Parkinson's Disease Support Group
Parkinson's disease is a movement disorder often characterized by muscle rigidity, tremor, a slowing of physical movement, and in extreme cases, a loss of physical movement. The primary symptoms of Parkinsons are due to excessive muscle contraction, normally caused by the insufficient formation and action of dopamine, which is produced in the dopaminergic neurons of the...
I was diagnosed in Oct 2018 at age 57. I think I had been experiencing symptoms for at least 5 years previous to that (handwriting getting smaller, less dexterity in my right hand) but like many of us I was in major denial. I first tried Requip, then Mirapex, but felt too sleepy on both of them and experienced weight gain. Went on Sinemet and it's been very helpful. I've got an amazing movement disorder specialist and am participating in an experimental drug study that shows promise.
I am still working about 25 hours/week and exercise 4-5 times a week. In other words, my life is still active and rich. My main struggle right now is that whenever I see someone else who obviously has PD or some sort of other neurological disease (ALS, Alzheimer's, MS) in more advanced stages, I'm shaken to the core. I start feeling so scared about the progression of the disease and all of the unknowns ahead. I should also add that I am unmarried and do not have kids or family who will take care of me. I have some very dear friends but wonder how they will be able to take that on. Thanks.
When I saw the symptoms in my wife, I finally convinced her to see a physician. She confirmed what I already suspected.
My wife was unable to take any medication for PD. It would have serious consequences. So, I began doing my own research for treatment. In the end, I started her on 4 different therapies. I don't know which one of the or if it is all of them, but she got better. She stopped having her two tremors. These were her jaw and left arm.
There were successful experiments with 40 hz flashing light and 40 hz sound treatment. I built a light that would flash at 40 hz and had a brightness equal to a 200 watt incandescent bulb. It is for lighting our living room. A 40 hz sound is much easier to get from a generator and just plug into our home stereo system. I started her on Terazosin. I also started her 0n daily hard exercise on a very good elliptical training machine. She does all four every day. You can google these therapies. All have had success.
I just threw everything at her that had worked. She has had intermittent hallucinations. She gets these about once a month.
I am telling you all this so that you might try treating this disease yourself and feel less anxious. The tremors were her biggest problem, and they are gone now.
I suggest you do a deep Google search on these therapies and decide if you want to do them. It is better than surrendering.
Michael