Question re: Balance
 

Hello, everyone. I haven't posted here in a very long time, but I assure you that I check the site regularly just to see how everyone is doing. I haven't felt that I had anything to offer, and until now, I haven't felt the need to request your input which, in itself, is a good thing. You may or may not recall that I am the carepartner of a pwp, Doreen. Lately, though, she seems to be having a problem with balance...not particularly with walking, but when getting up from a sitting position...it seems to be an effort for her to get her balance initially. There are times, too, that she may experience some imbalance, but not to the extent that that happens on rising from a sitting position. Here's what is important for you to know. When Doreen goes for her early morning walk...before she takes her "meds", she has absolutely no problem with walking or imbalance. However, the imbalance seems to occur approximately 45 min. to an hour AFTER having taken her meds, e.g., Sinemet, Mirapex and Amantadine...and occurs usually only in the morning hours.The bottom line question, I guess, is whether or not others of you experience imbalance after taking your "meds" and do you feel that this is a side effect of the "meds" or PD itself...or both? I guess this is a difficult question to answer, but there may just be something that you have to offer in response that could be helpful.

Thank you for any help suggestions/advice you're able to give me.

Therese

Yes
 

I relate to that. When first up or when well on is OK but there is a period in between when, if I must stand, I best do it fast and smooth or I plop back down.

Thank You
 

Reverett...for your reply to my question about balance. Doreen told me that there was ONE response, and I said: "I bet I can tell you who that was..Reverett...and she wanted to know the reason for my saying that. I told her that you are especially quick to respond to questions if you think that you can be at all helpful...thank you, again, for your response.

I thought there might be more who would respond because I know that balance is a problem for many pwp's. Perhaps there will be more coming. I told Doreen that weekends are not a "busy", here, as are weekdays so that more responses may still be coming.

Thank you again, Reverett, for your always-faithful responses.

Therese

I recently joined a tap dancing class after reading that dancing is good for PWP. The dancing has helped improve my balance.

I never noticed a difference before or after meds, but I know my balance was not good and now it is better. I think it is the dancing that has helped because there is a step that I used to have difficulty doing because I would lose my balance and now I can do it.

I am going to dance in a parade on July 4th. I will get a ride to where we perform because it would be too hard to walk the whole parade route.

Hello again
 

You are always welcome here, Therese, as is Doreen, who I hope will join us at some time when she is ready. Nothing to contribute? Nonsense! The two of you having been living with PD for how long now? And since you know how much you appreciate a response or a welcome, why not patrol for new people or for those who have not received a response after a day or two--that they are welcome and that surely someone will be along soon--which bumps the item to the top of the list for all to see and be reminded that we were all new once. It can be so comforting to be noticed, as we all know. After ten years on this board and its predecessors, I have said everything many times, and by now it takes all day, sometimes, just to get through the day. If I--and many others-- ever don't answer something I know about, it's because I haven't been able to get around to logging on, my day has been stressful already, I don't know the answer to a question, or my limit on thinking about PD for the day has been reached. And yes, weekends are slow. Don't ever think that we don't care, though. We do.

Ahem. Now to your question, "The bottom line question, I guess, is whether or not others of you experience imbalance after taking your "meds" and do you feel that this is a side effect of the "meds" or PD itself...or both?"

It depends. If I am overmedicated, I may be dyskinetic, so that I don't know what to expect. If I am undermedicated, I may be so stiff that I have would have difficulty recovering from an imbalance without my trusty cane or walking stick. If my meds are well-balanced, I still have a tendency to stagger a step or two backward or to the side. Sometimes I move backward so fast that I have to run into a wall, and my balance is poor during those episodes. In other words, balance is always a problem for me. One of the cardinal symptoms of PD is "postural instability"--poor balance. I vote for the disease, possibly with too much medication. I am not a doctor. Keep notes on it with times, time of waking, etc. and ask the ol' neuro.

