and I am very sorry you are going through this. While you are waiting to see what to do next, perhaps you could try the coconut oil that Rick originally posted about here, it has really helped an Alz. fellow in florida. Review that thread and see if you might be willing to try that.

I don't know your age but I do know we all lose brain power as we age. Some more than others, and some at a faster pace than others. Our neuro told us this and although I don't agree with everything he says, I do think he is right on this one. Also, I know I cannot think worth anything when stressed, and perhaps this is affecting you as well, and you do not realize it.

Whatever is going on, try to relax as much as possible and enjoy what you have today. You are wise to think ahead for the future, but you cannot let what "might be" ruin what you do have today.

Hi Lurking,

I'll look into the coconut oil and see what that can do for me. I'm only 47, which really scares me because this seems to be happening more over the course of a year or so. I've always been sharp as a tack when it came to critical thinking and such.

I agree that stress can play a big part in a lot of things that happen. I do know that driving is taking its toll on me now particularly with it begin winter and snow all over the place. I'll try to relax, but you know saying one thing and doing another are two different things.

Thank you for the suggestions.

John

hey jcitron -

are you taking agonists (mirapex or requip)? I had similar troubles when taking one, then the other. I am off agonists now; my mind is much more clear; I can sit down and read a book for long periods of time, (improved concentration) and my memory is back on track. Still have trouble multi-tasking.

just wondering ....

Hi Carey,

I'm not taking the agonists. I did before when I first started this journey and mirapex did "wonders" on me. I was a walking zombie-twit. I also have trouble mult-tasking, which isn't a good thing where I need to jump from order processing to technical support all day. It's now taking me longer to finish either task properly. Is the old brain slowing down too like the rest of everything else?

In case you're wondering, I've been sent for blood tests to check my TSH, B12, and Foliate just in case these are off.

John

John - I'd love to hear the results of your tests.

"Bradyphrenia" (slow thinking) is a symptom of PD; your brain does slow down just as the rest of you does. Maybe the key is just realizing that, and trying to do things at a different pace.

It's a tough one; really hard to adjust to when you've been super confident/competent and fast for your whole life! Remember - you are not losing your intelligence!

John-

I'd be reluctant to accept the inevitable. This seems to be happening awfully fast for PD. Have you done any kind of timeline analysis to see if there could be anything else at work? Don't discount the job stress either. Two jobs and you chase tornadoes for a break? I gotta shake my head and admire you all at the same time.

My latest bandwagon might be worth thinking about. Mycotoxins from mold and other fungi. Has there been any increase in dampness where you work or live?

Keep a food diary for a week and see if anything correlates. And have they ruled out little strokes?

This is not a slippery slope, John. From what my docs have told me, and some research people when I've been in studies, the great majority of PWPs have some degree of executive function loss. A lot of doctors don't know it yet, or attribute it to other things. Fortunately, it's in the cortex, or outer layer, of the brain that multitasking is done (google "anterior cingulate cortex"), and there are a LOT of pathways possible there so we can work around them and build new pathways and recover some of the function. The actual motor function of the fingers--I'm sorry, but there are not so many extra cells in the back of the brain where the motor layers are and so it's more difficult to find any extra cells to make new pathways. Anhow, other people catch up to us in the memory function loss, and we can end up better off than them because we've been fighting it so long. To oversimplify.

I had a bad time with Mirapex, but Requip is okay for me.

Coconut oil is high in cholesterol, isn't it?

Jaye