bedtime struggle

[Parkwarrior]

My partner with PD has a hard time wrestling with blankets. He pushes them to the bottom of the bed in order to get up for a bathroom visit and then struggles to cover himself again. No matter how light the covers are, he says they’re too heavy. Has anyone else had this problem and found a solution?

[Juliegrace]

What I have done is I sleep with a cotton comforter only, no top sheet , which makes it easier to maneuver. Also, I am fairly short so I have been using a throw sized blanket for the summer. I also use cotton sateen sheets for my bottom sheet which helps with turning. Even if you still share a bed, I suggest you each have your own blanket.

I went through a phase where I could not have my blanket touching my feet so my husband would tent my blankets over my feet. Thankfully, I have gotten past that, but I still like to kick my blankets up over my feet sometimes.

[Parkwarrior in reply to Juliegrace]

Winters are too cold where we live for a light comforter, but the sateen sheets will help. Thamkuou!

[LeharLover62]

Hubby throws covers around also and often pulls mine off of me and throws it on the floor….no fun.

Like juliegrace he likes a simple light comforter only…We went the other way and tried a weighted blanket once and he hated that…said he felt trapped.

[Parkwarrior in reply to LeharLover62]

I hear that! Thanks.

[LAJ12345]

yes, my husband now sleeps fully clothed on top of the bed and we turn the heating up in winter so he is warm enough. He has a small light woolen throw rug he can pull around his shoulders to feel cosier. I sleep in the next door bedroom as he was constantly waking me with the thrashing around. He’s been doing that for 15 years now. Diagnosed 5 years ago.

[Parkwarrior in reply to LAJ12345]

I know what you mean. Thanks!

[LAJ12345 in reply to Parkwarrior]

We tried the hospital bed and that was terrible.

[LagLag37]

I use satin pajamas. They help me turn and get out of bed. 🥊

[Parkwarrior in reply to LagLag37]

My pwp likes the idea, but he wants to try a satin running suit. Thanks!

[Jana86]

My husband (43 years) and I now sleep in separate but adjoining rooms so we can hear each other if needs arise. He has a serious heart problem (CHF) as well as diabetes, and, I have PD. When we slept together, I also struggled with the covers and would need to wake him to get in and out of bed. (Shared sheets and blankets were a nightmare for both of us.) This is what I came up with once I started sleeping separately.

Using a single light weight duvet and adjusting the number and weight of blankets inside seasonally is really helpful. (The covers will move with one motion.) In winter, I add a heated mattress pad to keep the on top covers as light as possible.

But most helpful was to tie a fairly hefty nylon rope to the bottom rail of the bed. It is long enough that I can reach it and I try to leave the end where I can see it easily. I use it to sit up, to stay balanced while I swing my legs over the side, and I hang onto until I am standing on the floor. When I return to bed, I have determine where I need to sit on the edge so my head ends up on the pillow, facing in the direction I want to sleep. I use the rope to pull myself in the direction I want my legs to end up and to make adjustments if I end up slightly off. I am thinking about adding a second rope at the head of the bed to make those adjustments easier.

Hope that helps.

[Juliegrace in reply to Jana86]

Yes to the heated mattress pad.

[Parkwarrior in reply to Jana86]

You are very smart! Thank you so much.

[LauraYu]

I had all kind of struggles with my bed, couldn’t move, can’t turn , intensive whole body shaking, couldn’t hold a position so I could sleep comfortably………… until recently my neurologist gave me slow release sinemet. I typically take it at 10 pm, watch tv for about an hour, then go upstairs to prepare for the night, teeth brushing etc, then go to bed at 11:30, normally the medication kicks in within a half hour. So I have decent sleep for most of the night.

[Parkwarrior in reply to LauraYu]

He is not using sinemet yet, but we will keep it in mind

[ForViolet]

My husband uses a comforter with a sheet type cover which he only pulls over him when it's cold.

He says it's sometimes difficult to turn over.

[Parkwarrior in reply to ForViolet]

Yes. Also a problem.

[Parkwarrior]

Interesting! Thanks.

[AaronS]

I have found a sleeping bag from a camping store wotks well for me. Get one around 1kg or roughly 2.2 pounds in weight. That should get you a bag rated to 0 degrees Celsius or in old money that's 40 - 44 deg f

[Parkwarrior in reply to AaronS]

Good idea. Thanks!