A Question For People With MS

[Steven Y Park, MD]

Dr. Park here from the sleep-breathing forum. I answered Laura's question about sleep and MS here:

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/756264

I'm taking an informal poll for people with known MS:

What's your favorite sleep position? Is it your back, side or stomach?

After I tally up the results, I'll give you the reason that I ask.

[maxthecat43]

I prefer to sleep on my right side though, because I breathe much better there...  I too get more spastic as I relax, and starting out on my back is necessary.  I did finally find Dr. Park's posting though, and I fit into his theory.  I have sleep apnea, and my jaw is too small.  I can't even use the cpap equipment, because of anatomical differences.  

It's very interesting.  I'm going to do more research.

Tammy

[maxthecat43]

Since this poll was taken a long time ago- what was the reason?

I'm going to try to find it, but in case I don't- please re-post if you can.

Thanks!
Tammy

[maxthecat43]

On my back mostly, because of spasms and numbness.

Tammy

[Princepaso]

My sleep doc says sleep on my side to reduce air way issues gi dic says sleep on an incline on my back

[meg321]

On my left side..

meg

[Lulu54]

Sleep positions often need to  change, depending on how our bodies are feeling or even as we age. Hopefully another position will make the difference for you.

[Francyna]

At times I can't sleep on my stomache,my ribs become very sore.

[Lulu54]

Beachcomber, this popped up again on the front page for everyone yesterday.  Mindyou must have been searching for sleep and its relationship to MS.  

I'm glad you found the links useful.  It is one of those topics that don't get a lot of attention but needsto be looked at closer.

[beachcomber13]

Lulu, this one was on the front page for me yesterday, and I nearly commented on it, until I noticed the date. I wasn't searching for anything. Strange.

Thanks for the links, though. :)

[Lulu54]

Hi!  You may not realize that this is a very old post that was brought up to the front page again.  Many people will not read it because of its age.  There is a lot of good information in this conversation and I hope it helps anyone who has questions about their sleep and MS.

[Lulu54]

Mindyou,

I'm not sure how you found this old thread (from 2009) unless you were searching for information on sleep and MS.  I tried to read your posts and I think I have the gist of your message - but I don't understand how your computer inserted all those + signs to connect your words.

MS is not a muscle disorder.  It is a disease of the central nervous system.   You can learn more about this disease and its side effects through our health pages, the index of all the pages is listed at -

http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Multiple-Sclerosis/MS-Information-and-Resources-Index/show/22?cid=36


Sleep disorders and the lack of quality sleep are both linked to people with MS.  This was a cover story for the NMSS magazine in Winter 09 - it is such a big topic, yet often overlooked.  

You can access their article through

http://www.nationalmssociety.org/search-results/index.aspx?q=sleep&start=0&num=20


I hope something in this information will be useful to you.  Dr. Park is a highly respected sleep expert, and he has put a lot of thought and research into understanding the MS/Sleep connection.  Unfortunately he is no longer connect with MedHelp but you can find him by doing a search of his name if you want to ask him questions.

I hope we'll see you around and that you can figure out the problem with your computer.
Lulu

[vidalouise]

On either side. Sometimes it does mess with my back and arms, but its the only way I can sleep.

[Mindyou]

listen+i+dnt+know+if+u+got+my+post+all+i+know+is+i+can+not+check+tht+email+i+do+not+have+the+password+so+do+not+write+to+it+if+thats+how+you+respond+and+when+i+get+my+own+email+i+hope+i+can+ask+you+things+and+you+just+answer+me+back+and+can+anyone+else+see+these+things+i+sure+hope+not!+This+goes+to+you+just+to+you+right+cause+i+used+your+name.+Oh+i+am+so+upset+i+opened+this+thing+and+really+cant+communicate+the+way+i+want.+And+really+i+have+no+idea+what+im+doin+at+all+anyway+everything+changed+on+here+im+so+pissed+and+confused+and+annoyed+right+now+and+u+kn+wht+i+had+enuff+on+my+mind+already+eh

[Mindyou]

look+man+im+new+to+this+and+i+dont+kn+if+i+wrote+the+comment+to+the+right+place+did+i+and+how+do+i+kn+s***+i+bet+u+email+us+back+well+dnt+email+me+back+okay+cus+its+not+my+email+i+just+used+it+so+i+cud+comment+on+this+site+and+then+the+whole+site+changed+anyway+and+dnt+email+me+if+thts+how+u+respond+dnt+email+back+after+u+read+this+im+get+this+lady+i+know+to+help+me+get+a+email+on+friday+and+then+ill+fix+it+so+u+can+respond+back+to+me+if+thts+how+u+respond+u+waig+until+then!

