Rest of the Sleep Disorders Forum Posting

Posted by Bob on June 28, 1999 at 14:45:19:

In Reply to: REM disorder? posted by Judy on June 21, 1999 at 00:10:08:

Hi Judy. I'm new to this forum, but I'm here because I'm looking for help with a similar problem. I'm 54 and I started acting out my active dreams about ten years ago after taking Karate lessons. When "the bear" (or whatever) was about to get me, I'd kick him and my wife would sometimes get the bruises. After about 5 years the kicking subsided, but I still flail my arms or strike the wall with my fist. It's not always violent -- sometimes I'm writing on a chalkboard. I also verbalize, sometimes shouting a single word, sometimes lecturing my adversary. The dreams are always vivid, and if I take notes before going back to sleep, I can usually remember amazing details.
I think I have spotted a pattern that associates these episodes with a full bladder or digestive activity. My wife (who is understandably sensitive to this problem) helps by waking me up whenever she detects that I am becoming restless and telling me to go to the bathroom. That usually helps me sleep more soundly, but it may be just because it starts a new REM cycle.
It also seems to help if I (a) don't eat after about 7:30 except for a snack of fruit and cottage cheese just before bedtime, and (b) do about 10 minutes of mild exercises just before bedtime -- though I note that this is recommended AGAINST by the experts.
Here's another thing I've tried: Get a mini cassette tape recorder with a VOX switch and put it on the bedside table. The VOX makes it record only when there are sounds. I've done this on business trips and the only sound it picked up all night was when some yo-yo pulled the fire alarm. I don't know if its mere presence keeps me quiet, or if I only have my problems when I'm in bed with my wife (I haven't used the recorder then -- maybe I should). It's also a handy way to "take notes" about any dreams before you go back to sleep. This is an enlightening, if not a curative, thing to do and it doesn't require that you be sleeping with another person.
By the way, I've also tried protecting my wife by putting a velcro strap around my right wrist (I sleep on the right side of the bed) and attaching it with a cord to the leg of the bed so that my hand can't cross to her side of the bed. That is 100% effective, but unfortunately it's because it keeps me from sleeping, so I've abandoned it.
I hope some of this helps. And if someone sees anything they know a cure for (preferably without mind-altering drugs) please pass it along.
Bob

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