Posted on 03/19/2007 6:12:32 PM PDT by Jedi Master Pikachu
A quiet night's sleep is not an option for Derek Rogers or his wife - because he turns from a mild-mannered "Dr Jekyll" by day to a "Mr Hyde" by night. Mr Rogers, 70, from Bedford, has a rare sleep disorder which causes him to become violent when he sleep-walks. He has destroyed furniture, attacked his wife and injured himself during the night - but remembers nothing.
Doctors at Papworth Hospital have found a drug which has successfully treated Mr Rogers' "unique" condition.
He is definitely unique in Britain and probably in Europe
Since he developed the condition in 1998, Mr Rogers has visited casualty up to three times a week. He has broken his nose, fractured his ribs and split his head open.
South-African born Mr Rogers tried six different treatments before he was referred to the sleep clinic at Papworth Hospital in Cambridge. He said: "I am not violent - I do not swear or curse and I can't believe what I do at night." His wife Linda has had to sleep in a different room to avoid her husband lashing out. Doctors at Papworth decided to try a new £13,000 a year drug mix, which acts to break the circuit between the sleeping brain and muscles in the body. Mr Rogers said: "Some people have a glass of whisky before going to bed. I just have a potion." Dr John Shneerson, the director of the sleep clinic, said: "Quite aside from the physical side, the apprehension of what he was going to do at night was a difficult thing to live with. "He is definitely unique in Britain and probably in Europe." Mr Roger's story will be featured on Sleep Clinic on BBC 1 on Monday 26 March.
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ping.
He looks younger than 70, if the photo is of him.
Violent or unpredictable sleepwalkers aren't all that rare.
$25,000 a year
Yep. It's expensive.
bump for later read.
I used to kick Mrs BE in my sleep, really hard kicking.
I instituted a 'no snakes on TV' after 5 pm.
Problem solved.
I have nightmares about mufflers and usually wake up exhausted.
Ambien?
Put him in a straight jacket and restraints at bedtime.Problem solved for a lot less money.
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