[Mindyou]

i+sleep+on+my+stomach+unless+im+being+held+then+on+my+side+but+i+still+normally+end+up+on+my+stomach+and+sometimes+on+my+back+but+most+the+time+on+my+stomach+why+i+dnt+wana+wait+till+ur+survey+or+whtever+is+done+why+whts+it+mean+n+wht+is+ms+tht+aint+no+d***+sleep+disorder+its+a+muscle+disorder+duh.+Im+double+check+n+look+it+up+but+im+pretty+sure+but+whts+this+who+knowin+how+u+sleep+thing+for

[Tammy826]

bumping this thread....how informative ...wow!

[student01]

I have a difficult time staying asleep at night I start on my back and switch from side to side thru the night because of spasms and numbness. I also have to get up 2-3 times a night to go to the bathroom.

[Lulu54]

I was wandering back through some of Dr. Park's information and came across this wonderful discussion.

Dr Park, I just completed my sleep study today - results aren't in but the tech did tell me I have apnea - I figure it is a good time to ask if anyone else has undergone a sleep study since we kicked the idea around back in February? And if so, what were the results?

tired, but still awake,
Laura

[GrannyJo6]

How fascinating! I think I have always slept on my side with the covers all tucked up under my chin. My main problem with sleep is night terrors! Usually 1 - 11/2 hrs after falling asleep. My poor husband has put up with the ear splitting screams for almost 40 yrs now! Not every night thankfully but sometimes in cycles. I know certain meds caused what I call "epic" dreams but am no longer on those. Is there any correlation between dreams, nightmares, etc. and sleep breathing patterns? Makes me wonder!

[sllowe]

Excellent.

I have a cough due to phlem.  I clear my throat often.  I have a tightening sensation in my throat (but not always). Have had the lump senstation too. You take BCBSNJ? ha/ha

-shell (dx'd 07)

[sllowe]

Uh, can you re-ask the question ref. throat reflux?

I looked for it, but didn't see it specifically.....

If anyone else sees it here, post it here....

thanks

[Steven Y Park, MD]

Chronic cough can be from a number of different reasons, including allergies, post-nasal drip, and infections, but acid reflux is the #1 reason by far. Stomach juices can come up (due to various reasons) and irritates the throat area (especially the gravity dependent side), giving you chronic cough, hoarseness, post-nasal drip, mucous, throat clearing, lump sensation, tightening, difficulty swallowing, or burning. One thing to try is to avoid eating late (about 3-4 hours of bed time).

I wonder how many people with MS have the above symptoms that I describe related to throat reflux?

[Octarine]

I don't have "known" MS (currently "under evaluation") and missed this discussion, but have one issue to add that relates to ENT and sleep disturbance.

Lately I wake up regularly because of coughing.  I don't have a cold or allergies, but I get a bad tickle in my throat only on the left side, and sleeping on my right side helps.  I think it's from saliva.  The left side is also the side where food gets stuck or pills "miss" being swallowed, and if food goes up my nose, it's on the left as well.  A swallow study said I was fine, but the speech/swallow therapist gave me recommendations that help with food and medications.

Anyway, knowing that swallowing problems are fairly common in "known" MS patients, I'm curious if this night coughing is a pattern among your patients with MS -- and what you recommend for it?

[Karen99]

In my case,  I believe that having my nervous system hyper-charged due to unrelenting stress, along with other factors (environmental)  caused MS to rear it's ugly head.  Looking back, I had "restless leg syndrome" then insomnia with frequent wakening and having great difficulty falling asleep for a couple of years.  No sleeping problems before this.  

Now......I fall asleep fast into a nearly unconscious state.  BTW, dentists have told me that I have a very small mouth, but there is no crowding because I was shorted 4 teeth that never came in :-)  

My brilliant neurologist recently moved from the LA area to Kentucky to "retire" from an 80 hour week to 40 hours a week.  He almost always ordered sleep studies for his MS patients.  It's been difficult to replace him.  :-(