Parkinson’s or Parkinsonism?

Posted by mondo3019 @mondo3019, Jun 30 2:12pm

I was dx on Wednesday with Parkinsonism..I think it is Parkinson’s tho…should I see a specialist? I have loss of balance, which means frequent falls, can’t drive, slow speech and thought along with extreme fatigue. I’m being treated for depression which hasn’t gotten better after 8 weeks. Does anyone know what the stages are?

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cctee | @cctee | Jul 3 10:08am

@mondo3019 That’s a good sign. Keep thinking positive thoughts. 😊

mondo3019 | @mondo3019 | Jul 3 5:42pm

In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hello @mondo3019 and welcome to the Parkinson's support group on Mayo Connect. Other Connect members have..." + (show)

I got rear-ended in 2019. The pain went from 0 to a 8 instantly. I was taken to the hospital where they did a ct scan, probably looking for blood on the brain, I guess. The guy had a jeep and I was my Honda accord, which they totaled, I think he actually picked up the car and placed it in the other lane, I don’t think there were any brake marks at the scene..I asked whether or not that could be contributing to the falling and the dr. from the movement center said no….

mondo3019 | @mondo3019 | Jul 3 5:44pm

In reply to @cctee "@mondo3019 That’s a good sign. Keep thinking positive thoughts. 😊" + (show)

Thx.. it is hard to do, considering..

mondo3019 | @mondo3019 | Jul 3 5:51pm

In reply to @tsch "There are several diagnostic tests that should clarify if you have Parkinson's or not. If doc..." + (show)

I had a brain mri and it came back unremarkable. Is that the same kind of thing?

tsch | @tsch | Jul 3 7:32pm

In reply to @mondo3019 "I had a brain mri and it came back unremarkable. Is that the same kind of..." + (show)

I am sorry, but not a good person to ask. I know there is a scan called a DAT scan which is a brain scan specifically for PD. I would think a regular MRI would not be the same. Do you live near a major medical center or university? You definitely should see a specialist if there is a possibility of PD or other serious condition. I hope you can get good care in help.
There are other tests a specialist could do to identify possibility of PD.

tsch | @tsch | Jul 4 7:09am

I answered this last night and my answer is not here! Basically you should have a DAT scan which looks at dopamine in brain. That pretty much confirms PD. There are other tests too. Find a specialist. I have limited knowledge only. I hope you get good care.

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jul 8 2:57pm

In reply to @tsch "I answered this last night and my answer is not here! Basically you should have a..." + (show)

Hi @tsch, your response to @mondo3019 is here https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/1340657/

For future reference, you can always see all your posts by going to your profile and selecting Comments. See more tips in the Help Center https://connect.mayoclinic.org/help-center/

tsch | @tsch | Jul 8 4:36pm

For some reason it was in the forum and then it was after I wrote that it wasn't. Thanks tho.

mondo3019 | @mondo3019 | Aug 14 3:00pm

In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hello @mondo3019 and welcome to the Parkinson's support group on Mayo Connect. Other Connect members have..." + (show)

I was dx with psp, so my head is spinning.

cstewart2025 | @cstewart2025 | Aug 15 10:48am

In reply to @tsch "I answered this last night and my answer is not here! Basically you should have a..." + (show)

No test to diagnose PD 100% . my brother had DATScan, professionals said PD, now they say maybe not. I'm taking my brother to a PD movement specialist in Sept. Hope to learn a little more at that appt. Leva/Dopa DID NOT Help my brother. He was also born with a somewhat rare disease called Sturge Weber Syndrome(SWS), his Parkinson like symptoms started when he started taking Lamictril for seizures that are a part of the SWS. His neurologist INSISTS, the lamictril is not the cause of symptoms. I will ask the PD specialist. The human body is a mystery for sure....