Hi, Im Juan

[JuanSolera]

Hello, my name is Juan Soler and I am a PhD student in Biology. Currently I am investigating the relationship between sleep disorders and the appearance of motor neuron diseases.

A pleasure to be here.

Regards

[Terry]

Hi Juan and welcome to the forum,

I am not aware of sleep disorders and the appearance of Mnd, certainly in my case but look forward to any input you have. Regards Terry

[Kayleigh]

Not even your loud snoring Terry??

[Kayleigh]

Sorry Terry - I know you don't snore really!!
.. but perhaps snoring would be classed as a sleeping 'habit' rather than a 'disorder'?? - either way I've never heard of a link with sleeping disorders and the appearance of MND. I've heard of people getting sleeping disorders while they have MND (e.g sleepless nights due to anxiety and/or breathing difficulties etc), but I have never heard of them triggering or being the cause of MND. Interesting that it is being investiged though!

Welcome to the forum Juan and good luck with your PhD. It sounds like have chosen an interesting subject to research. How long will your PhD take to complete?

Best wishes
Kayleigh

[Terry]

Just for the record, Kayleigh,

I don't snore, just purr when I am relaxed. My wife does sometimes, and I can hear her even though she sleeps on the floor above me.

Love Terry

[Kayleigh]

... and I thought you were always the purrrfect gentleman TC! - a bit catty of you to tell tails about your wife's snoring! Lol

Ok, you might just purr quietly when you are relaxing - but even a cool cat like you must snore sometimes, during the occasional cat-nap perhaps?? .... in fact, your good friend Benny told me your snores are so loud that on a clear night they can be heard many miles away - even as far as at the end of Southwold Pier!! Lol

Love Kayleigh x

[Kayleigh]

Hi Terry,

I've been trying to find evidence of your rumoured loud snoring. You might be rather a-mew-sed to know that my search for proof has been a failure and so somewhat of a cat-astrophe!

However, even if you did snore, there's no way you would be able to hear yourself due to those huge ear-plugs you wear - and the place where you take your cat-naps looks so sound-proofed that no-one would be able to hear you anyway! LOL

... and by the way, I love those very cute PJs you wear!.....

http://https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oJrxycFYv5M

Love Kayleigh x

[Doug Carpenter]

Hi Juan

Welcome.

At which university are you studying?

Doug

[Barry52]

Hello and welcome Juan.

I wish you well with your project and I hope you can understand the banter between Kayleigh and Terry. It made me laugh and we need more humour in our lives.

Barry

[Annb]

Hello Kayleigh

I am having a big problem sleeping at night due to leg discomfort, pain and an inability to turn over which wake me up several times. The recent hot weather has made things a lot worse and is causing me severe tiredness and misery during the day. I hear what you say that sleep problems are often caused by anxiety and depression but do not agree that it is always the main reason for lack of sleep there are other contributing factors. I have tried 'sleep hygiene' without success. I am sure all MND suffers have a degree of anxiety whilst coming to terms with their prognosis.

My general sleep problems did become evident before I was diagnosed so there could be a link there and Juan's sleep study could prove interesting if it showed a link between sleep problems and the subsequent diagnosis of MND.

I know just how good you are finding solutions for practical problems on the internet. You are whizz!! I live alone and rely on my microwave. I am beginning to find opening the door difficult. I have google unsuccessfully but if you find anything to help with this problem please can you share it.

Love Ann

[Ellie]

Hi Ann,

I hope you mind me butting in on your post to Kayleigh.

When I had difficulty opening the push-button of my microwave, I used a key grip without a key - my thumb and fingers were too weak to push the button in hard enough for it to open, but I could grip the key grip firmly and had enough shoulder & arm strength to use the key grip to open the microwave. I also used various utensils, such as a wooden spoon, if the key grip wasn't at hand!

IDK if something like that would work for you?

Love Ellie.

[Kayleigh]

Hello Ann

Sorry to hear about the pains in your legs etc and that it is affecting your ability to get a good night's sleep. Perhaps taking quinine would help to ease the pain, but there are also other recommended medications that can be prescribed if quinine isn't effective, as detailed in the 'For muscle cramps' drop down on the MNDA's webpage about pain (link provided below):-

http://https://www.mndassociation.org/professionals/management-of-mnd/management-by-symptoms/pain/

I think I have read on this forum that taking magnesium supplements can help to alleviate cramps - but hopefully someone here who has experience of taking them can give you more detailed advice.

I don't know if physiotherapy (also mentioned on the Mnda's webpage about pain) can be provided free of charge on the NHS (possibly organised via our physiotherapist or occupational therapist if we have one?) - but others on the forum might know.

I have also read advice on the forum that might help with turning in bed e.g. having grab rails at the side of the bed and using special 'silky' sheets. I don't have experience of using the special sheets but I suppose that how helpful they are with turning probably depends on how limited a person's mobility is. A profile bed and a specialist mattress might help you to be more comfortable in bed - and I understand that some people with Mnd have been provided with these via their OT, district nurse etc. (You might already know about these suggestions but just thought I would share them with you, in case any of them are helpful).

It's good that Ellie has some great advice about opening the microwave door- I've been looking on the Internet for a gadget to help with this but can't find anything yet! Top Cat Terry might also have some top tips - his knowledge about helpful gadgets is much more extensive than mine!

Love Kayleigh xx

PS Thank you for pointing out that anxiety/stress is not the only factor (and not necessarily the main one) that can affect our ability to sleep - yes, sadly, we have got a mountain of challenges to deal with which could potentially affect the quantity and quality of our sleep eg pain, cramps, respiratory problems, mobility issues etc etc ....

[AndyB]

Hi Juan,

Getting back on topic, shortly after my MND diagnosis I was referred to the sleep and ventilation clinic so that a baseline reading of my lung capacity could be taken. At my appointment my wife jokingly mentioned my snoring to the consultant. He said that it may be possible to do something about it, so I was sent home with a device to monitor my breathing while I sleep. That outcome of this was that I was borderline sleep apnea, I was stopping breathing about 13 times an hour (15 and above is sleep apnea). Since I was borderline and because I have MND I was given a CPAP machine. The CPAP machine has stopped the snoring and I sleep much better, but my wife now complains about the noise of the machine ��

I’d been snoring for quite a few years, often waking myself up and never having a decent night’s sleep.

Andy

[Ellie]

Hi Andy,

Just to pick up on your using a CPAP machine...

With ALS, you really should be using a BiPAP machine, not a CPAP. The CPAP means you having to breathe out against pressure, making your respiratory muscles work harder.

By using a BiPAP, you'd still get the same benefit from positive pressure as you breathe in, but your respiratory muscles don't have to work so hard as you're not breathing out against pressure.

Anything which eases the workload on weakening muscles has to be good!!

Take care,

Love Ellie.

[JAY TEE]

Juan, having a kip with MND, yes I often have cat nap in my wheelchair which I am in all day. This I was told is the side effects of all the drugs we are on. If out and about during day I always sleep well at night going to bed about 22.00 but read for a while then awake and up by 07.30. I sleep well but I am naughty I have pint before bedtime, That makes me sleepy. Best wishes John.