Updates Clonazepam prescribed as additional treatment for the early morning wakefulness. |
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