I’ve recently been diagnosed with REM Sleep Behaviour Disorder. I don’t have any other symptoms of Parkinsons. There’s a (strong?) link with then getting Parkinson’s. Does anyone know of how strong the link is and whether there is anything obvious that would help with prevention of Parkinsons.
Hi Phil59,
My husband has REM which began about 20 years ago. He is 77 and was diagnosed with Multiple System Atrophy (an atypical form of Parkinson’s) in January of this year. We were told by his Movement Disorder Specialist that about 80% of REM patients will eventually develop a Parkinson’s disorder. It is good that you are aware of the possibility so that you can be get an early diagnosis if other symptoms develop. Have you researched the symptoms of PD, MSA and LBD? Hopefully you never will advance to one of these diseases. EM
Thanks Iris - will do so. Fortunately the REM stuff seems to have died down again.
my husband has REM well before 2010 when i was diagnosed with PD. First time his REM happend was that he jumped out of bed and ran into the bedroom wall. I dailed 999 they wanted to take him to hospital but he would not go.(if he had gone then at least we would have known about REM) second time he jumped/fell out of bed he said that he had to dive into this lake as our son was drowning and he had to save him, lots more things happened after that. He went to see our GP she gave him some tablets that were for chidren who wet their bed, we Changed GPs and that GP told us to sleep in separt rooms, and lots more silly advice from our GP. Then one day he had to go to the hospital for some bone in hi back and in the room with the DR was a young lady professor, some how he had been booked with the wrong DR but it ended up with him getting the diagnoses for REM The young professor know all about REM and as we got talking she told us what it was. Straight away she put him on Clozaepam and we have never looked back. What is amazing though is I have had PD since 2010 and touch wood he has not any showing of PD it must have been 2006 when he stated with REM just make sure that the meds you are given suite you and work for you.
PS sorry just one more thing my brother was Dianosed with PD and he doe’shave Rem but he won’t accept it. He tells me “well I don’t eat cheese any more before I go to bed” and other stories. I try to tell him but he won’t listern