I would like to share my recent experience regarding a sleep study I underwent. I discovered, despite not qualifying for sleep apnea, the study showed my blood oxygen level dropped to 74% during the night as I slept. I also have a high resting heart rate. They are trying me on a CPAP machine to see if it well improve my oxygen blood level as I sleep. You cannot have REM sleep when your oxygen rate becomes that low.

Others who have had PD for more than 5 to 10 years and fall asleep during the day, may want to consider contacting the primary care doctor to ask them to order a sleep study. The study also presented medical evidence that I suffer from restless leg syndrome.

I can only wonder if a consistant shortage of oxygen could cause damage to the brain or other parts of the body. It may cause the high resting heart rate I have leading to damage to the heart explaining a shorter life span for PD patients.

I was conviced that I had sleep apnoeia for some time bfore sharing a room on holiday with an acquaintance who knew nothing of my suspicions but did know I was suffering from headaches on waking every morning for several week. My friend said "I hope you don't mind but do you know that you stop breathing while your asleep?" Also before dx I had a gynae. op and the night after the operation they woke me up to suggest I had another pillow to sleep more upright which I declined to which they replied that they would have to give me oxygen as I wasn't getting enough. Of course when no sensors were on I've no idea whether I was the same the next night. I mentioned the stopping breathing whilst on holiday to my doctor but he plainly didn't believe me (I don't fit the profile) although far too savvy to say so outright. If this lack of oxygen is linked with REM sleep disorder which is now suspected to be a very early indicator of neuro.
problems, then the fact that years ago I used to leap out of bed shouting my head off and was usually half way down the stairs before I woke up is a
another piece of the puzzle.

When are they ever going to put the pieces of the Parkinsons puzzle together I wonder.