@colleenyoung

Welcome to Connect @ggopher. We’ve got a small group here forming about PD. I’m glad you could join us and specifically for your offering useful information for @trouble43443 about taking Sinemet.

Gopher, when were you diagnosed with PD? I like how @denie57 and @trouble43443 have shared the activities (cats, computers and walking when possible) that they do to stay fit and sharp. What are your favorite activities?

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I was diagnosed about a year ago. Hadn’t smelled anything in 15 years or so, had vocal cord implant supposedly due to Epstein-Barr virus I had the previous year but my voice was getting worse again. Had been told my morning fogginess was due to dehydration and to chug water in the morning. Then a new PA tied those and new symptoms together and sent me to a neurologist and she immediately diagnosed PD. That was a real shock. It is assumed to be tied to Agent Orange from my Vietnam service. Been on 3 Sinemet 25-100 since and symptoms are minimal. Do a couple crosswords a day and work out 3 times a week. Had LSLV speech therapy which helped a lot and belong to a support group through the PD center here in East Texas.

@colleenyoung

Welcome to Connect @ggopher. We’ve got a small group here forming about PD. I’m glad you could join us and specifically for your offering useful information for @trouble43443 about taking Sinemet.

Gopher, when were you diagnosed with PD? I like how @denie57 and @trouble43443 have shared the activities (cats, computers and walking when possible) that they do to stay fit and sharp. What are your favorite activities?

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The Support Group is a very good thing. It is difficult to keep it “active” when most of the people are not real assertive nor can they speak very loud. I have not lost those two characteristics yet and I am the ‘doer’ type so I feel responsible for finding something interesting to do or talk about. Are there videos accessible on the computer that we could watch. With only 5 people, we can pretty much gather around one screen. Any topic would be good, because we are all pretty much beginners at PD.

@denie57

Thanks for your reply. 🙂 I’m looking forward to sharing my story. This has been long 2 year struggle to get to a diagnosis. I live in Los Angeles, Ca. It started in 2014 with a horrible bout of vertigo which left me disabled for 6 weeks. I lost my balance and hearing in right ear. During that year, I was going back and forth to my primary with concerns about stiffness, pain in joints, loss of motivation, depression and fatigue. Saw ENT also for hearing loss which took about a year to return to about 80-90%. But, I never really regained my balance. Took Yoga classes and went to PT for balance exercises. Other symptoms started to appear in 2015. Slight left hand tremor in certain positions, hoarseness that my primary kept attributing to post-nasal drip, dragging of left side when walking, constipation, persistent fatigue, slurring of speech and loss of the ability to multitask which I was always good at. After seeing a lot of specialists and testing, I finally saw the neurologist who diagnosed me in Jan., 2016. I am still working but have a commute that will probably force me to retire. I have told my employer and some co-workers. I am on FMLA to hopefully protect my job until I am forced to exit. It seems as though they would rather that I just resign. I am beginning to get passed over for assignments. 🙁 I am fine for now, but unsure of the rate that my symptoms with progress. Trying to work another year or so. I have a wonderful partner for whom I have been with for 15 years and live with. He also has some health issues but we have managed to maintain loving relationship and help each other with life’s challenges. He has been very supportive! Our future is uncertain as to whether one or other of us will need constant care. We are taking it a day at a time. My children are 25-34 years of age and live close by and are thriving in careers. My partner has 2 daughters who are 27 and 33, not so close. I have one grandchild age 2. I am currently researching fitness classes that will work with my hectic schedule and support groups for newly diagnosed PD patients who are not necessarily in the latter stages of the disease. I also will be starting Speech Therapy in a few days. Thank you for listening and caring.

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@denie57
Getting a DX of PD can take a long time and I understand your frustration. Employment and PD are not always compatible. My DX came early on, in my late 40s, however, because I’ve never had tremors I found it too hard to believe. After 16 years and a few falls I decided to revisit that DX and started to take the meds and began to feel more stable. I was grateful for the answer but understand how overwhelming a DX of PD can be. Best wishes to you.