First thing in the morning many of us have a supply of dopamine (I think) from the restorative processes that went on during sleep. I would have to look up the science of it, but I'm limber for a few minutes after waking--but I take meds as soon as I can reach the pill box. It takes 15 minutes to go off and and I'm starting to be on by an hour after waking. You might also ask the neuro if it isn't time for Doreen to take some of the meds on waking.

I have had PD for roughly 20 years in terms of symptoms and am over ten years past diagnosis. I have been taking a yoga class for a few months at the local senior center, and I'm less symptomatic altogether, with much better balance. This past week I spent two days at home during which I didn't use my cane at all.

My neuro has told me that losing weight will help my balance, too, and I have noticed that it's good to be careful to look after my osteoarthritis.

Sitting to standing: I think it's important for me to take a moment to compose myself in the standing position before taking the first step. Interesting abstract here:



Best wishes,
Jaye

Therese and everyone:
 

I want to add that my suggestions about what to do if you feel you have nothing to say are for everyone, not just you. It wasn't my intention to put any individual on the spot, and certainly not a devoted caregiver like you.

Jaye :D

Thank You
 

to all have, so far, responded to by question related to balance. I knew this was the place for me to get some answers.Jaye...we especially want to thank you for assuring both of us that we are always welcome here...which brings me to the point that Doreen would very much like to contribute to the forum, but has been unsuccessful in trying to register. I can remember that I had difficulty when I first registered so many years ago. Eventually, I was successful and was validly registered...but, at some point along the way, I became invalidated and now...every time I access the site, it states that I am a "visitor" with limited ability, although I am able to read and post; therefore, I haven't pursued the actual difficulty involved with my being recognized as only a "visitor". I've written this as a way of making aware, not only my difficulty with posting, but also, and especially for Doreen who is not even able to register...just may be that someone will be able to advise us about this.As to what you said, Jaye...yes...I do believe that Doreen and I would have something to contribute to the forum...having lived through and with PD for approximately 12 years. We would like nothing more than to be able to help others as well as to have them reciprocate with help for us.I think the question related to imbalance probably depends a great deal in how we define the word...and I'm not even certain that I adequately described Doreen's particular problem in my original post. It's difficult for me to describe..even for Doreen, herself, to describe...but, I will attempt to clarify her particular difficulty. Before taking any "meds", she has absolutely no sign of imbalance. She walks every morning without any sign of imbalance, and when she returns from her walk, she takes her "meds". It seems that any time after having taken her "meds", the imbalance problem can set in...it seems to start as she initially begins to walk...as a staggering type thing which doesn'tlast very long. Once she has "righted" herself, she is able to walk with no difficulty. Then, too...if seated...she has difficulty balancing herself until her feet are firmly planted on the floor...again...she walks without difficulty.After all this...I guess the bottom line question still remains: Is this "med-related"...PD related...or both? If PD related, that would probably be more problematic; if "med-related", it would be a question of adjusting the "meds"? I wonder what the consensus would be among you. I realize that this is a complex issue, but whatever input you may have, would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, too, if you're able to help with the registration process.Therese

Hi therese
I replied to a number of messages that you sent a while back via the forum feedback contact....you would only be showing as a visitor if your browser is blocking "cookies" from NeuroTalk. That would cause the system not to recignize your log in. As you have posted this it seems it is allowing you full access now?

if Doreen is trying to register an account with the same email address as you have then she would not be able to, but as long as she uses a different email address for her account, there should be no problem in her registering, as long as those "cookies" are allowed.

Balance
 

I have been trying to go for most of the day unmedicated, to "challenge" my system into producing more dopamine. I have managed with a little difficulty OK. However, my wife said, "your balance is much better unmedicated".
It had not occured to me but she was right. I think it is a side effect of levodopa, that is little known.
Ron

Yes, I agree. My balance is much better unmedicated and I can stand from a seated position easier. Seems we're between a rock and a hard place.