Parkinson’s unresponsive episodes.

Posted by bethv @bethv, Sep 16, 2018

My father, 93 years old, is suffering these unresponsive episodes, not to be confused with “freezing” of gait. The episode can last two hours and we think might be related to dehydration. Why can’t I find any mention of this in any web sites that describe Parkinson’s? Only in caregiver sites have I found any information. Is no one studying this phenomenon? There may be some connection here that needs investigation.

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

@susan62

Thx for your input Colleen!

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Hi, @susan62 - wondering how things are going with your Parkinson's symptoms and the low-grade nausea you mentioned?

@mshoggie - is your mom still experiencing the non-responsive episodes?

@judithanne - also wanted to check in with you about your mom and her unresponsive episodes. You talked about some new techniques suggested to you for managing it . If she's experienced another one, how are those working for her?

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Hi Lisa. Thx for asking. Things are going pretty well. I really shouldn’t have anything to complain about. My neurologist lowered my dose of Carbidopa/Levodopa down to 1 pill three times daily instead of the gradual increase to 2 pills three times a day. After doing this I felt MUCH better. I sometimes have a little nausea with the morning dose, but a cracker, a bit of bread or a few pretzels and a couple sips of ginger ale does the trick. My other symptoms have pretty much disappeared. Occasionally I will get a little low grade pain in my right arm, but it usually goes away after a short period of time. NOTHING like the pain I was having when first diagnosed. That had been by far the WORSE thing about my PD. I am continually grateful to God that things are so good. There are so many others who, by far, have it so much worse.

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@susan62

Hi Lisa. Thx for asking. Things are going pretty well. I really shouldn’t have anything to complain about. My neurologist lowered my dose of Carbidopa/Levodopa down to 1 pill three times daily instead of the gradual increase to 2 pills three times a day. After doing this I felt MUCH better. I sometimes have a little nausea with the morning dose, but a cracker, a bit of bread or a few pretzels and a couple sips of ginger ale does the trick. My other symptoms have pretty much disappeared. Occasionally I will get a little low grade pain in my right arm, but it usually goes away after a short period of time. NOTHING like the pain I was having when first diagnosed. That had been by far the WORSE thing about my PD. I am continually grateful to God that things are so good. There are so many others who, by far, have it so much worse.

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@susan62 Hi Susan: I know that your post was directed to @lisalucier but I just wanted to let you know how pleased I am that you are doing so well. I'm guessing that you must still be exercising faithfully since that makeS a real difference in the symptoms of PD.

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You bet Teresa!! I walk at least 5 days a week 3 to sometimes 6 miles. Most often around 4 1/2. Always have and plan to keep it up until I can’t. Great for my body as well as for my sense of well-being. I appreciate your support.

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Buenos días. MI nombre es Justiniano Murphy, tengo 55 años y radico en LIma Perú. En mi caso fui diagnosticado en 2017 y atendido excelentemente por el Doctor Rodolfo Savica en Rochester, iniciando con 1, 2 y luego tres SInemet (carbidopa levodopa) 100/25 al día. EL problema que tengo ahora son los diarios ataques de ansiedad que no responden normalmente a los ansiolíticos deteriorado sostenidamente mi calidad de vida, por lo que como último recurso he optado hace dos días a elevar mi dosis de Sinemet. 100/25 de 9 a 12 pastillas diarias. Espero que eso me ayude, por que no me ha sido posible comunicarme con mi Doctor ni obtener respuesta y estoy desesperado.

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@susan62

You bet Teresa!! I walk at least 5 days a week 3 to sometimes 6 miles. Most often around 4 1/2. Always have and plan to keep it up until I can’t. Great for my body as well as for my sense of well-being. I appreciate your support.

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That is great to hear, @susan62! There was a PT who often said that PD patients who exercise on a regular basis have much less disability than those who don't have an exercise program. So, we need to all keep moving....

