I spent the past week with a dear PWP friend. She has been a very good friend, especially over the past couple of years that have been very difficult for me due to sever depression. She sent me this information from the UK tonight and I thought it was worthy of sharing with everyone. PD has so many "silent" symptoms that we either don't initially notice or we don't want to acknowledge or we just don't feel are note worthy in our lifes. But sometimes the reality is that they are very worthy of notice and taking action to do something about them can make a big difference in out daily life.

The one that struck me was the one below about driving and auto insurance. Now I do realize that this is from the UK and we live in the USA, but I know that I will be contacting my auto insurance agent tomorrow to inquire about whether telling them versus not telling them would have an impact on my coverage if I should have an auto accident...my fault or not!

AND, if you are taking an anti-depressant of any kind and you feel you are not feel the energy and spark you should have...I would encourage you read this article again (I posted it it back in Dec 2008) and/or print it and take it to your neurologist and/or psychiatrist (if you have a psych on your "team") and see about this nortriptyline as a replacement to your current Anti-D. I can attest to how I felt just three months ago compared to today!

Carolyn to all, please take care of yourselves, denial is not a good thing!


Other problems linked with Parkinson's disease

BMJ Group, Thursday 6 November 2008
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandsty...-disease/print

Depression

Many people with Parkinson's get depressed.[1] You may get depressed early on in the disease, before you notice other symptoms.

You may not be severely depressed. But side effects of the drugs used to treat Parkinson's can make depression worse.

Explain how you're feeling to your doctor. Antidepressants can help you feel better.

Emotional changes

When you find out you have Parkinson's disease, you may feel anxious or frightened.[1] You may also lose your motivation and become more dependent on your family.[2]

Joining a support group may help you cope emotionally. You can get advice and support from other people with Parkinson's disease and their carers.

Difficulty in swallowing and chewing

The muscles you use for swallowing may not work as well later on in the disease.[1] If this happens, food and saliva can collect in the back of your throat. This can cause choking or drooling. You may find swallowing therapy helpful.

Speech changes

About half of the people with Parkinson's disease have problems with their speech.[1] They may talk too softly, speak without much variation in their voice or slur their words.

If your speech has changed, speech and language therapy might help you speak more clearly.

Constipation

Most people with Parkinson's disease have problems with constipation.[1] This is because the movement of their muscles slows down.

Don't let your constipation last for several days. Ask your doctor for help.

Skin problems

Your skin can become greasy or too dry.[1] You might also sweat a lot. Creams and other treatments for skin problems may help.

Sleep problems

You may have difficulty sleeping at night and then feel drowsy during the day.[3] [4] It's unclear if sleep problems are caused by the disease or the drugs you take. There are treatments for sleep problems that you can buy at a pharmacy, but it's best to talk to your doctor before taking them.

Dementia

About 1 in 5 people with Parkinson's disease get forgetful and confused. Their personality and behaviour can also be affected. This is called dementia.[5]

There is a chance, especially if you're older, that you can have both Parkinson's disease and dementia. This combination makes treatment difficult.


If you're caring for someone with both conditions, make sure you have support so you aren't shouldering the care all by yourself.[6]

Problems driving

You should tell the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority) and your insurance company if you have Parkinson's disease. Your insurance may be invalid if you don't.[7]
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References

Parkinson's Disease Society. About Parkinson's. Available at http://www.parkinsons.org.uk (accessed on 18 September 2007).

Backer JH. Stressors, social support, coping, and health dysfunction in individuals with Parkinson's disease. Journal of Gerontological Nursing. 2000; 26: 6-16.

Habermann B. Day-to-day demands of Parkinson's disease. Western Journal of Nursing Research. 1996; 18: 397-413.

Stacy M. Sleep disorders in Parkinson's disease: epidemiology and management. Drugs and Aging. 2002; 19: 733-739.

Grossman M, Zurif E, Lee C, et al. Information processing speed and sentence comprehension in Parkinson's disease. Neuropsychology. 2002; 16: 174-181.

O'Reilly F, Finnan F, Allwright S, et al. The effects of caring for a spouse with Parkinson's disease on social, psychological and physical well-being. British Journal of General Practice. 1996; 46: 507-512.

Parkinson's Disease Society. Parkinson's and driving. Available at http://www.parkinsons.org.uk/PDF/pub_b64_driving_02.pdf(accessed on 18 September 2007).
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Glossary

antidepressant

Antidepressants are medicines used to treat depression and sometimes other conditions. They work by changing the levels of chemicals in your brain called neurotransmitters. There are three main types of antidepressants, which work in different ways: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) and tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs).

constipated

When you're constipated, you have difficulty passing stools (faeces). Your bowel movements may be dry and hard. You may have fewer bowel movements than usual, and it may be a strain when you try to go.

Here in British Columbia if you don't tell you will not be covered. Of course once you do tell them they head off to the big black book and come back with no surprise, forms to be filled out and then you get more forms in the mail from the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles requesting a written test and driving exam and two letters from two different doctors vouching for your ability to drive. They were not interested in the medication at that time. I passed and continued driving when the following year I got another request to do it all over again. I wrote the Superintendent and said I felt I was being profiled and he renewed my licence for 5 years without being tested.