The first and only time I had tremors was when I went to my regular dr. I said "let me show you this" I took off my shirt then extended my arms to slip it back over my head. There was a pronounced tremor in my left arm and I was quickly referred to Neurology. Up until that day I was just "a nervous silly woman" with carple tunnel, phantom aches and pains in my limbs, numbness and tingling in my hands, cramps in my feet, I was "depressed", "anxious" yada, yada, yada. The neuro dr diagnosed me with moderately advanced PD. I was 48 yrs. old. I was put on C/L and Requip immediately. The few weeks were trial and error getting the dose right...one side effect had me doing "squats" ( I HAD to stand up and sit down repeatedly???) 1/2 hour to an hour before the next dose was due. I'm very diligent about taking orders from authority figures but not very pro active when it comes finding solutions on my own(for a lack of a better way to say it). After just a couple of years I developed dyskensia (sometimes I just laugh about it, other times its preet freaking annoying!!) and am now looking at DBS surgery. Everyones symptoms and side effects are different...When first dx'ed I met a guy who took 1 pill a day, whereas I was taking 8-10 (If I had a trane of thought it just left the station and I'm not aboard Welcome to PD) Be proactive when you can otherwise just roll with it.

Well I have learned one big lesson that I might share with a new PD person. Don't ever read the side effects of C/L. I'm diagnosed a month now and I was doing great coping. Then when I read about the involuntary face and body movements, I got devastated. I think I only cried twice in the last 15 years. This
morning was one of them. These involuntary face movements has done a real number on me.
Listen to this.
1 Last night I get wacked with the news about the movement.
2 I was in so much pain last night that I barely
3 As it is I suffer from Bi Polar and now I got the emotional stuff from the medicine
4 Read 1.
I think today is one of the worst days in my whole life. Has to be up there in the top 20 all time worst days and I'm 57

Am I allowed to say that I'm really really depressed today.

I really need you guys.. When I get my act together... I have to be there to help out someone else.
Hey I just thought of a real positive thing. I'm not in a lot of pain right now. That's reason to celebrate!

Aloha!

I live on the island of Kaua'i, it is a wonderful place to live and we've lived here for 16 years now. My husband and I are both 30+ year vegetarians, never smoked, never drink, and my husband in particular is an avid runner, marathoner and ultra marathoner for 36 years. He is 56.

He was experiencing some dizziness and some stiffness in his legs over the last year....had an MRI here and the one neurologist on island said he was fine, he had sinusitis and prescribed antibiotics. He also went to a cardiologist who gave him a clean bill of health.

Nothing changed and so he went back to the neurologist last week, who as I understand it (I wasn't there) had him do several "sobriety test" type exercises. Then told him he was 95% sure he had PD and had him read the definition of it on the Mayo Clinic's website.

Nothing prescribed for him, no suggestions for him except to see him in six weeks.

I am beyond terrified. I read that 25% of all PD diagnoses are wrong and the fact that we have no body movement specialist here is also a concern, there are no other neurologists or specialists here.

We are not wealthy and can't afford to keep flying somewhere else to get a diagnosis and treatments. I'm reasonably sure our HMO will not cover any of that.

What can I do? I'm so completely confused.....I'd appreciate any thoughts please!

koloagirl,

I'm sorry to hear about your husband's diagnosis. This certainly will be life changing for both of you. The good news is that you can live well with Parkinson's for many years. So, concerned, yes; "beyond terrified", no.

You say "nothing prescribed for him", that's typical at this stage; he's probably not missing anything for the time being.

Running, exercise in general, is almost certainly good, so make sure that he continues with it.

John

Mahalo John!

I have to say that while I came here looking for some answers to questions as well as some hope, I appreciate your kindness in responding to my post.

My husband currently cannot run due to a knee injury that he is doing physical therapy for....he walks every morning a few miles, then goes on the eliptical trainer and exercises vigorously. I am hoping that they can diagnose his knee issue and take care of it, because then he can work towards something in terms of his running....right now he doesn't have that, and he has had that for all those years, so I know it is wearing on him.

I think it is a mixed bag for newbies to come to forums like these....while I came looking for more information and hope, you can find this, but you also find the other stories that sink my heart to the depths. I am not someone who deals well with anxiety, I am doing my very best to deal with my husband's diagnosis and not appear fearful or anxious around him because it is all about keeping him well.

I will just take it day to day and try my best to hope for the best! Thank you again for responding. It is nice to know there is someone out there!

Everyone has their own threshold about how much PD info they can absorb at once, esp. when first diagnosed. Still, find out what resources are available and keep yourself informed so you know enough to ask when you need help or when/if your therapy isn't working for you. *admin edit* Good luck!