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MyCharlie Asked March 2021

Sleepwalking and bathroom accidents. Any advice?

My husband has advanced Parkinson's and uses a walker. He also has a sleep disorder that causes him to move while dreaming. Most of the time he's fine about getting up in the night several times to use the bathroom independently. About once a week, however, he gets up, talking and answering my "Are you awake? Do you know where you are?" questions when he is actually still asleep and dreaming. When he's like this, he gets lost in the bathroom and can't find the toilet, then ends up taking off his pull-ups and peeing or pooping on the floor. By the time I catch up to him, it's usually too late. This is sleepwalking, not dementia, and I could use some help. Thanks!

AlvaDeer Mar 2021
I sure would consult the doctor about this. It is strange but it seems that any underlying sleep problems greatly affect. My brother was diagnosed with probable early Lewy's Dementia. Almost all his hallucinations came at night after trip to bathroom and were very interesting, detailed and remember and described by him in details. He was up and awake but in some state. Would see things out the window that became whole "garden parties". He had for many years that thing with sleep where he acted out in his sleep. Being in the same bed with him could end you up getting slugged if he had a bad dream. He would push himself out the bed, fleeing. Would kick in his sleep. The docs said some percentage of people have a thing where the ability to inhibit the body acting out dreams was just not there, some were sleepwalkers.
This is such a unique problem. I wonder if it would help to consult with anyone doing sleep studies in your area dependent on where you are. As to what to DO about it, I think they don't really have anything that would work, but I sure will follow this thread and hope there is some information.

Geaton777 Mar 2021
If you don't want him to strip off his brief, you can consider "adaptive" clothing (specifically "anti-strip" suits) so that he won't be able to do that.

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Grandma1954 Mar 2021
I would suggest rather than you asking "are you awake, do you know where you are" that you get up with him and help him.

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