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@justiniano

Buenos días. MI nombre es Justiniano Murphy, tengo 55 años y radico en LIma Perú. En mi caso fui diagnosticado en 2017 y atendido excelentemente por el Doctor Rodolfo Savica en Rochester, iniciando con 1, 2 y luego tres SInemet (carbidopa levodopa) 100/25 al día. EL problema que tengo ahora son los diarios ataques de ansiedad que no responden normalmente a los ansiolíticos deteriorado sostenidamente mi calidad de vida, por lo que como último recurso he optado hace dos días a elevar mi dosis de Sinemet. 100/25 de 9 a 12 pastillas diarias. Espero que eso me ayude, por que no me ha sido posible comunicarme con mi Doctor ni obtener respuesta y estoy desesperado.

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Buenos días y bienvenido @justiniano. I used Google Translate (https://translate.google.com/) to translate your message from Spanish to English.
"Good Morning. My name is Justiniano Murphy, I am 55 years old and I live in LIma Perú. In my case I was diagnosed in 2017 and treated excellently by Dr. Rodolfo Savica in Rochester, starting with 1, 2 and then three SInemet (carbidopa levodopa) 100/25 a day. The problem that I have now are the daily attacks of anxiety that do not respond normally to the anxiolytics. My quality of life has deteriorated steadily, so as a last resort I chose two days ago to raise my dose of Sinemet. 100/25 from 9 to 12 pills daily. I hope that helps me, because I have not been able to communicate with my Doctor or get an answer and I am desperate."

I hope you'll use Google translate to interpret responses from the community here on Mayo Clinic Connect.
Espero que use el traductor de Google para interpretar las respuestas de la comunidad aquí en Mayo Clinic Connect.

Have you tried to get in contact with your Mayo doctor through the patient portal? Here is the link to create an account if you haven't already https://gpsnetx.mayoclinic.org/psi/content/staticpatient/showpage/patientonline

I understand that you are desperate, but it is best to have the guidance of a doctor when changing medication doses. Do you also take anti-anxiety medication?

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@colleenyoung

Buenos días y bienvenido @justiniano. I used Google Translate (https://translate.google.com/) to translate your message from Spanish to English.
"Good Morning. My name is Justiniano Murphy, I am 55 years old and I live in LIma Perú. In my case I was diagnosed in 2017 and treated excellently by Dr. Rodolfo Savica in Rochester, starting with 1, 2 and then three SInemet (carbidopa levodopa) 100/25 a day. The problem that I have now are the daily attacks of anxiety that do not respond normally to the anxiolytics. My quality of life has deteriorated steadily, so as a last resort I chose two days ago to raise my dose of Sinemet. 100/25 from 9 to 12 pills daily. I hope that helps me, because I have not been able to communicate with my Doctor or get an answer and I am desperate."

I hope you'll use Google translate to interpret responses from the community here on Mayo Clinic Connect.
Espero que use el traductor de Google para interpretar las respuestas de la comunidad aquí en Mayo Clinic Connect.

Have you tried to get in contact with your Mayo doctor through the patient portal? Here is the link to create an account if you haven't already https://gpsnetx.mayoclinic.org/psi/content/staticpatient/showpage/patientonline

I understand that you are desperate, but it is best to have the guidance of a doctor when changing medication doses. Do you also take anti-anxiety medication?

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Buenos días y bienvenido @justiniano

It is good to have you as part of our Parkinson's discussion group. I agree with Colleen that it is good to check with your doctor before adjusting and/or changing any medications and their dosages.

Anxiety and depression are common for patients with Parkinson's as it is an organic brain problem which will affect your thinking. I would encourage you to start an exercise program. This will be good for both the Parkinson's symptoms as well as the anxiety. Do you have an exercise program in place?

I understand the language barrier so I trust you can get some help through Google in interpreting this article on Parkinson's and anxiety. Here is a link to the article, https://www.apdaparkinson.org/article/anxiety-parkinsons-disease/

As Colleen mentioned, have you talked with a doctor regarding some medication for anxiety?

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My mom is 82 with Parkinson’s and is having these unresponsive episodes. She has had two that I know of so far in the past two weeks. She has gone to the hospital and no one knows what it is. Any info is welcome please.

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