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Anxiety and Parkinson’s

Parkinson's Disease | Last Active: Mar 19, 2023 | Replies (39)

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@tedalmon

I'm no expert yet, having just been diagnosed with PD this year, but I have the tremor dominant form and my symptoms are nothing like yours, except that I did lose my sense of smell years ago. It seems that PD is like cancer in that it may not be a single disorder but several different diseases that share certain characteristics? This would obviously complicate the ongoing search for treatments and a cure. So far I have been advised to only do a daily exercise program, stay on my former med for essential tremor, and delay the seeming only treatment for PD which is Levodopa to forestall its long term side effects. In my case too, I think Deep Brain Stimulation, although the idea of brain surgery is daunting, may relieve my symptoms and get me pretty much back to normal. I don't know, it's a strange disease. Good luck to you.

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Replies to "I'm no expert yet, having just been diagnosed with PD this year, but I have the..."

You mention that you had Essential Tremor, and that is what caught my eye. There have been studies done by the NIH that say someone with Essential Tremor is 4 times more likely to eventually be diagnosed with Parkinson’s. I have had Essential Tremor for 10 years and the loss of sense of smell. Lately the tremor is at rest, not simply when in motion, so I’m getting a little concerned. I see a Neurologist annually, take Propranolol, and exercise daily. I don’t know of a family history of either disorder. Sometimes I wonder if people who have careers and hobbies that require constant handwork are more susceptible to Essential Tremor. My doctor said there haven’t been studies to answer that. Good luck to you!