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← Return to Looking Back - What Were Your Early Warning Signs of Parkinson's?
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Looking Back - What Were Your Early Warning Signs of Parkinson's?
Parkinson's Disease | Last Active: 21 hours ago | Replies (128)Comment receiving replies
@southwest
The 6 min walk test by pulmonary medicine is primarily to assess your ability to maintain a safe oxygen saturation while exerting yourself. If it drops below 88% it suggests a possible problem with your lungs - thankfully passing the test should give you some comfort. I agree though - it doesn't explain the profound fatigue - like hitting a wall - after exertion noted with neurodegenerative disease. Physicians should rule out other potential causes of fatigue before settling on a particular diagnosis - especially when the symptoms CAN have so many potential causes. My cardiologist ruled out any serious cardiac causes for my fatigue and air hunger with exertion - it now looks related to the effects of my Primary Autonomic Nervous System Failure and early PD. Ongoing monitoring by my cadre of physicians will continue in order to identify problems while they are small rather than debilitating. Good luck to you and know you are not alone in this.
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@bmfoster
Thank you for your insights. I just find it infinitely ironic that I can pass a test without being able to carry out the test task for the designated length. I had been able to walk for six minutes two years before, with fatigue at the end only a fraction of what I felt at the beginning of the second test.
One year before, the sleep doctor sent me to a neurologist (general) who watched me walk for 6 feet or so and judged I do not have Parkinsons, and said if I have fatigue, I should go back to the sleep doctor. Neither doctor had an idea to send me to a movement disorder doc. After I 'passed' the six minute walk I asked my primary care to send me to a neurology workup, where the doctor luckily for me turned out to be a movement disorder doc, who said there was reason to give me a DAT scan, and here I am.
Now I know I had been manifesting PD symptoms for some 8 years, but none of the docs I saw over that time, for my complaints of stiffness and fatigue,
had any notion of what to do except do tests over and over in their respective specialties. Yes I have anger over this.