I was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson’s at the age of 47, and I have been living with the symptoms of young onset Parkinson’s for 11 years. I know I’m not getting enough sleep and I am averaging 6 hours of sleep at night. I don’t sleep during the day. My sleep patterns have changed since having young onset Parkinson’s, and I sleep less but that could be age related. My sleep patterns sometimes affect my partner due to calling out in my sleep. The factors impacting on my ability to sleep include difficulty turning over in bed, night-time urination, and talking or yelling out while asleep. The strategies that have been useful or could be useful in improving my sleep patterns include limiting the amount of fluid I drink before bed to avoid night-time urination, going to the toilet directly before bed, using my bed as a place for sleep and not for watching TV or reading, and listening to music. I should probably go to bed earlier, and when I wake early I try and go back to sleep and not check the phone etc.
At the moment I don’t feel impacted by having less hours sleep but I know it would be better for me. If I wake I always need the loo and I do get some hip pain if stay on my left side too long.