DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My husband has had an unusual problem for years now. While he’s asleep, he starts kicking his feet and legs and swinging his arms like he’s fighting. He is very strong, and I end up with bruises. I must yell at him in order to wake him to make him stop. Things are getting worse. Could you help us with this problem? – C.H.

ANSWER: The description of your husband’s sleep behavior is quite suggestive of a condition called periodic limb movements of sleep. It’s not as unusual as you might think. Affected people make jerking kicks every 20 to 40 seconds. The kicking lasts a couple of seconds, and it can occur hundreds of times a night. Usually only the legs are involved, but in some people the arms flail too.

No one knows the cause.

Your husband can have this diagnosis confirmed at a sleep-disorder clinic. Such clinics exist in every state. His doctor might be able to make the diagnosis based simply on what you have said.

There is help. Sinemet, Mirapex and Requip, medicines used for Parkinson’s disease, can often put an end to these nocturnal boxing matches – a blessing not only for your husband but also for you. This is not Parkinson’s disease and not related to it.

Sometimes periodic limb movements are associated with another night condition – restless leg syndrome. RLS gives people intolerable creepy-crawly leg sensations when they lie down. They have to hop out of bed and walk around to get rid of them. In a few people, iron deficiency contributes to it.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Please write about the thyroid gland. I have been advised that I should take just the tiniest amount of thyroid hormone. I don’t have any symptoms and appear to be in excellent health. I am in my mid-70s and expect to reach at least 100.

I don’t want to take a drug. Would kelp or fish oil help me? – O.J.

ANSWER: You have subclinical hypothyroidism. That means that your blood test shows a slightly low level of thyroid hormone but you have no symptoms of too little hormone. What to do for people like you is a matter over which experts disagree.

Those who favor treatment say it might prevent progression to overt symptoms of hypothyroidism – too little thyroid hormone. Such symptoms include dry skin, a feeling of constantly being cold, brittle hair, constipation, fatigue and a general slowing of all body functions. Hypothyroidism might also accelerate heart-artery disease.

Others are in favor of watching the patient for the onset of symptoms. They check their patients yearly to see if the production of thyroid hormone continues to drop or if any symptoms have appeared.

You’re in the driver’s seat on this one. It’s your call. Neither kelp nor fish oil will help.

The thyroid booklet describes the signs and symptoms of both over- and underactive thyroid gland. Readers can obtain a copy by writing: Dr. Donohue – No. 401, Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6.75 Can. with the recipient’s printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: About six years ago I had my gallbladder removed. For two years after surgery, food went right through me. It got better, but I still have the problem when I eat too much fat. Is there anything I can take to help my system handle this? – M.C.

ANSWER: The gallbladder is the reservoir for bile made by the liver and used for fat digestion. Without a bladder, bile drips continuously into the digestive tract and flows down to the colon, where it can stimulate fluid secretion and promote diarrhea.

Questran, a medicine that binds bile, can sometimes correct the diarrhea. Even the common anti-diarrhea medicine Imodium might help.

Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Readers may also order health newsletters from www.rbmamall.com.