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Trouble diagnosing Parkinson's or other condition
Parkinson's Disease | Last Active: Jun 24 8:48pm | Replies (39)Comment receiving replies
Hello @chrissyv153,
I want to join @sillyblone in welcoming you to the PD support group on Mayo Connect. Many of us who now have a PD diagnosis have spent much time in neurologists' offices trying to understand some very real symptoms, and often without any real answers. Neurological disorders have overlapping symptoms, and this makes it difficult for even a trained neurologist to make an accurate diagnosis.
Have you been evaluated by a movement disorder specialist? This is a neurologist who specializes in the type of movement disorders you mention.
I would encourage you to learn as much about PD as possible so you will have a better understanding about PD. The Davis Phinney Foundation is a good place to start. It's website has lots of webinars and videos about PD and how it affects individuals. Not all PD patients follow the same pattern of symptoms.
A good place to visit would be a Parkinson's Center of Exellence. Mayo Clinic is one such center. If you would like to seek help from Mayo Clinic, contact one of the appointment offices. The contact information for Minnesota, Arizona, and Florida can be found here http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63.
If you cannot obtain an appointment at Mayo, you might check with the Davis Phinney Foundation to see if they might know of a Center of Excellence nearby.
I look forward to hearing from you again as you seek an answer. Will you continue to post?
Replies to "Hello @chrissyv153, I want to join @sillyblone in welcoming you to the PD support group on..."
I would also ask tons of questions . Write them down. Everything sometimes makes us go blank and forget your understanding. Write your symptoms down, what is expected of you with these meds and illnesses. If I were you I would have a bracelet with your most important diagnoses. That way if you should get hurt or are not clear headed, maybe from a fall. It helps EMS when they come to the scene. Get information from the Parkinsons Association. Find out where the main office is for your state. For instance Florida site is in Miami. Everyone has different experiences. Again welcome to this forum. I have had so much support since I joined. 🫂 🤗
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Excellent post.
Chrissie: Keep at it until you get a definitive diagnosis. Don't let them just throw medications at you without out certainty of what is being treated. But, sometimes they do use meds to see if you get a response; this is in order to define what you may or may not have.
From what I have determined, Parkinson's is diagnosed about TEN years after onset; it is just that the symptoms are so slow in coming on and often don't progress at a steady rate, or start stop fashion.