What is Parkinsons Disease
Parkinson's disease (paralysis agitans or PD) is a movement disorder often characterized by muscle rigidity, tremor, a slowing of physical movement (bradykinesia), and in extreme c...
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My mom has PD. To be honest, I am not as informed on PD as I should be. Maybe it's denial or 'ignorance is bliss' but I know I need to learn more about it. My dad lives with PD 24 7. In recent months, Mom is 'giving' up and now Dad does most of the shopping, chores, cooking. Mom says ' it's the Parkinson's acting up'. She says that after 4 pm 'The Parkinson's is bad'. Sometimes, we wonder if she's using it as an excuse and exaggerating it, being such a victim. Other times, we realize that we need to believe as we don't know much. It's frustrating and hard to see. Any insights or advice is greatly welcome!
Posted on 02/16/09, 07:02 pm |
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Hi,
PD is associated with lots of unfortunate side effects like lethargy, apathy and depression. I don't think your mom is making it up. Please read up on PD and ask your mom how she's feeling. Your love can help energize her. To better understand PD, please see: http://www.yopa.org/letter.html To better understand your and your mom's emotions, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%... Best, laura 
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It can be not only frustrating but also a very frightening and scary place when one is diagnosed with a disease such as PD...it also is frustrating I am sure for those who love us...especially for our children. I have PD I am 50, one of my daughters is 29 and I have often felt she is not sympathetic or understanding to what I am going through. I have expressed that to her on several occasions...Sometimes even though I am the mother....well sometimes I just want to hear her say "Mom, I know this road is scary, but we will get through it...your not alone" That's all I long to hear from her. I want to always be the strong mom she knows and loves, but I also am human and at times I am tired and scared as my body no longer reacts the way it always has...when I go to walk up stairs my legs lag, at times my energy is totally zapped gone! At times I want to cry and hide, I miss what I used to be able to do...yet I am now learning to accept and enjoy...for me this journey started nearly 5 years ago...I still am adjusting to a disease that is forever daily changing on me...
Give her a hug, let her know you love her and learn all you can about pd.... If you go to the National Parkinson's Association http://www.parkinson.org/NETCOMMUN... and go to publications you can order booklets for free on topics that you and your parents might benefit from. I pray for you and your folks during this hard adjustment period...hang in there...the fact that you have posted here shows how much you love and care about your mom and how interested you are in being there for her...hang in there kiddo no matter how hard it is...you're on this journey together! Hugs always B'nana
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My husband tends to start getting worse around 6 PM. We discussed this with his PD doctor. The dr. said it isn't unusual for symptoms to increase in the evening. Whether it's because they are tired at the end of the day or whatever, this does seem to be a typical thing. The dr. basically changed my husband from taking meds 4 times a day to 5 times. It sort of helps. The meds just seem to reach a point where they just peter out. Ken now has a prescription for Apokyn. I only give him the shot when I can see he truly needs it. I'm allowed to give him 5 shots a day, but he seems to do fine with 2 as needed. As the others have said, just a few words of encouragement can sometimes help. You'll also notice that any excitement or stress can cause a big problem. Good luck, I battle with Ken's depression daily and it can really wear out the caregiver. Di
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mmmmmm maybe your mom has been protecting you all from pd, and the effects. maybe she is a proud woman. honestly i dont know the answers to those questions.
but as for me, i dont tell anyone l have pd, l try so hard to function without complaining, until l have to. maybe your mom, has held her silence well, and has endured pd long enough and alone enough. i think sometimes when you get tired with pd, and are stressed the symptoms are much worse. I am thinking she is only complaining when she needs to. People with pd dont use pd as an acting up thing, its a serious condition, and when you are living with it you try to protect your loved ones from the enevitablilty. Be kine to your mom, please
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Actually i thought of what you wrote a little more, and i honestly dont mean any disrespect here.
If your mom has pd, you as her family should not even entertain the theory that she is acting up , being a victim for sypmathy. I sort of think that line of thinking is rather offensive and up supportive of your mother. gosh after all she does have pd, and that stupid disease, masks is self differently for all of who have it. Gosh i have pd, and with medication you would not notice it in me. But its there, with the muscle stiffness, the inability to walk easily, and the tremors, and l dont complain, until its terrible. Be gracious and kind please to youe mom
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Your Mom is probably like me. I try not to complain about my pd and the rule has always been we don't even discuss it. Now, the pain gets so intense, I do ask my husband to rub my legs from time to time. It does seem to help me and that makes him feel better too. Take care of your Mom, she is having a difficult time. And it is not easy not being able to do what you used to do.
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