My husband was always an early riser, sleeping until 7 am was unusual for him. Now, his mornings are different as he attempts to get out of bed by 7 to take his Parkinson’s medication, then returns for a cuddle until around 8 when he feels ready to face the day. Those mornings we do get up before the meds kick in are tough, and I find that I need to allow extra time and be close in case he needs any additional help.

Early afternoons are another “crash” time for him. We have lunch by 11:30 so he can take a nap. This mid-day break seems to recharge his energy levels until around 5 when he usually doses a bit while watching the evening news. This schedule holds true whether we are active or not and so I try to plan our lives around it to make life better for both of us. A well-rested partner is much easier to work with than a tired, cranky one. (I’m sure he would say the same about me.)

His morning issues probably stem from a lack of dopamine in his brain and his first dose of carbidopa-levodopa is his highest. We are not sure about the other times, perhaps it is a side effect of the medications themselves, perhaps it is just the general fatigue that accompanies a diagnosis of PD. The point is, we have learned that it is best to respect what his body is saying and work around these low energy times. When he gets tired he rests, appointments and all other activities can wait.