Using weighted blankets to sleep?

[saraga1908]

Hello, I am wondering if anyone has used a weighted blanket to get better sleep at night and if so, what was the outcome? My dad has Parkinson's and he has a hard time getting sleep because of the tremors. He is not interested in taking a sleep medication so we are looking for alternatives. thanks!

[srarndt]

Hi Saraga,

To what end? Are you hoping to stop the tremors by weighing his body down?

If so, I would imagine that the blankets would also impede his normal night-time movements, making him also lose sleep. On the other hand, before I had my DBS I had to at least fall asleep with my tremor filled hands trapped under the weight of my hips.

Once asleep, most Parkies do not seem to experience tremors.

Also, I would highly recommend talking to your neurologist about this issue...it may be as simple as another PD med tablet before bed. Or again in my case I found that I would wake up in the middle of the night and have a difficult time falling back to sleep until my doc prescribed a time release version of carbidopa levodopa to take at bed-time.

Steve (Bisbee, AZ)

[saraga1908 in reply to srarndt]

thank you Steve I did mention to my dad asking his dr. if taking his med at night might be helpful.

[cabbagecottage]

I agree with the last comment . . My husband used to wake me and ask to hold him tight , he now has a grab rail attached to the side of bed which he now holds . I think the tremot stops once you catch hold of someting . .

I think if you add extra weight he will find it much harder to move or turn over , in fact I have had to make the cover lighter and leave the heat on instead , not easy getting the correct balance .

[saraga1908 in reply to cabbagecottage]

thank you so much this if very helpful information to know - my dad did say when he grips a spoon or fork he does not shake until he releases it.

[shakenlady]

I get cramps in my feet with regular blankets. I could not take the weight.

[saraga1908 in reply to shakenlady]

thank you my dad said he is getting cramps in his legs as well. i asked him to have his potassium and vitamin D levels checked on his next visit. this is helpful to know - thank you!

[cabbagecottage in reply to saraga1908]

my husband was a little better once 0n a controlled release along with a low dose of Amitriptyline ..Drink plenty of water especially during the day ,. I think a lot of people are worried about needing to get to the loo at night . If neccessary use a bottle to save going back and fore

[JennyR in reply to saraga1908]

Saraga ~ I suddenly began having foot and leg cramps at all hours of the day and night. Before PD, just getting up and walking around seemed to cure the problem. But now nothing seems to help. My neurologist added Ionic-Fizz made by Pure

Essence Labs. It is calcium plus heavy amounts of Vit. C, B12, magnesium and manganese, sugar free and raspberry flavor, Mix one scoop with 6 oz of water and the minerals in the powder are converted to ions. They are absorbed faster then any other type of minerals. With 15 to 20 minutes the crramps are gone. Give it a try with doctor's permission. Jenny

[saraga1908 in reply to JennyR]

Thank you Jenny - I'm making a note to have my dad share with his doc - this forum has been so helpful I really appreciate how much people help each other out with ideas about what is working for them...