DEAR DR. GOTT:
My dad is recovering from a few strokes he had in July 2007. I have since read a lot of information about strokes, most of it not very encouraging.
During his recovery, I noticed he would make moaning sounds in his sleep and when anyone would ask him if he had slept well, he often said he didn’t know or that he must have because he was in bed for 12 hours.
Most of the information I read about strokes included what he was most likely going through (emotional ups and downs and personality changes are common). I knew that this was something the family had to get through but it was hard because every now and then he would have some very normal days. I started to pick up on some clues that led me to believe he might be sleep deprived. He was and still is very driven in his recovery. I think sometimes he spent the time he should be asleep going over things in his mind and exercising in an effort to get better.
I decided to try a sound machine to help him sleep. I purchased a sound spa from HoMedics that places nature sounds, such as the ocean, rainforest, thunder, waterfalls and so forth. It also projects the time on the ceiling so that you don’t have to search for the clock to know what time it is.
I told my dad to give it a try and to try to focus on the sound and let his mind rest. The next morning he woke up and said it was the most rested he had felt in a long time. That afternoon when I got home from work he was asleep on the couch and the moaning sounds were gone. In fact, a few days later he was back to his old snore!
I believe the sound spa has helped a great deal in his recovery. I don’t know if sleep deprivation is addressed in stroke recovery but I believe it should be. I wonder if, as it seems to be in my dad’s case, the change of personality that some stroke victims have could be attributed to sleep deprivation. I would urge anyone who is caring for a stroke victim to give it a try. Even if it doesn’t work for the patient, it might be helpful for the caregiver and at under $30 it is well worth a try.
DEAR READER:
I believe sleep deprivation may be more common in stroke victims than previously thought. The product you found and recommended to your father appears to have had great results so I am passing the information on to my other readers. Regardless of the cause of the sleep deprivation this machine may be of benefit by playing relaxing natural sounds that can gently sooth the mind allowing for sleep to come more easily.
To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Stroke”. Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.
About Dr. Gott