@colleenyoung

Hi @denie57,
How has your week been?
In the 2 messages you’ve posted so far, I was immediately struck by your ability to take the bull by the horns, so to speak. Pick yourself up and put things into action to care for yourself. This despite dealing with lack of diagnosis, ongoing physical and mental symptoms, including depression.

Have you had any luck finding fitness classes and an in-person support group for people with early PD?

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Hi Colleen! Sorry it took me so long to respond to your message. As you can guess, the first couple of months after a diagnosis such as PD has been a whirlwind, full of ups and downs, confusion, research and trying to settle into acceptance. Thank you for your encouragement and comments. I am managing pretty well and organizing my busy schedule. Meds are helping for the most part; keeping a positive attitude and excepting some of my limitations at the same time focusing on not laying down, if that makes any sense. I joined the Y 5 minutes from workplace a couple of weeks ago. I work for a school district and they offered employees a membership for $50 a year. Normally $300.00! They have all kinds of unlimited classes for every fitness level, including Yoga and water aerobics. Work is o.k., its keeping the bills paid, and I am not looking to far into the future. Its a day-to-day mindset. Again, thanks for you concern and thoughts. I’ll try to keep up with the communication. 🙂

@colleenyoung

Hi @denie57,
How has your week been?
In the 2 messages you’ve posted so far, I was immediately struck by your ability to take the bull by the horns, so to speak. Pick yourself up and put things into action to care for yourself. This despite dealing with lack of diagnosis, ongoing physical and mental symptoms, including depression.

Have you had any luck finding fitness classes and an in-person support group for people with early PD?

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@denie57.  That is great about your exercise plan and also about your day at a time approach to life.  You seem to have a reasonable outlook and that is what is needed to deal with any chronic health condition.  Best wishes!
Teresa 

Welcome back @denie57. No need to apologize for the delay in responding. Your were taking care of your health and that is priority number 1. I appreciate the update. As you can see a small yet supportive PD group is growing here on Connect. Please meet @hopeful33250 @trouble43443 and @ggopher. I hope the 4 of you (and more) will continue to share your thoughts, experiences, challenges and joys.

@denie57

Hello! My first time on the site. I was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. I am 58 years old! Raised 4 children as a single parent and was looking forward to my golden years (travel, hobbies, networking, social etc,) Devastating blow that makes me hopeful that something good will come from this and then in the same hour feeling hopeless and vulnerable. Trying to figure this whole thing out.

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@denie57 Hi, I’ve been thinking about you. I hope that you are continuing to adjust to your DX of PD, It can seem overwhelming at first. How is everything going for you? Are you connecting with your doctor on a regular basis? I understand that PD patients do best when they stay in contact with their neurologist. Adjustments to meds, etc. can make a difference. Keep us all at Mayo Connect posted on your progress. We represent a good place to share your accomplishments as well as your struggles!
Teresa

@chrisj2491 Hi Chris: I see that you joined the PD discussion group awhile back. I’m a more recent member and I appreciate the comment you made about everyone with PD is different. Even though are DX is the same, we can have many different presentations of the disorder. How are you doing these days? Any progress or challenges that you could share with the group would help us all. I look forward to having you share more of your story. Best wishes,
Teresa

@trouble43443 I was just noticing your comment about your support group and how difficult it is to keep it going. Since you describe yourself as a “doer type” might I suggest that you get speakers (neurologists, speech therapists, physical therapists, etc.) to come and address your group? Often hearing a speaker can encourage new ideas and can raise discussions to a higher level (as well as being informative). Also, if there is a music therapist in the area, you might add some singing to your support group. Singing has a way of increasing those great endorphins in the brain that make us feel good and by singing with a group we are better connected. Nearby colleges and universities can often supply these type of speakers at no charge and sometimes music therapy students can work with a PD support group as part of their schooling, a type of internship if you will. Keep us informed as to how your group is doing. Teresa

