[Laura]

Hi Heather, has your husband ever tried Inbrija, it’s a fast acting inhaled medication, that goes directly to the lungs. It is used specifically for off periods between doses, or other times like what’s happening with your husband.  It’s reaction time is about ten minutes and lasts for about an hour and can be taken up to 5 times a day. I tried it a few years ago, but it didn’t work out for me, it caused severe coughing, which is the side effect, I couldn’t get the medicine inhaled, I would start caughing immediately.  Maybe your husband would have a better  reaction to the medication. Wishing you well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Laura]

I want  leather bag, a watch and a gift card for Sephora to get new makeup,  all of which does nothing for my PD other then making me feel good being me, regardless of what PD has robbed me of so far.

[Laura]

Hi Glen, same for me, Lexapro  worked within one day for me, felt normal again.

laura

[Laura]

<div dir=”auto” data-removefontsize=”true” data-originalcomputedfontsize=”16″>Hi Beth,</div>
<div dir=”auto” data-removefontsize=”true” data-originalcomputedfontsize=”16″>I’m sorry to hear that you are still not having any luck with relieving your anxiety, but if I can make a suggestion, I think you should have your PD doctor managing your anxiety meds in conjunction with your PD meds, since they are intertwined. Parkinson’s stops the body producing dopamine, but also effects the production of serotonin, our body’s natural anxiety relief, so your PD meds and antidepressant meds should work together on a daily basis, and Xanax only in extreme attacks.  You should discuss with you Pd doctor/neurologist, and I hope you get some relief soon.</div>
<div dir=”auto”></div>
<div dir=”auto” data-removefontsize=”true” data-originalcomputedfontsize=”16″>Laura</div>

[Laura]

Hi Beth, I was dealing with severe anxiety at one point, a result of having PD, my last anxiety panic attach ended in the ER, and yes Xanax did help take down my anxiety, but what my doctor did after discussing with him, was to put me on Lexapro, antidepressant, so I don’t get to the point of anxiety and panic. I don’t need the Xanax as a fast relief any more, the Lexapro keeps me feeling normal.

[Laura]

It is very frustrating to realize I can’t do the things I used to, especially when I am having a good day, I may think about doing something more challenging , because at that moment I feel I could, my mind runs away with making plans, but then within a short period of time reality comes crashing down and I say to myself, what were you thinking you can’t do that, whatever it may be. It can be upsetting at the moment, but I try to think about what I can do, and my family that always helps me do what I can. There are many people who deal with there own challenges in life, we are all different,  but the same in many ways, so I just try to accept my own challenges and get on with life.

[Laura]

I have Parkinson’s, so I’m on the receiving side of the situation, and as much as you try there really is no exact balance, I find with my PD it’s day by day, even hour by hour changing disease, and it will depend on how your father feels at the time. Parkinson’s is exhausting, even more after a day of activity, so I know I’ll need to recuperate the day after.  If I know in advance I have something planned, like a social event or outing,I make sure the days before I’m resting, and even then I worry I may not be up to going out or getting over tired, it’s all just part of having PD. I know being the caregiver is hard, I’m sure your dad appreciates all you do for him.

[Laura]

I try to wear a flat book with traction rubber soles, to help with slipping. My husband shovels the snow,  if it snows when he’s at work I just stay inside. I don’t use cane or walker on the snow, I don’t think they would help me from going down if I slipped, a family member or friend will help me to the car, that’s the safest for me.

[Laura]

Hi Steve, I’ve dealt with severe anxiety over the years, to the point calling 911 for EMS because it felt like a heart attack.  At its worse was about 5 years ago, I was experiencing bad dyskinesia, with my neurologist we tried adjusting my meds by lowering the dosage to help with dyskinesia, which it did, but completely put me into extreme anxiety attacks, I was hyperventilating, trouble getting my breath and fast panting breathing.
“Anxiety is a common non-motor symptom of PD. It is important to note that anxiety is not simply a reaction to the diagnosis of Parkinson’s, but is instead a part of the disease itself, caused by changes in the brain chemistry of the brain”, from this article about PD and anxiety, https://www.parkinson.org/Understanding-Parkinsons/Symptoms/Non-Movement-Symptoms/Anxiety, so lowering my meds too much made the anxiety worse, my doctor put me on Lexapro antidepressant, which greatly helped.
So I’m wondering if possibly your mother needs to change the dose of her meds, ask the doctor about an antidepressant, or trying another type of med, like Rytary, which is a time release capsule. I haven’t had a panic attack since being put on Lexapro, it really helped me out. I know how bad it feels to be under the grip of anxiety, I feel for your mother, it’s like going out of your mind, but I think she can overcome this with the right PD med and antidepressant, she may have to try a few different options till she gets the help she needs.  There is also the Neupro patch, which is a transdermal med applied once a day, working all day.  I hope my experience helps in some way, but most important, don’t give up till she gets the help she nneed.

