Husband with PLMD (I think!)

[Morris75]

Hi there

I’m brand new here but hoping to get some advice.

My husband is showing signs of PLMD. For about 2 hours after falling asleep his legs and arms jerk pretty much constantly and often it’s so pronounced that it wakes me up.

This has happened on and off over the years but has been noticeably worse recently.

Consequently we haven’t slept in the same bed for 3 weeks.

However, it doesn’t seem to bother him and he thinks I’m exaggerating the symptoms.

Can anyone share anything similar or help me to help him? He’s a pretty reluctant patient and is pretty averse to medication.

Thanks in advance!!

[Joolsg]

Is he sleepy during the day? If not, I’d avoid meds. Look into diet and avoid triggers like caffeine/ alcohol/ anti histamines and Anti Depressants which can make condition worse. Also, supplements like magnesium will help and get bloods checked- serum ferritin ideally should be above 100.

[Parminter]

In PLMD, if it is that, each jerk is accompanied by a big spike in blood pressure and heart rate. So PMLD is a very significant CVD risk.

All of us with this set of diseases have a higher rate of cardiovascular problems. Not great.

But we are not aware of it if we are asleep, so we can easily deny it.

Tell your husband about this, it may change his mind in a hurry!

Ideally, get him to a sleep centre.

[Morris75 in reply to Parminter]

Thanks Joolsjg and parminter. He was having a nap yesterday and I videoed him for 5 mins in the hope that it would help him see what I’m talking about - but he won’t watch it.

I will talk to him more about it and see if I can drag him to the GP.

Thanks again