[Stitcher]

One of the things that was greatly discussed at the PDF 50th Anniversary symposium last week was the non-motor symptoms of PD; e.g. excessive sweating and gut issues, constipation, depression.

The research/questions being asked these days is does PD start not in the brain, but in the body; e.g. excessive sweating, constipation, depression.

I have had two of those for decades, long before my thumb tremor in 1988.

My sweating is so bad now that I have to make sure I have paper towels in my pocket when I leave home. I can actually become very anxious if I don't. I can't get to the cashier in the grocery store without literally dripping of the ends of my short hair and rolling down my back, or even worse, having visible wet places on my shirt.

Anyone else have non-motor issues that may pre-date PD dx?

[paula_w]

Carolyn and all,

It was good to hear a talk about pain also. The speaker described the types of pain so well. They are getting a grip on this illness. Then he was asked a question about excessive sweating and, again, he hit the nail on the head, which, no pun intended, is exactly where this sweating originates and is concentrated around. I have developed this problem in the last few years; didn't have it before the pd. It is like your brain is sweating.

paula

[indigogo]

Two big thumbs up for depression and "excessive head sweating"! I often look like I've just stepped from the shower; I've taken to traveling with a portable fan. Talk about depressing!

[Dottie]

Me too!

Mine started a few years ago- a long time after diagnosis. I've been known to hop in the shower three times in one day. My husband and my neuro tell
me t hat movement brings it on - while I say that it starts around my hairline first and continues until I'm soaked through and through. There is no
pattern as to activities, etc.

Prior to this excessive sweating I was the one who was always cold - go
figuire!

Dottie

[Stitcher]

...there have been times in the summer when I have to shower a couple of times a day. And getting out of the shower...yikes...it can be as though I never even dried off from the shower.

I hated it particularly when I was still working and trying to get dressed, or racing into a meeting. Or when I had to be in the board room to meet with outsiders and had to walk across the parking lot from another building. I didn't have that paper towel idea back then.

[Stitcher]

Another take-away from the PDF 50th symposium: many of the research presentations focused upon non-motor symptoms of PD. Many researchers and movement disorder specialists are thinking that PD does not begin in the brain at all.

Did you know, for example, that the lose of smell is almost always present before physical symptoms. There is a clinical trial recruiting for this. It is also using family members in the trial. It appears that many non-PD family members have failed the test, only to become PD symptomatic within two years.

Other non-motor issues include constipation that may begin years before PD become symptomatic. Also depression and excessive sweating.

Paula, do you remember other non-motor discussions of this kind.

[Todd]

First, the interesting thing about the sweating issue is that you'll notice that your head will sweat, as well as other parts of your body, but the palms of your hands typically stay dry. Strange...

Dr. Braak's staging theory was discussed quite a bit, with constipation issues, loss of smell, and sleep disturbances being present before the onset of motor symptoms. While there is much debate surrounding his theory, it certainly held true for me. I had all 3 of those issues prior to my motor symptoms manifesting themselves.

I like when they (doctors and researchers) bring up these types of issues (including pain and depression) because it just helps remind me that the "things" that are going on with my body aren't me just being crazy or paranoid - they're very, very real issues.

It was a good, informative conference.

[indigogo]

Todd - my doctor told me that in PD we lose the ability to sweat through our hands and feet leading to profuse sweating from head and trunk. I don't know what the mechanism is.

[vlhperry]

Does this mean Parkinson's Disease may fall under the category of Endocrinology? I ask this as I sit here sweating on a 50 degree day with the air conditioning on set at 67 degrees.

Vicky

[Dottie]

I've spoken to my Endocronologist(sp?) at least three times about this sweating problem and she says there is no connection.

Dottie