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How long did you have symptoms before being diagnosed with PD?

Posted by southwest @southwest, Feb 18 2:21pm

In my case, at least 8 years. I went to specialists for headache, hematology, sleep apnea, heart disease, and numerous PCP conversations. Till I complained enough that I was not making any progress in getting a reading of my illness, wanted a neurology workup, and ended up by chance at a movement disorder doc, and was diagnosed as soon as the DAT scan was done.

Same symptoms all along, I just had to (literally) find my way by trial and error to to correct specialist.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Parkinson's Disease Support Group.

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tngirl103 | @tngirl103 | Mar 3 10:53am
In reply to @southwest "@tngirl103 I agree with @bmfoster Medicine is so specialized these days and your husband would I..." + (show)
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@tngirl103
I agree with @bmfoster
Medicine is so specialized these days and your husband would I think benefit from seeing a movement disorder specialist.

A general practioner or general neurologist *might* be helpful if, after discussion, they referred your husband on to a specialist.

If there is a Parkinson's organzation in your area, either you or your husband might be avail yourselves of the support groups there. He is the patient, you are the caretaker. That could be in person or online in a zoom meeting or such; the organization does not have to be in your immediate area.

I find it very useful and supportive to compare notes and experiences with others, as does my wife, in our respective support groups. These forums help too.
All the best!

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@southwest
Thank you!! I’m hoping I will have the courage to talk with him soon.

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kathy49 | @kathy49 | Mar 3 12:23pm
In reply to @sdcz "@southwest I am in Canada and I truly do not understand the many comments here about..." + (show)
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@southwest
I am in Canada and I truly do not understand the many comments here about how long it took to get a diagnosis. It seems it is primarily Americans saying it took several years and a DAT scan. I went to my GP about my hand tremor, he sent me to a neurologist who I saw 6 weeks later. In 15 minutes, after watching me walk and checking my hand movements / strength he concluded I had PD and put me on levodopa Levodopa / carbidopa. It was all very straightforward.

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@sdcz American Here and don't understand all the delays either. Went to Mayo trained neurologist and it took less than one hour. Now for the med and go on with life.

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noe73 | @noe73 | Mar 8 11:50am
In reply to @tngirl103 "@noe73 May I ask what symptoms you experienced to require a gastroenterologist? I’m thinking my husband..." + (show)
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@noe73
May I ask what symptoms you experienced to require a gastroenterologist? I’m thinking my husband has PD or beginning symptoms. Recently he saw a gastroenterologist after suffering episodes of abdominal distress. Pantoprazole has relieved most of his distress.

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@tngirl103

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Moderator
Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Mar 10 10:28am
In reply to @noe73 "@tngirl103" + (show)

@noe73 - it looks like perhaps your message to @tngirl103 did not come through. Would you like to post it again?

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dodeebug | @dodeebug | Mar 10 11:23am

Hi i was going to a neurologist for RLS and neuropathy in my feet. They noticed my gait plus i had a stroke on my left side. Then they ran extensive test on me. Also my dad had it.

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