An Overview of Parkinson's Disease

My dad refuses to see a neurologist to determine if he has PD. He was recently in the hospital and then rehab. The OT and PT in rehab, plus the doctor in charge, all think he does have PD. He has the shuffling feet, the rigidity, the blank stares, difficulty getting in and out of chairs, and most recently he can't write anything and just barely signs his name. Would the writing problem be part of PD, assuming he had it? It was a very difficult fight, but I now have all his checkbooks and bills to pay. I am the designated power of attorney so I can sign all his checks in at least one of his bank accounts.

Is there any alternative way to make a diagnosis for him? Couldn't he see a neurologist without any testing because that is what my dad is terrified of and refused to take.

Oftentimes, our parents refuse to listen to the good advice from those who love them most and have their best interests in mind. This is a case when an objective, third party opinion might be what your father needs. Seeing a neurologist is best. But if he won't go, perhaps a visit to his family doctor whose medical advice he trusts, will convince him. (Prior to your father's appointment, you can have a private discussion with his doctor, to inform him of your suspicions and challenges.)

I have already spoken to my dad's primary doctor who is available one day a week at the assisted living facility where my parents live. According to her, there is nothing that can be done without my dad seeing a neurologist. So he is not on any Parkinson's medicines which might help him with some or many of his symptoms. My only other idea is to get an assessment from some kind of care manager or social worker who knows a lot about the elderly. I am thinking it could be a one-time shot, and if it works great, and if not, at least I tried. I try very hard not to "fight" with my dad anymore over things and realize that I have to step in and take control in situations where I need to. I see a therapist weekly and she has given me ideas as well, and at least understands what I am going through.

Glad to hear you've got the support of a therapist. If your father refuses to see a neurologist, having the opinion/assessment of an elder care manager would at least re-enforce that objective third party opinion I mentioned. Good luck!

Any suggestions on where to find an elder care manager? I don't want to just pick anyone to do this, I would rather have someone recommended to me. I have contacted my local office on aging and they weren't helpful at all. I will keep looking until I find the right one.

Try the Elder Care Locator. You can speak to an information specialist by calling
1-800-677-1116 or visiting www.eldercare.gov/Eldercare/Public/Home.asp

Thank you so much for the info and website. I will check it out.

http://www.caremanager.org/

This link goes to the National Assoc. of Geriatric Care Managers. I think this would help you.

Good luck.

I understand there is no precise guidelines for the time between stages in Parkinson's, however I was wondering if there is a general guideline. Thank You.

Ron

Hobie51: We hear that question a lot, so we posed it to our Parkinson's expert. And the answer was: There is no general guideline. The disease progresses differently in everyone. To read Dr. Videnovic's answer, click here:

http://www.agingcare.com/Answers/123302/My-father-64-was-diagnosed-with-Parkinson-s-Disease-How-long-can-a-person-live-after-diagnosis-.htm

hobie51: here's another article you might find helpful. It discusses the various stages of Parkinson's...

http://www.agingcare.com/Featured-Stories/115495/The-Stages-of-Parkinson-s-Disease.htm

Thank you ageing care for your timely response and the referrenced articles.

I was recently diagnosed with what may be Parkinsons and I am wondering where I can find information about European approaches and treatments of this condition using stem cells. I realize we probably don't have any active programs here in this country, thank you very much, so I am willing to seek treatment elsewhere if it is possible.
Shakey63

My Mother has PD and is under the care of a Dr. My Brother insist she use different supplement Deprenyl citrate being one of them. Is this harmful? helpful?
Thank you,
rk

