You dear father is going to go thru alot . He is sleeping that's ok he could have insomnia.

He good be suffering from depression. Talk to his doctor. Medication could help.

Fatigue seems to be very prevalent with PD.

I agree with both Yoohoo and Laurikis. Both insomnia and depression can play a huge role in excessive daytime sleepiness.

I would like to add that when I first started on PD meds, I suffered extreme daytime sleepiness. Although I still have this issue, it has lessened significantly, as my body became accustomed to the meds. Also, some PD meds can cause excessive sleepiness as a side effect. You might want to research the side effects of the meds he takes.

If the a cause for his excessive sleepiness can't be determined, I have read that some PD patients take something called Provigil to help during the day.

Take care, and I hope things get better for your father.

Nicole

Hi, this is Heavy D.

I agree that this sounds like depression. 50% of us experience it because of PD. However, at the risk of redundancy, I am appending below a response I sent to another person this afternoon. Here goes:

I hope I can shed a little glimmer of hope here. I readily identify with the feelings of hopelessness, fear, and utter panic at the prospect of becoming not only disabled due to PD, but dragging my wife and family down with me.

That being said, let me also share that all is not lost, but you have to act quickly and decisively to get ahead of the disease and not fall prey to its destructive power. Due to a couple of chance conversations I had early on in my diagnosis, I decided to launch a 3-pronged counterattack which, at least for me, has worked and worked well. Whereas in April, I was a 25 on the 0 to 60 point PD scale (mid-Stage 2), I am now evaluated by my neuros as a 3 (early Stage 1). Except for my micrographia and somewhat faint voice when I am overtired, I am practically symptom-free. Seriously. No one would have the slightest idea I have PD. Back in April, I could barely walk without assistance (partly due to complications from 2 bulging disks and sciatica which compounded the effects of my PD).

Don't believe everything you read about PD. It is managable but it takes commitment. If you want to know what I am doing to be victorious in this battle, let me know. I don't promise miracles, but I sure can tell you what has worked beautifully for me.

Oh, incidentally, I see one of the foremost neuros in the field of PD, and, in retrospect, even he has not offered me even the most basic guidance. Besides confirming my diagnosis, giving me two prescriptions, and saying "Good luck", he hasn't done much for me. No doctors will. They are disinclined to do much of anything, so don't be surprised if they seem a little useless. All they do is treat symptoms. I have devised and carried out my own program and I am the only PD patient I know personally who is getting steadily better rather than worse.

Just write me and I will explain.

Heavy D

The medication could be what is making him sleep so much. Many side effects from PD durgs as well as other drugs. Please view my sisters picture at my profile to see how she changed when we began to take her off the medication and akaline her cells. Blessings Carol

thank you to all of you for your wonderful responses. my dad is on simemet appr. 4 a day and that is all he is taking. i'll check out the last reply about the akaline cells? and getting off the med. he is one? i'll check this out.
many hugs to all you you