My partner has PD and was dx 15 years. he is now 67 and is affected only in his right side. Weight loss has been an issue with him and not having started out as a big man his weight loss is very noticeable and quite distressing, mainly because everyone assumes he is "really ill" especially if they have not seen him for a while. His appetite is good and he eats very well although his medication is very affected by his meal timing and by protein content. Last week, after a routine blood test it was revealed that he is anaemic and is low in other blood proteins. Unfortunately, I wasn't presnt at the consultation and like most men, he didn't ask any questions so thats about all I know. The Dr has sent him for follow up blood tests. I am seeing his doctor tomorrow but I am just thinking if there is any history of PD and anaemia either from the condition or the medication and/or maybe it is an overall absorption thing which would account for him not getting full benefit from the nutrition of his food and lowing his bloodcount. Any thoughts on this from anyone would be appreciated.

REgards Tory

this is from a naturopath Dr.Jordan Rubin,
perhaps this info can help you -

Sixty to 80 percent of the lymphatic system is located in your small intestine. Called the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), it is almost synonymous with the term immune system. The gigantic task of your GALT is to discriminate between nutritious and dangerous substances passing through your bowel.

Antigens in your system signal the presence of substances or organisms that could potentially threaten your health. Your GALT alerts the immune system to respond appropriately. When your GALT fails to function properly, your immune health is compromised, and dangerous toxins may escape from the colon into your bloodstream. Numerous illnesses could be released to attack virtually any tissue or organ — even your entire body. That is why lymphomas (cancer of the lymphatic system) spread so rapidly; the lymphatic system literally goes throughout the length of your body. It has been said that death begins in the colon. And so does life.
~~~~~~~`
Jordan's Tip of the Day
From the author of The Maker's Diet

GALT's Helpers
Did you know that up to two pounds of your weight consists of bacteria inside your gut? There are trillions of them, and they protect you from serious illness every single day. Maintaining the balance between the good and bad bacteria, however, is key. Choosing organic meats, pesticide-free produce, and fermented foods helps keep the balance in check and your body from getting sick.
http://www.makersdiet.com/publicsite/interstitial.aspx

what is naturopathic medicine?
http://www.answers.com/topic/naturopathic-medicine

About five years before my first symptoms in 1992, I went to my GP complaining of being run down and was diagnosed with anemia of an unusual sort whose name I don't remember. It was not "pernicious" and it was serious enough to worry the doc. I had been eliminating red meat from my diet the past few months and felt the obvious thing to do was to bring it back. I did so and, much to the doc's relief, returned to normal.

I now eat red meat regularly and even crave it.

Rick,

This also happened to me. This runs in my mother's family so I am susceptible to this, and to add insult to injury, I was watching the red meat because of high cholesteral. My B12 dropped dangerously low and I became very run down. My first neuro didn't even bother checking the levels, but 2 years ago, when I went to the current neuro at Lahey Clinic, the first thing she did was send me for blood work. After the discovery of low B12, I had 1-1/2 years of montly shots and now take a supplement.

I've also said to heck with the reduced amount of red meat, and have gained back my weight again. I didn't have much in the first place, and what I lost made me look even sicker. I think I went from 150 lbs down to around 127 lbs. At that time, both my neuro and my PC doctor were concerned that I would wither up and disappear.

Now everyone that sees me remarks at how good I look with the extra meat on my bones.

John

At one time we talked about blood types and protein requirements. O-pos and carnivorous is my motto.

I am also O positive.

There are times when the medical profession takes certain things to the extreme, and this is one of them. My dad had a similar situation with calcium. He was told to eliminate calcium because of kidney stones. Well eventually his teeth shattered and he bruised easily. He's now eating a more balanced diet and is consuming calcium-rich foods and a supplement. What a difference!

John

Hello from FLorida! I have been anemic several times in my life and was given iron supplementtion. Isn't excess iron sometimes found in the brains of Parkinson's patients post mortem? Maybe a connection? I'm AB pos. Eat just the occasional burger, otherwise poultry and fish. FG

For what it is worth to those of you who know you are low on iron (anemic), heme iron, the form that is present in meats and the natural, non-enriched foods with higher iron content, is more readily absorbed in the body than the inorganic iron present in most vitamin/mineral supplements. Read the labels; inorganic iron is usually present as ferrous sulfate, ferrous citrate, etc.

Also, remember that there are many reasons one may become anemic. Among the most serious causes are blood loss through the gastrointestinal tract from bleeding ulcers or colon cancer. Hopefully, your doctor will know this and check this first before proceeding to simply recommend iron supplementation.