Bed/sleeping suggestions: New here and... - Cure Parkinson's

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Bed/sleeping suggestions

meadowlark6581 profile image
15 Replies

New here and apologize if this has been covered multiple times already. The PwP falls out of bed, has extreme difficulty getting into bed, and sleeps across the entire bed (crooked). He has a queen size bed to himself now.

Looking for tips about getting in and out of bed, possibly a different size bed, or any suggestions and wisdom this group might offer.

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meadowlark6581 profile image
meadowlark6581
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15 Replies

Silk sheets and pajamas. "... any suggestions and wisdom this group might offer." ; high dose daily of thiamin HCL.

JohnPepper profile image
JohnPepper

When lying down on a bed and you want to get out of bed, have you tried the following:

1: Lying on your back, lift your knees up as high as possible then use the weight of the knees to tilt them and your body over to the side you want to get out.

2. move your feet forward to the edge of the bed and let them dangle down towards the floor.

3. Use the weight of your feet and legs to help you raise your body upright.

4. from the sitting position you can lean forwards and with your weight above your toes, stand erect.

5. do the same in reverse to get back into bed.

6. turning over in bed you can use your knees again as in 1. Then turn in the direction required by using the weight of your legs to help you torso to turn.

meadowlark6581 profile image
meadowlark6581 in reply toJohnPepper

I will try your suggestions with him. Such a baffling situation! I love how you outlined step by step what he needs to do. Thank you for sharing your ideas!

in reply tomeadowlark6581

John is a superb mentor.

Hikoi profile image
Hikoi

Does the pwp have trouble turning over?

Pyjamas get in the way and increase the difficulties of turning. Like Roy says try silk ones (or none ).

Are the bedclothes light weight, they can feel real heavy when meds are low and make movement difficult.

Some people need meds to get them through the night or they are cast, cant move and cant turn over.

It sounds like he has no power to get into a sitting position so he falls on the floor to get out, Ive done that before today.

Disability shops have grab poles so you have something to use to help you move and also to grab to pull yourself up to sitting.

A friend devised a pulley - she tied a sheet to the end of the bed and uses that to pull herself up.

I have an electric bed, not that it solves all my problems.

I feel for your pwp, it can be scary not being able to move.

meadowlark6581 profile image
meadowlark6581 in reply toHikoi

Thank you for so many wonderful ideas. I will try these things with him. The inability to move in bed baffles me when observing! He does boxing for PD twice weekly, yet struggles with the most routine activities of daily living. His neuro gave him an OT referral yesterday. I’m excited to see how that will benefit him. Thank you again for sharing.

Hikoi profile image
Hikoi in reply tomeadowlark6581

There are lots of baffling things about PD, see in this video the difficulty this man has walking yet he can ride a bike.

youtu.be/aaY3gz5tJSk

meadowlark6581 profile image
meadowlark6581

That video is striking, isn’t it! Riding that bike, he looks like there’s scarcely anything wrong.

So many baffling contradictions in PD. We’ve been at this since 2011. PwP went on disability 15 months ago and the decline has been dramatic. He has a PT appointment to assess why he is having so much difficulty getting in and out of bed. Just looking for practical ideas from those who “get it”. ❤️

in reply tomeadowlark6581

You nailed it. Going on disability seems like the best and safe thing to do, but it is a double edged sword. I experienced the same thing when I went on disability 8 months ago. I have returned to work voluntarily but I am having difficulty adjusting. I noticed that I needed considerable will power to get ordinary things done. I think that we can get worse after going on disability because the little movement that we had before is also now gone and so is the motivation and drive.

Astra7 profile image
Astra7

This is a bit weird but sometimes when I'm not moving properly I find singing or humming helps. It seems to distract the brain somehow. worth a try!

BUZZ1397 profile image
BUZZ1397

Sure a great idea to have an OT involved and the OT will in all likelihood could recommend an adjustable bed and probably recommend that you give physical assistance as the caregiver you will learn the PWP will need your physical assistance more as time goes on keep yourself healthy and strong. God bless you

Astra7 profile image
Astra7

Try sodium bicarbonate for a week or so. Half a tsp a day ( tastes awful). It has dramatically decreased my stiffness in bed.

Kecher profile image
Kecher in reply toAstra7

Astra7---

Do you take the sodium bicarbonate at bedtime or another time? Do you drink it with water? Thank you.

Astra7 profile image
Astra7 in reply toKecher

Mixed with water about 30 mins before bed. Tastes awful!

SufferingSocks profile image
SufferingSocks

After my hubby's heart operation he had a soft rope tied to the end of the hospital bed which he could grab hold of in order to pull himself up. These days he has a wedge-shaped pillow to keep himself in a higher position as he has reflux which helps him now he's a PwP to get out of bed. There are always good tips on this Forum. Suffering Socks

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