My dad, in his mid 70's, has recently been diagnosed with PD. The problem we're having is that his symptoms came on all at once, within a weeks time, and very aggressively. He "started" with extreme shaking to the point of falling on the ground and excessive crying. His primary doctor has been very vague in his diagnosis and of his medical team only 2 of the 5 confirm the PD. His days go from extremely normal to extremely awful. He stays in bed all day and night, eats little and is VERY depressed. My mom is his primary caregiver and she deals with health issues herself. My concern is that my dad may be misdiagnosed as most of the information I find on PD describes a "gradual" progression of symptoms. His condidtion began as if he were in stage 4 or 5 of PD according to the "Stages of PD" article I've read on this site. Please help with some insight as to our confusion in his diagnosis. I know we may be in "denial" however, his symptoms are certainly real...we just need to understand why he would begin in such an advanced stage of PD. It's so difficult for my mom to handle the ups and downs of his days, she never knows what to expect or how to handle him at the onset of his day.

my husband has Parkinson's Syndrome which consists of symptoms in abcense of disease. However I don't know how the Neuologist determines that he has the syndrome and not the disease. He has no tremors however he has every other classic symptom. I just discovered that there is also a Parkinson's Dementia. I was unaware of this. I found a wonderful Neurologist that specializes in Parkinson's Dementia so I'm hoping that this will help. Anyone else have some experience with the Dementia? I myself finally pursuaded him to let me help with the bill paying as he was running up credit cards and his writing was illegible.

I have heard that olfactory problems can be a symptom of PD. My father passed as a result of complications of PD. I am now 65, and have been experiencing a sensation affecting my sense of smell. As I draw breath in, or as moving air from an air conditioner, fan, or even a direct breeze, enters my nostrils, the sensation of smell is like smelling car exhaust. have there been any reports of this kind?

my dad seemed to have about every symptom of PD, but his neurologist doubts he has it. The dr. did, however, take my dad off the PD medicine that his primary dr. had put him on to see if there is a difference when he is off the PD medicine. In a few weeks he will have a follow-up appt., so we will see how that goes.

Long term what exactly is the progression of Parkinson's? My mom started falling and losing her balance about 7 years ago. She had the shuffling and the difficulty getting up. We went to several doctors, had CT scans,MRI's and they found nothing. No on even suggested Parkinson's because she had no tremors.
We found a Neurologist about 2 months ago and he is trying to diagnose PD but is having difficulty. He started her on Sintiment (SP?) Mom spent 3 years in assisted living getting PT, OT and lots of help and she continued to decline. Early this year they said they could no longer safely care for her so I had to move her to a Nursing Home. She cannot use her legs, has mostly lost use of her arms, can barely write, has difficulty talking and swallowing, is totally incontinent, has a lot of constipation and is in a lot of pain. She is also depressed which has been complicated by me dad's death in May.
I don't know what to expect. I feel like I need to spend as much time with her as I can but I am wearing out. How long does this go on. I love my mom so much but she is wanting it all to just end. I don't know what to tell her. I know I need to have this conversation with her doctor but I guess I have just been afraid to ask the hard questions. Is there any chance she will just slip away peacefully or will this be an even longer drawn out agony for her?

anniegrace, I just read your post and my heart goes out to you concerning your mother. It is so difficult to watch your parent(s) decline and sometimes the decline is rapid. It is hard to determine how long your mom will go on, but if she is depressed, why not tell her doctor as she may benefit from being on an anti-depressant. Both my parents are on anti-depressants, and they cannot exist without them. I saw wha was happening and I spoke up to their primary dr. my mom takes aricept for her dementia and my dad took sinamet for awhile and is going for a recheck at the neurologist next week. It sounds to me, that maybe you too are getting depressed, and you need to make time everyday for yourself to relax, unwind, do deep breathing or meditation to truly relax. I also suggest that you do what you can for your mom, but still keeping your own health and wellbeing as your #1 priority. I now visit my parents once a week at their assisted living but stay there for a while. Just remember how special you really are and take the time you need for yourself to enjoy life. Take care!

annegrace
i feel your emotions i am going throught the same thing with my mom who has pd
and i ask the same questions when is enough med enough already. there is no quality of life anymore and it is straining my dads health.

annegrace/heberts
i really can relate to the both of you. my father has had pd for 15 years now and it seems like he is really suffering to me. i try not to let him see me cry but its very difficult to watch a stong hard working able man reduce to pracitically a baby! he cant do anything for himself, and lately hes been sounding as if hes giving up!