I was wondering if anyone would share with me when they noticed and what their early signs of PD were.

MS has been ruled out for me, but I know that there is something wrong with me neurologically. They tell you to listen to your body and that is what I am doing.

In 2003 I had a major surgery and shortly after is when my symptoms began. I have tremors, myoclonic jerks, insomnia, bladder control problems, memory lapse(not able to remember words, events, etc), depression, run into walls and objects(both in light and darkness), cramps in my legs and feet, staring for long periods of time without blinking, and my biggest problems is fatigue. EXTREME FATIGUE!

Now I know this symptoms can be a combination of different things, and I am being treated for depression(Cymbalta), NES(Lamictal), Fibromyalgia(Lyrica) and severe migraines w/auras(verapamil and Migra-Ease). However w/these medications, I still have the above symptoms.

I have seen a neurologist that specialized in MS. He ruled out MS today. We have been looking at MS for about two years, but he said the test in the last two years (MRI scans, Lumbar Puncture, VEP and blood test) rule out MS.

Do you think he would/should have picked up on PD if I present these above symptoms?(even if he does specialize in MS)

All your comments/advice and suggestions are greatly appreciated and I would like to thank you in advance.

M

That is a heap of drugs you are taking. They have never been checked to see what even two of them combined will do. Do you get enough benefit to justify taking all those or was it desperation?

The big clue is the timing vis-a-vis your surgery. That is not a coincidence. It might be worth considering the possibility of a problem with the anesthesia.

it sounds like you have some type of neurotoxic poisoning -
do you drink diet cola's?
what do you eat?

I know this may sound too simplistic -but diet is the most logical place to start,
have you had an MRI?
you may be toxic - do you know what you blood pH is?

I am not an MD, but please see a nutrtionist...
you may need B-12 and magnesium and calcium -what are all the meds are you taking?

cymbalta
See also Warning section.

Nausea, dry mouth, constipation, loss of appetite, tiredness, drowsiness, dizziness, increased sweating, blurred vision, or yawning may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor promptly.

Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: fainting, unusual or severe mental/mood changes (e.g., nervousness, unusual high energy/excitement, rare thoughts of suicide), shakiness (tremor), decreased interest in sex, changes in sexual ability, difficulty urinating, change in the amount of urine, weight loss.

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: stomach pain, bloody/black/tarry stools, vomit that looks like coffee grounds, easy bruising/bleeding, muscle weakness/cramps, yellowing eyes/skin, dark urine, seizures, unusual tiredness, fast/irregular/pounding heartbeat.

This medication may rarely cause a very serious condition called serotonin syndrome. The risk increases when this medication is used with certain other drugs such as "triptans" used to treat migraine headaches (e.g., sumatriptan, eletriptan), certain antidepressants including SSRIs (e.g., citalopram, paroxetine) and other SNRIs (e.g., venlafaxine), lithium, tramadol, tryptophan, or a certain drug to treat obesity (sibutramine). See also Drug Interactions section. Before taking this drug, tell your doctor if you take any of these medications. Serotonin syndrome may be more likely when you start or increase the dose of any of these medications. Seek immediate medical attention if you develop some of the following symptoms: hallucinations, restlessness, loss of coordination, fast heartbeat, severe dizziness, unexplained fever, severe nausea/vomiting/diarrhea, twitchy muscles.

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including: rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist

http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/cymbalta.htm
side effects
http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/cymbalta_ad.htm

lyrica
Drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, difficulty concentrating, unsteadiness, fatigue, swollen arms/legs, increased appetite, weight gain, nausea, dry mouth or constipation may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: change in amount of urine, difficulty speaking, loss of coordination, mental/mood changes, muscle pain/tenderness/weakness (especially if your are tired or have a fever), stomach/abdominal pain, uncontrolled movements (e.g., tremor, twitching), unusual tiredness, vision changes.

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these rare but very serious side effects occur: unusual bleeding/bruising, slow or irregular heartbeat.

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction may include: rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist

http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/lyrica.htm
side effects
http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/lyrica_ad.htm

lamictal
The following side effects are associated with Lamictal Oral:

Common side effects:
Double Vision Severe
Blurred Vision Severe
Problems with Eyesight Severe
Uncoordinated Severe
Rash Severe
Disorder of the Digestive System Less Severe
Drowsiness Less Severe
Dizzy Less Severe
Head Pain Less Severe
Feel Like Throwing Up Less Severe
Throwing Up Less Severe


Infrequent side effects:
Depression Severe
Lower Seizure Threshold Severe
Toxic Effect on Brain or Spinal Cord Function Severe
Involuntary Eye Movement Severe
Easily Angered or Annoyed Severe
Confused Severe
Mood Changes Severe
Anxious Severe
Change in Mental State Severe


Rare side effects:
Multiple Organ Failure Severe
Erythema Multiforme Severe
Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis Severe
Stevens-Johnson Syndrome Severe
Fever Severe
Voluntary Movement Difficulty Severe
Small Reddish-Purplish Pin-Point Sized Spots on the Skin Severe
Giant Hives Severe
Allergic Reaction caused by a Drug Severe
Reaction due to an Allergy Severe
Anemia Severe
Decreased Blood Platelets Severe
Deficiency of Granulocytes a Type of White Blood Cell Severe
Decreased White Blood Cells Severe
Increased Eosinophils in the Blood Severe
Blood Disorder Severe
Inflammation of the Nose Less Severe
Conditions of Excess Stomach Acid Secretion Less Severe
Abnormal Trouble Sleeping Less Severe
Involuntary Quivering Less Severe
Difficulty Speaking Less Severe
Feeling Weak Less Severe
http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/lamotrigine.htm
side effects
http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/lamotrigine_ad.htm

if you feel something is very wrong go to the ER -some medications may need to be titrated down -do not go off any of these
cold turkey with out a MD's advise.

sounds like your answer is tied to your surgery. I too would be worried about drug interactions.

