Living with Parkinson's Disease - Meet others & come say hi

@bobbieingeorgia Hello and welcome to Mayo Connect. I am also happy that you found this forum so quickly. We have many members who are more than willing to be supportive and helpful to you. We all recall the day when we received the diagnosis and remember that it was understandably a shock. I would like to invite our members to join me in welcoming you, @chrisj2491 @denie57 @johnjames @trouble4343 @ggopher @tntredhead @aperob @caryp43 @burgle @macbeth @knightkris @mariemarie @pjsammy @techi @sandycerem. We look forward to getting to know you better. Please share with us, as you feel comfortable doing so, a little information as to how this PD diagnosis came about. Have you been noticing changes for a long time? What symptoms led your doctor to diagnosis PD? Teresa

Hello to everyone. I just received my diagnosis today and am still in a bit of shock. I am happy to find this forum so quickly and look forward to both giving and receiving support.

@david59 Hi David: I was thinking about you - you had posted about "freezing" with Parkinson's and I was wondering how you were doing. Have you talked with your doctor regarding the freezing, yet? Any improvements with this problem? Teresa

@sandycerem Yes, Parkinson's is a varied disorder - and it affects everyone differently. Continuing speech therapy is a good thing and reading out loud - perhaps you could take turns reading out loud to each other - it helps the voice but it is also a good cognitive exercise I've been told. Depression is very common with PD because there is a change in brain chemistry with PD. On June 1, I posted an article from the Michael J. Fox website regarding Moods and Parkinson. You might take a look at it - I believe it will be helpful for you both. Have you mentioned his depression to his doctor yet? Support groups are also very helpful. Have you attended any Parkinson's support groups together? Teresa

THANK YOU very much for your quick and helpful response.  My husband has had speech therapy off and on since his Dx. several years ago.   Perhaps we should try it again.  
What is strange to me is that his mood and behavior change from day to day...  One day he's engaged verbally with normal speech volume and clarity, and the next day his speech is almost inaudible and he ignores my attempts to converse with him.. Depression could be a possibility given the limitations he experiences now as compared to when he was fully engaged  professionally.  His intellect and memory show no deterioration and thankfully he is able to use a treadmill and stationary bike like a normal, robust man.Interesting, eh?.

@sandycerem I can understand the predicament you and your husband find yourself in. Soft speech, excess saliva are all part of the picture of PD. There are "drying medicines" that can be used, however, meds that dry your mouth also dry up the rest of the body including the digestive tract - which often makes constipation more of a problem. I have found that chewing gum is a way to combat drooling - chewing gum causes you to swallow that excess saliva to keep from drooling. Regarding the soft speech, speech therapy helps with that - as does singing. Has your husband's doctor given him a referral to a speech therapist? There are Parkinson's singing groups. I'm not sure what area you live in, however, you could "google" singing groups for Parkinson's and see what you come up. Have you discussed these problems with his doctor? Teresa

My husband has Parkinsons and I'm his primary caregiver. He is intellectually intact, but his speech is usually so soft that many people can't hear him. Although I cut his food into small pieces, he is a sloppy eater and not a pleasant dinner companion as he was pre-Parkinsons, also he has excessive saliva which makes our social life rather lonely. I'm looking for a remedy for this apart from Botox injections which he has a few times. It isn't long lasting and it is expensive in terms of travel and fees.

I just want to know the differences of parkinson disease and ms
I've been diagnosed by two neurologist that l might have ms or parkinson disease. I don't know if their are smilarities or if its a diagnoses you can't completely diagnose. But l truly believe l don't have either one. So l just want to know if anyone can explain the differences and how it's diagnosed. Thank you

@david59 Cheers it is! I'm pleased that you found a way to circumvent your mobility issues with good fitting shoes, that is great. With regards to "freezing" I have attended a lot of PD seminars and I heard a suggestion that if you find yourself "freezing" at a doorway or when you are next in line at a store, take a step backwards and then you will more easily go forward. I'd like to ask our other PD members about their experiences with freezing, @chrisj2491 @denie57 @johnjames @trouble4343 @ggopher @tntredhead @aperob @caryp43 @burgle @macbeth @knightkris @mariemarie @pjsammy @techi @sandycerem. Have any of you found any help with the freezing phenomenon? Teresa

I haven't been on in awhile but I made a little discovery that I wanted to share. the last time I posted I said that I had recently developed mobility issues. I shuffle, freeze up and have trouble going through doorways. usually at home I don't wear shoes...and at home is where I have most of my issues with freezing and shuffling. at work I seem to do better. I have finally made the connection between wearing good fitting, lace up shoes at work and no shoes at home. so I started wearing shoes around my house and the difference is substantial. I wonder what the mechanism could be? I still have issues with doorways and would appreciate any 'tricks' for helping on that. But I am greatly encouraged with the relief that wearing shoes around the house has brought me. cheers!