[Laura]

Marybeth, no my gain is excess of what I would have wanted, it seems to have leveled off now, but the extra weight remains and can’t see ,losing it.

[Laura]

Hi Marybeth, I had the same experience with my weight before DBS surgery.  I was never overweight, 5’4” and about 125 lbs give or take a few,  but always carried an extra few pounds in the thighs and places I could never loose, but then after years of struggling with PD, and always having to exert so much more energy to do anything, my body started to use it’s stored fat for energy, melting away pounds, my weight was dropping to 110 and below, which I hadn’t been in over 30 greasy. Then 3 years ago I had DBS surgery, and my doctors did not stress the possible effect it could have on my eating habits and weight gain.  After about 6 months, at my doctors visit, I had already started putting on weight, I asked what was going on, the surgery had changed how my brain perceived hunger, I never felt satisfied when eating, my food intake increased, I craved sweets and ate more. I’m not sure if the doctors had stressed this side effect if it could have helped,being aware from the beginning, I’ve put on an excessive  amount of weight that I don’t ever think I’ll loose, just something else to deal with.

[Laura]

Hi Mike,  I’ve had PD for 12 years now, about 5 years ago after dealing with dyskinesia, to the point of not being able to keep my balance and basically always on the verge of falling,,he suggested one more med I had not tried yet, Rytary, and it made a world of difference for, the time release aspect of this med had a much better effect on me. Give it a little more time, and watch the food intake, it messes up how the meds work.

Laura

[Laura]

The symptom  that impacts me the most is definitely my balance issues, it makes it hard to walk and move around freely. When I’m out I usually always walk with my hand on someone’s arm for reassurance, but for those rare occasions now when all my meds are hitting the mark at the right time, then I will walk completely  on my own for as long as it last. Also, like many have said already, there’s the bladder issues and extreme fatigue, which starts by late afternoon, if I sit down doing nothing, I will start to fall asleep, so I try to keep busy till at least early evening, most nights I fall sound asleep between 8 -10. I will sleep about 5 hours, then I wake up realizing it’s not the next morning, lol, now I’ll be up for hours. I’ll get up and do things, to stay busy, that I would have done if I hadn’t fallen asleep like wash and dry clothes and ironing. I’m dozing off right now as I type, tme to close my eyes.

 

 

 

[Laura]

Hi MaryBeth, it didn’t actually effect the the timing or dosage of my meds, but it did somewhat get my balance back, i was able to walk and stand again without always being on the verge of falling down. My major issue has been balance and it did help, it accomplished the major goal and reason I finally went through with the operation, I was able to walk and dance with my son at his wedding three months later.

I’m not sure I helped much, but I wish you father the best and that he has positive results from the operation.

 

Laura

[Laura]

Oh, for sure, meds and meal time is hard to get the scheduling right, and I’m definitely fighting a losing battle, I lose track of time, especially when I’m out, and before I know it I’m at lunch eating a burgher, at that point nothing else to do but enjoy the burgher, and deal with my PD after.

[Laura]

Hi Robert, congrats on keeping track of your meds regiment, but for myself, after 11 years with PD, that approach becomes overwhelming, and half the times, there never seems to be rhyme or reason to this “on” and “off” effect from my meds.  I’m off when i think I should be on, and I find it so hard to eat the right foods at right times, which doesn’t help. I’ve had plenty of adjustments over the years, I’ve  tried Apokyn injections, had DBS surgery 3 years ago, now take my meds 4x a day, a neupro patch, and inhaler, and still can’t get it right, lol, still get off periods, still have balance issues,  freezing and walking problems. So for me, it’s part of my life, I deal with it, and move on, too many things to complain about with this disease over the years, I’m thankful for my wonderful friends and family, they are my support to keep going.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Laura]

Hi, I live in Staten Island, NY.

[Laura]

My experience with PD pain was before I was diagnosed.  The only way I could explain it was that it was like a red hot dagger going through my shoulder, from front to back below my left collarbone.  I had a constant pain in  my shoulder that I would try to rub and massage away, never helping, my left arm also this dead feeling, I would say I wished I could rip my arm off, that’s how much discomfort it caused. I also had many other symptoms associated with PD, that when I finally went to the doctor I was diagnosed with PD. With medications I was put on the  pain went away and has stayed away, I’m thankful!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Laura]

Hi Beth,
I’m so glad my information helped you and that you are trying a new doctor.   Don’t be worried about trying Lexapro, it helped me feel normal again, and I don’t need Xanax. Please keep me posted on your progress and if it helped.

Lauraa