Parasomnias?

[pyxiwulf]

My almost 4 year old has been diagnosed with multiple manifestations of parasomnias. In fact, she gets all NREM parasomnias: confusional arousals, sleepwalking, sleep terrors, teeth grinding, RLS, and periodic limb movement disorder. Read here for more: Parasomnia

We have a terrific ped who is very hands off, which I normally love. But he seems to be very against any treatment of the parasomnia, and I just don't feel okay here since I can see that it greatly effects daytime behaviour and well being; she's a different kid after nights that are free of manifestations.

We're trying to implement behvioural therapies on our own to try to help her, but I fear that if it doesn't work, pharmaceutical treatment is the only option, and the ped I searched for to avoid those as much as possible is going to work against us.

I'm not sure what I'm asking here, as it's 2am and I'm up because she's having a bad night. What would you do? Would you push for meds if therapy doesn't work? Does the change in daytime function affect your decision? Do you find a new ped for one disorder?

[swellmomma]

BEfore using meds I would try a few other things. YOu are already doing the therapy root. have you made any connections between diet and sleep? I ask because my ds11 will wet the bed if he has apple juice at anytime during the day. He will have night terrors if he has had too much sugar(for him too much is not much at all) etc. Maybe keep a log of diet, activity, stressors and sleep patterns for a while and see if you notice any patterns. ALso have you tried melatonin? All 3 of my oldest kids take melatonin nightly to help them sleep as all have issues with insomnia (mostly due to adhd), my ds11 also has the other issues I mentioned above plus teeth grinding etc. My oldest 2 both take 6mg a night, and my ds6 takes 3 mg per night. I have found that melatonin is amazing.

Also try having her soak in epsom salts before bed as part of her bedtime routine. The magnesium in them may help reduce the limb movements that are waking her up.

Melatonin, dietary restrictions, and epsom salts may do absolutely nothing to help your dd but I would definitely try them out (and other ideas you learn from others here) before going down the medication route.

[kjbrown92]

My DS had night terrors from dairy (also bedwetting), and thrashing around. And now that I think about it, that's when he was grinding his teeth too (and snoring). DD1 sleptwalked but only if she stayed up late 3 days in a row (odd, I know). So you may want to keep a food journal, and see if you notice a correlation. Besides going off the food triggers, my two younger kids take Magnesium Glycinate (capsule form).