I would suggest you see an endocrinologist to eliminate something glandular as a possibility. Anesthesia is hard on your endocrine system.

It's senseless to try and diagnose PD by yourself. There are so many symptom permutations, it would only confuse you. Go to "Find a Doctor" at www.parkinson.org and find a MDS, (Movement Disorder Specialist) near you, and get a consult. IF it were me I'd see the endocrinologist first though.

Charlie

I wouldn't go so far as to say that it is senseless to try and diagnose PD by yourself, but it is a difficult situation. Idiopathic (meaning there is no known cause) PD is a diagnosis of exclusion. I've been struggling with this for nearly a year, and only in the last few weeks have the doctors started using the word "Parkinson's." I have been tested for just about everything. The tests have me in near perfect health, yet I feel awful. It's frustrating to be told that everything is fine when it took just about all I had just to get myself to the doctor's office. The problem is the diagnosis by exclusion--which is basically saying that if it isn't anything else, then maybe it's PD. It can be very frustrating and time-consuming. Be patient if you're thinking it's PD.

A few other thoughts:

• I too thought that you have quite a load of medications. Getting a good mix of drugs can be a challenge. I personally think that overdosing is a common problem. Also check for medications that can cause some of your symptoms. Cymbalta, for example, can cause insomnia.
• Stress seems to be a major factor in PD. A major operation can be quite stressful. So, apart from the operation being a direct cause, it could also be an indirect cause. A major stressful experience of my own seems to divide the time when I just had some mild PD symptoms from the time when the symptoms became severe.
• From my experience, knowing my symptoms and communicating well with my doctors have been very important factors. Keeping a journal can be very useful.

You have my best wishes. Please feel welcome to post again as you work toward feeling better. There are some very kind and helpful folks who are members of this forum.

The concern for my medications is well validated. However, I did see my neurologist on Friday and he looked at all the medications to make sure they didn't interact or that I wasn't on very high doses that may cause some of my symptoms.

I have been on Cymbalta for over 3 years, it really hadn't bothered that I know of. The Lyrica is need for Fibro or I would never be out of bed due to chronic pain. Lamictal I need for seizures caused by the migraines. Verapamil (which is an old blood pressure medicine) helps control my migraines, and the Migra-Eaze is an over the counter supplement to help with migraines.

I should mention that in addition to these above meds, I also take a multivitamin, B-6, B-12, Complex B, Vit. D, Vit. E, Ginko Biloboa, and Fish Oil (EHA, which I understand to be the purest form of Fish Oil). My B-12 level is over 1000, but if I stop taking the B-12, it immediately starts to crash. Before taking B-12, my levels were only around 167. I don't want it to get that low.

Regarding the anesthia, I have had 4 surgeries that required anesthia. It didn't bother me and the symptoms didn't start until my last surgery, which was the most major one of all four. Do you think it still could be due to the anesthia even though I had it before w/o any problems?

I definitely don't want to self diagnose which is why I came to this forum. You all are really great in giving your ideas/suggestions/thoughts. I definitely will schedule an appointment with an endocrinologist to see what they think.

Once again a sincere thanks for information regarding my symptoms/problem.
I would like to hear more from anyone else that has ideas/suggestions/thoughts, as well hearing from those who already commented. What do you think of my supplements and now that I explained my medicine regimine more clearly, do you think it could still be a problem?

Thank you in advance.

M

tremor, arm swing and slowness of movement.

However PD is a ***** to dx, the neuro (by now a PD specialist), needed 8 months, an MRI scan, and a DAT scan (injection of a radioactive isotope flown in from Holland !!), to say for sure so IMHO self dx is a "no no".

The neuro who first "pre dx'ed" me at age 40 was not a PD specialist, he referred me to a PD specialist, so in my experience, I would expect your "MS Neuro" to pick up the possibility of PD and refer you if he thought PD was a possibility.

Neil.

Did the neurologist evaluate the prescription medications AND the non-prescription substances? It is well known that Ginko Biloba can cause headaches. I tried it a few years ago and had to stop. It caused the worst headaches of my life. A lot of the substances on your list can have side effects. And then there is the possibility of interactions, and the likelihood of drug interaction problems increases with every additional drug or substance.

A while back, I stopped all medications. I did it with my doctor. It was helpful because it established a baseline for my condition. Then we started adding medications methodically and only one at a time. It was kinda painful as the PD symptoms came out in full force. It was also very enlightening.

I was on antidepressants for ten years before I started to have insomnia. My doctor said that over time, our reactions to medications can change, and that is probably what happened to me. I was taking antidepressants for so long because of diagnosed migraines. It turns out that I had sleep apnea and that was the cause of the headaches. Since I've been sleeping with a CPAP machine to keep me breathing and thus properly oxygenate my blood, the headaches are no more. It turns out, I didn't have migraines and didn't need the antidepressants--though, I'll have to admit, they did help.

Did you say how long ago your last surgery was?

I thought I was dying as the palpations were so strong.I am a fit and reasonable well person for my age.Herbal medication has to be approched with caution.Just because they are natural it does not mean they are harmless.Never take a Vit B in isolation unless you have proper advice or are sure of what you are doing..You need the full spectrum of B Vit

Have you been tested for Wilsons disease?I am not a doctor and I only know what I read but this is a very overlooked condition .I suppose because it crosses boundaries.