Hubbie had his 'Welcome to Medicare' physical today. He has been having tremors in his left hand. The first thing that came to my mind at the time was Parkinson but he never had anything else but tremors in that one hand. Sometimes has them, most of the time doesn't. So I took a video with my Ipad. So just like with my physical last week, I went in with a list of concerns. The tremor was at the top of the list. So I showed it to Dr. C. He looked at it and continues with the physical doing things and asking questions that I thought were just normal things for a physical. So after the awful prostate exam and everything was done he sat us down and said 'now let's talk about that tremor'. Well I knew then that it wasn't going to be a nice talk. Parkinsons. One of the questions he asked was about his sense of smell. Well it's been shot for years but he, husband, has always attributed it to long term use of Afrin nasal spray. Dr. C said that scientist have found that people with Parkinsons have had a loss or severely diminished sense of smell years before their first symptoms appeared. In the exam he put his hand on the bend of his elbow and then lifted his lower arm and had Charlie lower it. I guess there is something called a 'cogwheel effect'. It's like when something goes through the gears individually. You can feel it. He felt it there. So he is going to set up an appointment with my neurologist.

I have already looked Sinemet which is one of the drugs for Parkinsons and the side effects are awful, especially the neurological ones. My husband has always said that he didn't intend on living past 70 since the men in his family die young. 70 is about the age they all die. I know my husband and I know he would rather die than have some of these side effects. He would just probably stop the drug and let the progression takes it course.

When we were walking out to the car, or rather being blown out to the car, he said that this is not to be discussed with anyone, even our girls until he shows any symptoms that 'the condition' is noticeable. Well you better believe I called both my girls. He may not want to think about it but I need the support of my girls.

I just hope it doesn't take long to get in with my doctor. I have my own yearly physical in March. If it is much past March, I will mention it to her and see if she can get him in sooner or I will be having such severe high blood pressure they can't read it. I am trying not to stress eat and continue my exercising. Charlie very faithfully walks about 2 miles a day, every day. He was a pharmacy tech in a big hospital before he retired and was used to walking the long halls delivering drug carts. The day after he retired he was at the mall walking 2 miles.

Sinemet is not always bad, but if he doesn't need it yet he can tell the dr that he'd rather wait until he needs to take something.

My dad has taken it for many many years now without problems.
He also takes a low dose of Mirapex, and a few other meds for other things.

Some may have compulsive behavior side effects with Mirapex, maybe gambling, shopping, or such, but if aware, family can be on alert for that possibility.


Explore our PD forum for lots of info and other ways to cope with PD.

Sorry to learn of this Doydie.

Some folks with PD benefit from B12 (methylcobalamine), B3 & B6 , as well as Omega 3/fish oil supplementation, so that might be worth a try.

The compulsive behaviors associated with these medications can usually be eliminated by decreasing the dose; because it has been found that relatively sudden onset compulsivity is linked to excess dopamine levels.

With love, Erika

Oh Doydie, so sorry for your DH's new condition. I hope he manages
to be untroubled by this, for a long time. With or without the meds.
You must take care of yourself, as well. Stress could get you faster
than the PD could get him.

I will say an extra special prayer for you both...

Doydie, so sorry to hear of this…Parkinson's is one of those conditions that seems to have new treatment options (if the insurance co. pays up).
My FIL was on carbidopa. Did not seem to help him much though

i'm sorry to hear this news about your dh.
the exercise routine sounds like very good therapy to keep him healthier.

i hope with tx your dh lives many more happy years.
stay strong. we're here for you.

Thanks guys. Today he is at least talking about it. Neither one of slept well last night. So this afternoon I asked him how he felt after mulling it over in his mind for a day. He said that he didn't even know whether he wanted to even see a neurologist. Then he said that he knew there was a certain amount of denial. For my husband to admit that was big. He usually doesn't admit to any emotion. This evening he did say that he wants to make sure we take a good vacation while we still can. I do't want him to think that this is a death sentence. I reminded him that some people have Parkinsons and it is bad and then there are others that are well controlled, just like there are people like Annette Funicello with MS and then there are people like me. Of course as I am saying this to him, I am trying to convince myself of it also. He is defenitely not one to ask me what my feelings are on things. I told him that he has never asked me how I feel about all this. His response was to continue to stare at the TV. He then eventually asked me how I was feeling. So I told him I was scared to death.

I know I should wait until we see the neurologist but I like to be in control of things. And right now I am not. And so I worry. Every problem that MAY happen in the future is running through my mind.

Sad to hear about what your DH and yourself are going through at this time. My thoughts and prayers are with the two of you.

Doydie

It will probably take some time for him to come to grips with the fact that he has an uncureable condition. Just like you did when you found out you had MS. I guess everybody responds to these things differently.

Maybe this will help him understand how you felt with your dx.

I hope he realizes that it's not a "death sentence" and it may or may not get much worse than it is right now. Sort of like MS......you just have to take things one day at a time.

I will be thinking of you two and keeping you in my prayers.

Maybe if you go online and show him the progress made in treatment options, and the fact that many people live many many years without much advancement, it might help him.

Men are great at denying, aren't they? They are taught to be stoic and strong…what we do to our boys

One argument you can use to get him to be proactive in fighting this disease is to tell him, "You wouldn't be happy if I gave up and let MS take over my life would you? I want you around for a long time, and if you won't fight for yourself, then fight for my sake."

Hugs and prayers, hon