Living with REM Behavior Disorder

August 2007

• Living with RBD - by Alison M - (Tue, Aug 28 2007)
  Hi. I have just read a few of the stories of those with RBD and I’m not sure if their symptoms match the condition or whether they are being misdiagnosed. I suffered from vivid, violent dreams for many years often inflicting serious scratches on myself. I have also woken myself up by pulling out my hair (My dream was that I had maggots on my head). These incidents would occur periodically, usually when I was under some stress. I finally had enough when my son started to show similar symptoms, so I searched the net and came up with RBD. I approached a sympathetic doctor who initially thought I was suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, but after some investigations on her part she agreed my symptoms matched RBD and I was prescribed Clonazepam. It really works. What was clear from my web searches is that there is so many disorders that it is best to talk to an understanding doctor. I am also not the typical sufferer. I am female, aged 37 and I have remember having my first incident at 21. I also suffered from a mild sleep disorder as a child. I can’t remember the name of it, but I would feel I was being suffocated as i fell asleep and I had to jump back in to wakefullness or I felt I was going to die. Sorry for going on so long. I hope it helps someone. [more..]
• its worse than I thought - by Gail Goodman - (Fri, Aug 24 2007)
  I awake every two minutes. Then I found out I only have one REM and its at the end of my cycle. I was told I’m a light sleeper but I wasn’t ready for the next part. I have no activity in stage 3 and 4. [more..]
• nights alone - by Grace - (Wed, Aug 22 2007)
  I’ve always had this sleeping disorder but until recently I’ve just thought it was something else. I’d wake up to hearing loud noises, like a machine working on over drive and every muscle in my body would be choked off. My eyes would be wide open and I could taste the fear in my mouth. It felt violent and pulling at me. [more..]
• Here’s a reply to “Jo” suffering from RBD. - by Jill R - (Wed, Aug 08 2007)
  This is not the whole story of my illness (It is too long for me to get into right now). However, to “Jo” with RBD, in regard to your “clumsiness”, I think you may be suffering from what is called Cataplexy. [more..]