Connect
Advanced Parkinson's disease
My wife was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2009 and as it progressed and her blood pressure became unstable the neurologist that she has seen including a stroke doctor said it was just her blood pressure no longer in control due to her advanced Parkinson's disease progression. Now the doctors are concerned with her blood pressure due to frequent falls resulting in injuries. She's been diagnosed with neurogenic orthostatic hypotension and neurogenic supine hypertension dysautonomia. She also had CT scan of the brain showing she's had two lacunar strokes within a year resulting in damage to the left basal ganglia region and the left external capsule. The latter one was missed by the radiologist interpreting her images. It was found by a stroke doctor which she was sent for a second opinion by her neurologist which occurred over a year after her initial lacunar stroke and 4 months after
Her second lacunar stroke.. During her consultation with a stroke doctor a CTA of the head found a severe stenosis of the right vertebral artery and a small caliber bilateral artery in the head.
Bottom line: Don't let your neurologist and any other doctor or therapist sell you the advanced Parkinson's disease. Get a second or third opinion when you have doubt about your current treatment. These conditions if found and treated earlier could save a hospitalization or dangerous fall.
Like
Helpful
HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Parkinson's Disease Support Group.
Connect
One other observation. Family members need to be the advocate for family members diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Don't assume a high or low blood pressure reading is white coat syndrome. Get the blood pressure readings evaluated early on and look for signs. Leaning PISA syndrome is a sign of Parkinson's disease as well as other neurological, neurovascular, cardiovascular and autonomic disorders.
Please see the following:
Autonomic Dysfunction (Neurogenic Orthostatic Hypotension): Many individuals who experience neurological conditions like Parkinson's or atypical parkinsonism also suffer from damage to the autonomic nervous system. This impairs the body's ability to constrict blood vessels when changing positions, causing blood to pool in the lower body and the blood pressure to drop precipitously. [1] (https://parkinsonsnewstoday.com/orthostatic-hypotension-advanced-parkinsons/), [2] (https://www.youtube.com/watch).
Don't believe it's only due to Advanced Parkinson's Disease. There are other contributing factors. After being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease some neurologist find it easy to throw everything under one umbrella and classify it as Advanced Parkinson's Disease.
My wife's two lacunar strokes, severe stenosis of the right vertebral artery, Cerebral Small Vessel Disease and Central Retinal Vein Occlusion (eye stroke) didn't happen overnight. Be alert ask questions and demand answers.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsI agree. Drs. Will only tell you what is on your test, for what they’re looking for. You have to be your own advocate. 4 years ago I tripped and fell. Went to ER since I hit my head. The ER dr. told me, that there were no broken bones, etc. but, also told me that my brain tumor hasn’t grown?? I said what, brain tumor? I dont have a brain tumor. He pulled out notes from 2006, when I had a Ct scan for something else and it mentioned my brain tumor!!! Nobody ever told me, long story short, I had Gamma Knife done in 2004, to stop the growth of this tumor. I don’t know why they do this..I also had a MRI of my abdomen. As I was reading the test results, it mentioned that I had a cyst on my Pancreas!! The Dr. never told me. So now I have it monitored 1xyear to see if it is enlarging.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
5 Reactions@dlc1953 I have discovered
that doctors find it easier to
treat only those things in their specialty lane. Good luck with having the cyst and tumors treated.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 Reaction