Second Opinion

[Hiroko]

I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2009 in Japan after the first neurologist that I saw said to me 99% no Parkinson’s disease. I now wish I had listened him. I recently suffered a lacunar stroke due to cerebral small vessel disease a form of vascular Parkinsonism. I also suffered a Central Retinal Vein Occlusion or eye stroke as a result of my blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar not being properly treated. This is something that could have been prevented if properly diagnosed and treated sooner. Bottom line is to see a neurologist and primary care manager who aren’t just fixated with the Parkinson’s disease and explore other possible causes for your Parkinson’s disease symptoms. The cardiologist that I saw said my heart was fine and to stay hydrated because it was the Parkinson’s disease. Subsequently another cardiologist identified moderate atherosclerosis and plaque in the carotid arteries along with valve regurgitation issues. Keep exploring until you get tge right answers. Some neurologist like to treat everything even when it’s obvious you need to see a vascular neurologist.