update_option issues

I’ve come across an odd issue with update_option. I’m defining the option name in one place and using update_option in multiple areas.

When I run
$plm_options_update = update_option( $this->plm_option , $ary_options );
I end up with an option_name with the correct value from $this->plm_option, but the option_value is empty. I’ve dumped $ary_options immediately before the update and the data is valid.

However, if I replace $this->plm_option with the actual text, it works…most of the time. Most times the array is stored properly, sometimes I get a blank value. The array is always populated prior to update_option. I’ve dumped it for dozens of attempted updates, so it’s not a lack of data on the update_option calls that don’t work.

Has anyone else run across an issue like this with update_option? It seems to be primarily when I store the option_name elsewhere and call it in update_options.