Why Mornings Are Hard

Pearls for Parkinson's: Tips for Daily Living with PD. 

To watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/nm3vfwCDh8o

Mornings can be tough with Parkinson’s. You may wake up feeling especially stiff, slow, or like your body just isn’t ready to move.

In this week’s Pearls for Parkinson’s, we’re talking about “Why Mornings Are Hard” - including early morning akinesia, nighttime “off” symptoms, medication timing, and simple strategies that may help you get your day started a little easier.

Listen for practical tips on what to track, what to discuss with your Parkinson’s provider, and ways to make those first movements of the day safer.

To support more programs like this: https://wiparkinson.app.neoncrm.com/forms/support-pearls4pd

Wisconsin Parkinson Association 
website: https://wiparkinson.org/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wiparkinson
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wiparkinson/
instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wiparkinson/

Transcript

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SPEAKER_00 0:04

Welcome to Pearls for Parkinson's. Here is this week's daily living tip. Welcome back to Pearls for Parkinson's. Today we're talking about why mornings are hard. If you have Parkinson's, you may notice that getting moving first thing in the morning can feel especially difficult. Your body may feel stiff, rolling over in bed can be a challenge. Your feet may not want to cooperate when you first stand up. Even getting to the bathroom, getting dressed, or making that first cup of coffee can take much more effort. There's actually a name for this. It's called early morning echinesia. And echinesia simply means difficulty starting or performing movement. And one reason it can be particularly noticeable in the morning is that your Parkinson's medications from the previous day may have worn off overnight. But there's something I want you to pay attention to. Is it only happening when you wake up in the morning or are you slow and stiff during the night too? Think about those nighttime trips to the bathroom. Is it difficult to roll over and get out of bed? Do you shuffle more on the way to the bathroom? Are you unusually stiff or does it take you much longer to move than it does during the day? Those can be clues that your Parkinson symptoms are returning during the night as your medication wears off. For several days, try to track it. Write it down what time you're taking your last medication in the evening. If you wake during the night, make a quick note of the time and how well you're moving. Then record how you feel when you take your first dose in the morning when you first wake up. You don't need anything complicated. You're simply looking for a pattern. And take that information to your Parkinson's provider. It can help the two of you have a much better conversation about whether your medication timing is giving you enough coverage overnight. Depending on your symptoms and the medication that you take, your provider may consider adjusting the timing of your medications or using a longer acting medication at bedtime to provide more coverage through the night. And that's an individual decision. So don't make those changes on your own. Again, please don't make those changes on your own. Now, here's another strategy that can make a big difference in the morning. Some people take their first scheduled morning dose before they actually plan to get out of bed. For example, if you normally get up at 7 a.m., you might want to set an alarm for 6:30, take your medication with some water, and then go back to sleep for or rest for about 30 minutes while you give it time to kick in. Again, talk with your provider about whether that timing is appropriate for your medication schedule. And while you're waiting for your body to get going, start moving before your feet even hit the floor. Pump your ankles, bend and straighten your knees, reach with your arms, rotate your trunk from side to side, and just think about making those movements big and deliberate. Then take your time getting up, roll onto your side, bring your legs over the edge of the bed, push yourself into a sitting position, and sit for a moment before you stand, especially if you tend to get lightheaded. And please don't rush for that first trip to the bathroom. Morning stiffness, along with urgency and potentially a drop in blood pressure when you stand, can be a bad combination. Make sure you clear the pathway, have really good lighting, and keep your mobility device nearby if you use one. The big takeaway is pay attention to the pattern. If you're struggling to move during the nighttime bathroom trips, and again, first thing in the morning, write it down. Those details can give your Parkinson's provider valuable information about what's happening overnight. Sometimes making mornings easier starts with understanding what's happening the night before. I hope you like this episode. If you do, hit that like button, share it with a friend or a support group, and tune in next Monday for more girls for Parkinson's. The Wisconsin Parkinson Association is a grassroots organization funded by people like you. To support more local programming like this, visit wiparkinson.org.