Hi Rusters, Welcome to the Group! So glad you found us. I'm still learning on a daily basis (more like minute by minute) but there are a few here who probably know as much or more than some of the neurologists out there. I hope you find the guidance and info you are looking for as well as some support and care.

I don't know what you mean about your Mom using the PD as an excuse, etc. Can you explain a little more. It's really great that your Mom is still exercising daily and swimming and spending time with friends. I finally stopped nagging my Mom about doing her physical therapy, etc. We get along much better since I let that go.

Oh, and Bridges would know what the PSP is. I'm not familiar with that.

Take care, Kim

Welcome, Rusters! i think I know what you mean about using it as an excuse. Do you mean she has become apathetic and doesn't want to do anything, like go out shopping or have friends come over to visit? Apathy is a part of PD and you as the family member have to learn by trial and error how to be encouraging without being nagging. (Like Kim, I've had trouble finding the balance also.) Depression can also be a part of PD, along with social withdrawal. Part of it is the realization for them that it is a progressive disease and they will never be well again. Part of it is what the disease does to their bodies--tremor, stooping, shuffling, the mask-like face, drooling--and their not wanting other people to see them like that. Some patients also have problems with urinary incontinence or with constipation. So with all of these different problems, they decide the heck with it and gradually withdraw because they "don't want to be a burden" to anyone. They also resent losing their independence to the disease (most will have to give up driving, at least in the advanced stages, because their reaction time is shot).

I am glad you have found this site--look around here and the Parkinson's Disease support group here at Daily Strength and you will find a wealth of information, including books you can get at the library and videos you can view online about the disease, nutritional support, treatments, and resources for families and caregivers.

Just found and joined this group today
my mother Annie81 has had PD since 2002 ,used to drive and just recently gave up part time job because she had an operation on spine
my name is jerry and im her only caregiver
after her operation she has been having trouble with gas and bloating
she had gone from home therapy to outpatient therapy basicly learning to walk again
now other day her back start hurting and sometimes she coughs just before she gets meds for 1/2 hr to 45 mins, its very disturbing especially in middleof night
sometimes I dont have enough hands
I started on daily strenghth in oct of last yr and have seen that there are worse off people so Im hoping to just find a little response
I did find a local support group which we are attending next week
thank u for listening

Sorry to hear about your Mom. What do you think is causing the coughing? Does it start before she takes the meds or is it when she tries to swallow the meds? When was the last time she had a swallowing evaluation done? This is very important, as (not to scare you or anything but) choking is a very real danger with PD.

Hang in there, sounds like you've had a tough road. Nine years is a long time, but sounds like she's been doing pretty well until recently.