Joined: 07 Jul 2007 Posts: 1 Location: Northwoods US
Parkinson's Maybe Posted: 07-07-07 11:29am
I have been complaining to my dr for years
but always have been told it is that I am
getting older. Now that it is 20 years
later, I guess that true.
I have had cramping in the bottom of my
left foot for over 20 years, never knew
what it was. Now that I am 60, I have the
time to investigate this problem more. My
left foot now occasionally drags when I
walk. I have had a 'yawning problem' for
about 10 years; I would get an attack of
the yawns and it could continue for as
much as 15 minutes, one yawn after
another. Of course, the doctors had no
idea, and I couldn't find any info on the
internet about excessive yawning either.
About 5 years ago I began having trouble
sleeping, just waking up every so often
and then!! the horrific insomnia and the
unbelievable condition I call my
'nightmare nights' began. It is not
nightmare dreaming because I don't
dream--it is being thrown awake, that is
the only way I can explain it; my heart
is racing, my blood seems to be thumping
in my veins, my whole body seems to be
shaking inside. I am not panicked, I can
begin to calm in about 15 minutes. And
its not like I was sleeping normally
before this happened. Most of the time I
lie awake hour after hour. Around 3 I
would be able to close my eyes in a sort
of sleep just to lose it after less than
an hour for this 'nightmare night,' Again
the doctors have no clue.
I have had almost no trembling-just once
or twice in my leg in a small area. But I
have had eye twitches which drove me crazy
for a while.
Some excessive sweating and that long
after menopause; some long sanding
constipation and have always had to go
right away to urinate; now it's just
worse. The insomnia got so bad that I
borrowed some clonzapam from my son who
has this for anxiety and guess what? I
slept all night, I have tried to do with
out by taking magnesium, calcium, vit d
and I take COQ10 which I think has
moderated the low level of energy but
didn't help the lack of sleep.
Reading up on this progressive disease
scares me. No cure, and the medication is
almost as bad as the symptoms of the
disease. One of the most informative
websites I have looked at talked about the
unusual family in Italy that seemed to
carry a genetic problem of not being able
to sleep. I had recently read the book
"The Family that Couldn't Sleep" so I
sharpened up and read carefully. It seems
that now there is a diagnosis where as in
the book no diagnosis was named: it is
Parkinson's, a genetic Parkinson's.
I have found another forum in which a
person states: yawning is a bad sign and
several others say that yawning seemed to
active some shaking in one side of the
body. This has not happened to me. The
primary symptom, shaking, isn't my primary
symptom.
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Jeena
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 26 Jun 2007 Posts: 15 Location: Kansas
Posted: 07-25-07 02:35am
Hello Kaatesisco, I can understand what
you must be feeling but you must not get
discouraged.
My uncle is in the same situation as
yours. He was suffering from involuntary
body movements. Finally, he was diagnosed
with Parkinson’s disease. His symptoms
include falling backwards, rigidity, (more
on the right side), handwriting not
readable, balance isn't good, uses walker,
has the Parkinson Disease shuffle, taking
tiny steps, and he is beginning to
hallucinate.
However, uncle’s problem is that he
doesn’t accept the fact that he has that
disease and he keeps on denying this
truth. Uncle takes Dopergin
which is prescribed by his neurologist but
states that it is just for balance. He
says that he doesn't have PD because he
doesn't have the "stone face."
What must we do to make him accept that
fact? Must we let him believe that he
doesn’t have that disease or make him
understand that bitter truth?
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sugarcandy
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 16 Oct 2007 Posts: 2
Parkinsons Posted: 10-16-07 15:53pm
Hi Jeena,it isnt the desease that makes
him the hallucinate,its the drugs that he
takes.My husband has had parkies for 10
years,since he was 58 and with me being
the carer i have learnt such alot.We go to
a special clinic that specialise in the
desease and believe me theres such alot of
help out there.Firstly you have to take it
light heartedly and try to make a joke
about it,example,my husband fell in the
cupboard yesterday so he says while im
here i had best get out my slippers!!!
Its a good thing to join a parkinsons
group where you can chat with
everyone.They all have different ideas and
above all the parkinsons sufferer is not
on his own.Try to get out on their good
days.
My husband won the garden competition 2
years ago,blew up 3 lawnmowers doing it
but it was a challenge but he did it in
between the sleeps.
As soon as hubby faced up to what he had
got he was a better person,he has a card
with I HAVE GOT PARKINSONS on.Now he is
not afraid to tell anyone,Hope this helps
. Viv
