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Originally Posted by Alicia A
I posted a similar topic over at the forums at but this community seems much more 'hopping,' so am hoping for some guidance and friendship here as well.
I am a 29 year old female and my mom, who is 50, was diagnosed with Parkinson's last Friday. She started with a slight tremor in her left hand when walking probably a year and a hafl ago. The tremor has progressively gotten worse and is now in that characteristic 'pill-rolling' stage. She also has a tremor in her left thigh. Her handwriting has just recently deteriorated. Her left arm does not swing much when she walks and the doctor also noticed some gait problems. He also noticed rigidity in her left arm.
I am so unbelievably shocked and scared. Of course, I go online and read horror stories of people not living long. But then again, I read wonderful, uplifiting stories of people living with Parkinson's for 30+ years. I am somewhat comforted by those examples.
The neurologist has recommended that my mother see a Parkinson's expert, apparently one of the best in the nation, at UVA. She will hopefully get in to see him or one of his residents soon. She has not been prescribed any medications yet, since we are obviously at the very beginning of this journey.
I'll be accompanying her to the doctors visits as often as I can. I'm terribly scared that her Parkinson's is the type that progresses rapidly, because her symptoms seem to have done so.
I dont' know what I'm looking for other than encouragement and maybe some guidance as to what to ask the doctor and how to start this. I'm so scared that I'll lose her and soon. It worries me to no end.
Thank you... in advance.
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Welcome to the Neurotalk Parkinson's community. Your concern for your mother is understandable and very familiar to those of us here. I am one of three in my family diagnosed with PD; my mother at age 25, my older brother and myself at 63. My mother lived with Parkinson's for 35 more years, at least 20 of which she maintained homemaking and bookkeepinig for a family of six. This was in 1935-60 before the availability of levodopa. From the description of your mother's symptoms, they sound much like my own mothers'.
Both of you have every reason to be optimistic about a good response to the medications now available which are likely to enable her to function at near normal levels for several years yet.
Who knows, maybe the cure that has been promised "in ten years" for the last twenty years will emerge in time for her and some of us too!
Keep positive and encourage your mother to eliminate as much stress from her life as possible, exercise, eat well, and get plenty of sleep. I'm praying that your appointment with an apparently outstanding Parkinson's specialist will be encouraging and helpful to both of you.
Robert