Should I Be Praying For A Normal or Abnormal DaTscan?
 

Hi all! I'm currently being evaluated for PD. I admit I do seem to have some of the classic signs (stiff right wrist, slight lightheadedness, and a tremor that only shows itself when I exercise) but they are very subtle. My Neurologist said he could almost tell by looking at me when he walked in (facial expression and reduced blink rate) and after an hour long exam he's 90% sure that's what I have.

Next week I go in for a DaTscan. Normally a person would hope and pray the scan would be negative. BUT everything I've been reading from Dr. Google points to a negative actually meaning I might have something similar to PD but WORSE!!!! (MSA, ALS, etc...) All this uncertainty has left me a nervous wreck. Not sure what to think........

Hardisk70.

Welcome to the forum.

I understand the stress that you're under waiting for a diagnosis.

Whatever the diagnosis is, I wish you well.

John

Well I got my answer. Abnormal. So I officially have PD.........

Welcome, Hardisk70. Very sorry to hear the news. You're on your "honey-moon" right now. Enjoy whatever reprieve it may afford you. Seize the day, the morning, the afternoon, the evening, the night, the minutes. If you don't already have an exercise regimen, I suggest that you start one--strictly approved by your doctors beforehand. If you do already have an exercise regimen, be sure to let your docs know about it sometime soon.

Already doing it thanks! I see you've had it for 19 years now! What's it like for you these days?

If you were asking me, the onset of my symptoms was in 1996, which means this is my 25th yr. To answer your question--not well at all. Taking three 25/100mg carbi/levodopa four times/day, a bunch of other meds; bad dyskinesia; tremor not too bad normally, but stiffness always a big problem; I fall maybe once a month (not too bad); hallucinations; everything I eat tastes like crap; I weigh only 133lbs (should weigh at least 165lbs at 5'11"); weakness, sleepy all day even though I have the option of taking amphetamine salts with Modafinil; depression, even though I take Zoloft & Remeron.

Oh. Sorry to hear that……..