Katherine

Neck, shoulders, and back — all DEFINITELY can be a result of PD. Many of tend to walk stooped over. In my case it’s to look at the ground to be careful that I don’t fall (would be my 300th fall, so far). As a result, we can end up with a permanently stooped posture. I just came back from PT where the focus is on helping me to hold my head…[Read more]

That’s very interesting about the MRI guided U/S. I just looked it up, and it is not the same as DBS. I’ve never heard of it (obviously not done at the hospital where I receive my treatment — the Medical University of SC).

I think your attitude is great! “I think that is all.”

SC allows no treatment whatsoever related to marijuana, THC or…[Read more]

That’s very interesting about the MRI guided U/S. I just looked it up, and it is not the same as DBS. I’ve never heard of it (obviously not done at the hospital where I receive my treatment — the Medical University of SC).

I think your attitude is great! “I think that is all.”

SC allows no treatment whatsoever related to marijuana, THC or…[Read more]

I haven’t had the first symptom you mention. The second symptom you mention sounds very painful — like a charley horse in your feet. Is it? Magnesium twice a day has helped decrease the frequent of the ones I get in my calves.

Love your sense of humor! And well said: “from my nose to my toes”. That’s PD in a nutshell. I don’t know why I have some “better” days. (I try not to say “good days” or “bad days”. Just say nothing or say “better”. 🙂 ) I know that stress makes for “impossible days” (a phrase I never use, but is accurate), but of course sometimes stress…[Read more]

Hi Marlene,

I love your litter box story!!

Hi John,

I guess you’re just lucky: you’ve got almost all of the symptoms of PD. (Sorry, I don’t mean to be sarcastic, just ironic.) The smell issue fascinates me. I wish that you only had the perfume scent. That part of it seems lovely.

I also played the piano. I didn’t even bother to try for the past few years, because tremors were…[Read more]

Everything you’ve listed are things that can be caused by PD. Your sleep problems and gait issues could possibly be worsened by Fibromyalgia. Your PD symptoms sound so uncomfortable. I had a friend who had that sweating problem. It was so miserable for her. We’d be sitting in a nice cool place, and suddenly she’d be soaked, drenched all over,…[Read more]

xoxo

I think you’re on the right track. And it is something that no one wants to talk about, but it is important problem.

That is such a sweet story: you were pointing in different directions, supervising your students! 🙂

I’m thrilled to hear that your dreams are happy ones, and that the “yelling” is what you did for 34 years. Your post just reminded me that my daughter’s wonderful KG and first grade teacher, Judy Sneed, had to yell as if she was holding a bullhorn to get the children’s attention when they were out on the playground. I was sitting on the bench,…[Read more]

You are a terrific lady! I’m glad that your husband is such a good man. Sounds like you deserve each other. The only really bad time I had, re depression, was this past June. I was hospitalized for malignant hypertension with “flash” edema. That, on top of the PD, made me unable to walk for 3 months, and really to do anything worthwhile.…[Read more]

So happy to see your reply, Toni + to read all of the other replies!

TONI: Yes, the fellowship makes things more tolerable.
(1) I’m glad that you are on Zoloft. If it’s helped “some”, but not a lot, you might see about possibly increasing the dosage. I used to find that made a big difference in some of my patients.
(2) Wow! Some valuable new…[Read more]

I am so sorry that you have so many problems to deal with. (And I empathize.)

First, the akathisia. I did a little research and found that there are a few things that may help decrease those symptoms:
(1) Beta-blockers, such as propranolol.
(2) Benzodiazepines (a class of drugs commonly used to treat conditions such as anxiety, insomnia and…[Read more]

Wonderful to hear!

If the symptoms were not present when you were taking the Clonazepam, but started when the medication was discontinued, I think that the medication WAS treating your PARKINSON’S. I don’t understand why your doctor thinks it’s “either/or”. Why stop a drug if it was blocking some of the miserable CNS (Central Nervous System) symptoms of PD? I’m a…[Read more]

I take 0.5 mg every night at bedtime. I sleep like a baby, and have no sleep-associated problems. I started taking it 25 years ago, along with an antidepressant, to help with sleep. Some people might find that it adversely affects their balance in the daytime, so it wouldn’t be safe for them to take. In addition, as we age, our body is slower…[Read more]

GREAT topic!

I made a list of all of the problems that can be associated with PD. I am a volunteer each year for the PT and OT students at our local Medical University. This year, I decided that they needed educating beyond the “usual” problems: tremors; stiffness; bradykinesia; poverty of associated movements; stooped posture; balance…[Read more]

I’ve calculated 20 problems (mostly autonomic nervous system, but not all) which are rarely considered by laypeople– AND doctors — caused by Parkinson’s disease.  Sometime I will list them all here.  For now, I agree 100% with what you say about PD affecting virtually every  part of the body.  I hope that your cardiac problems can get str…[Read more]