@hopeful33250

@trouble43443 I was just noticing your comment about your support group and how difficult it is to keep it going. Since you describe yourself as a “doer type” might I suggest that you get speakers (neurologists, speech therapists, physical therapists, etc.) to come and address your group? Often hearing a speaker can encourage new ideas and can raise discussions to a higher level (as well as being informative). Also, if there is a music therapist in the area, you might add some singing to your support group. Singing has a way of increasing those great endorphins in the brain that make us feel good and by singing with a group we are better connected. Nearby colleges and universities can often supply these type of speakers at no charge and sometimes music therapy students can work with a PD support group as part of their schooling, a type of internship if you will. Keep us informed as to how your group is doing. Teresa

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Thank you for the suggestion. We have a speaker from the National
Parkinson’s Foundation – MN Chapter – this next meeting. We also have the
Packs (for hospital usage) we have to prepare so that will be the next
meeting. I had thought we might get more support from the place we live
(Assisted Living in a Resident setting) but nothing so far. We have a lot
of videos we can watch as well, but I have trouble getting the proper
equipment, so we’ll have to see if we can get some help.
Again, thank you.
Trouble4343

@hopeful33250

@trouble43443 I was just noticing your comment about your support group and how difficult it is to keep it going. Since you describe yourself as a “doer type” might I suggest that you get speakers (neurologists, speech therapists, physical therapists, etc.) to come and address your group? Often hearing a speaker can encourage new ideas and can raise discussions to a higher level (as well as being informative). Also, if there is a music therapist in the area, you might add some singing to your support group. Singing has a way of increasing those great endorphins in the brain that make us feel good and by singing with a group we are better connected. Nearby colleges and universities can often supply these type of speakers at no charge and sometimes music therapy students can work with a PD support group as part of their schooling, a type of internship if you will. Keep us informed as to how your group is doing. Teresa

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@trouble43443 What a great start you have made. Good work! In Michigan, we have a variety of programs for the PD support groups including the Mark Morris Dance Program for PD. There have been Occupational Therapists and dance teachers that have been trained and certified in this dance for PD, it can all be done in a sitting position but it is great to increase range of motion, balance and flexibility and a feeling of camaraderie. Keep up the good work! Teresa

Does anyone have Parkinson’s? Was just diagnosed 🙁

Welcome to Connect @aperob. I moved your message to this discussion about Parkinson’s in the Brain & Nervous System group http://mayocl.in/2abXKUs. Here you can meet other Connect members who have Parkinson’s. I’d like to introduce you to @hopeful33250 @trouble43443 @ggopher @denie57 and @hdruss.

You’re not alone. We look forward to getting to know a bit more about you.

@colleenyoung

Welcome to Connect @aperob. I moved your message to this discussion about Parkinson’s in the Brain & Nervous System group http://mayocl.in/2abXKUs. Here you can meet other Connect members who have Parkinson’s. I’d like to introduce you to @hopeful33250 @trouble43443 @ggopher @denie57 and @hdruss.

You’re not alone. We look forward to getting to know a bit more about you.

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Hi @aperob,

Pretty scary, huh?

I was diagnosed about a year ago but didn’t stumble onto this site until a couple months ago. Unlike some resources, we unfortunately have real experience with PD and we can relate.

I had to laugh when my neurologist asked if I was anxious or depressed. Well of course I was in those first few weeks. But as I dug into it I realized it can a treatable condition for years before it really impacts day to day living. The trick is to keep enjoying life. After all, Michael J Fox has had it for 25 years or more so far and he is still working and doing talk shows. And my wife and I are taking a two week cruise in a couple months. Life goes on. This is just another speed bump.

So, “welcome” to the group.

Coleen, did you have any more info on Azilect/food from your pharmacist?

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Thanks for the uplift, I needed it. I just feel I am to young for this to happen to me. I’m 58! But yes I have thought of Michael J Fox and now to hear you are taking a cruise! I guess I need to be a fighter and not let it kick my hinney. But I won’t lie I do go down a rabbit hole a bit now and then. May I ask how old you were when diagnosed? And thanks again, this is just what I needed to hear.