Parkinson's?

Hello, I have been following your discussion from a few days ago. I think your description and question indicates that you know the symptoms, and the frequent familial link. (I get it - we have had it for multiple generations on both sides of my family. 2 brothers are symptomatic - one diagnosed, the other in denial. 3 more of us have tremors & other indications. Also 2 cousins for sure. We are all ages 66 - 75.)

I think you know he needs to be tested, especially with the family history. Now, you just need to become his advocate, maybe even his voice, and insist.

My thoughts are with you, please let me know what you learn in August. If the new doctor resists, just get (nicely) belligerent.
Sue

Thank you Sue, waiting to hear from neurologist about appointment.

excuse me if not welcome but new. I am 77 also. I have Parkinsonism. Hand-arm some odd movements but my legs are always tap dancing and I have weird movements all over. I have not lost weight but I exercise every day I have 5-pound and 10-pound hand weights I do curls with. I also walk a lot. I try for 5 kilometers a day and sometimes more. I have fallen many times doing it but I have the attitude of this will not beat me. I tell everyone if Michael J Fox can go 40 years with this I can do 30. MJF is my hero! I have no choice so I will accept the challenge and beat it. God bless you and please fight on - never give in.

Hello. My name is Merry. I am one of Connect's mentors for the Lung Cancer Group. I have an unusually slow-growing cancer and have had it for 25 years. I'm 75 years old. I have another suspected lesion and will be in Boston for tests this week.

Later on in this week my husband, Dave will have his first Neurological Appointment for suspected Parkinsons' Disease. Several of his ancestors had PD and my mom had it. I will be very surprised if his tests show anything else because he has so many classic symptoms. He denied this for many months. I let him have his belief but after his own research and continued symptoms popping up, he has finally accepted this.

I'm much relieved by this coming appointment. Now I have to come to my own acceptance and anticipate what might come.

I'm glad that I have finally decided to join a discussion in this group. I don't even know what questions to ask at this time. Can anyone make suggestions, even if you might be on an early journey like me?

Ask your/his neurologist about a daTscan. As far as I know it is the only definitive test for Parkinson's but is usually done in major medical centers as the interpretation of the results is as important as the execution of the test. A radioactive isotope is injected several hours before scanning the brain with a gamma camera. The results should show the distribution of dopamine on both sides of the brain as the isotope binds to dopamine. A marked deficit on either side is the basis for a diagnosis of Parkinson's. This is how I finally got my diagnosis of Parkinson's after years of treatment for Essential Tremor, although they are separate disorders.

Ted- It's so nice to meet you. Thank you for this information. I will most certainly pass this on. His neurologist is supposed to be terrific. Let's hope so! And I bet that he has Restless leg syndrome.

In reply to @mycausehelp: My partner went to several doctors including a neurologist before finally getting to see a gerontologist who put all his many various symptoms together to diagnose Parkinson's. There are a couple of tests -- if the person improves on the medication for PD, then it is Parkinson's. There is also a simple drawing test that shows right away changes in spatial perception caused by PD.