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...

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PDdaughter 12/07/2007

Hi all,
I'm new here, just today. Been searching for a support group (off and on) since my mom was diagnosed a year ago with PD. I'm concerned about the progression because of her "wierd" (to me anyway) symptoms. She is 86, her right hand shakes occasionally, she is weak in the legs and has fallen 3x recently with her walker. She is taking sinemet 3x daily and that's it.

She is getting more and more confused it seems, but in any of your experiences, does that sound like PD to you? Her hand that shakes is really very minor, other than that, her speech is fine, no facial rigidity, just weakness, that's her biggest complaint. Just thought I'd pick your brains...thanks...hugs to all.

deleted_user 12/08/2007

Confusion is one of the side effects of the medication. You may want to talk to her doctor about playing with the dosage or trying something else.

deleted_user 12/08/2007

My daughter's situation is a bit different than adult onset PD, but I agree that you should talk to a neurologist who specializes in movement disorders. My daughter has shown some severe cognitive/memory decline particularly since June 06. She has been on Exelon for quite a while and we've seen improvement with that. In addition, we just started her on Namenda, and again another increase. She is now talking, not great, but much better, and before her speech was pretty much nonexistent or non-understandable.

PDdaughter 12/08/2007

Thanks to both of you.

My mom is under the care of a Cleveland Clinic Neurologist, so I don't know where else to go. She had a neuro in another county, but she didn't like her. This doctor is very warm and takes so much time with her. I am glad to hear it might be the meds and not the PD. Thanks again, hugs to all.

deleted_user 12/08/2007

Pd daughter, the Cleveland clinic is, in my understanding,one of the best Parkinson's places aavailable! Stick with them!

deleted_user 12/11/2007

Check out Dementia with lewy bodies. Look it up on the internet.It is PD symtoms.and confuson ,PD meds make lewy bodies worse.

deleted_user 12/12/2007

BLESS YOUR HEART YOUR A GOOD DAUGHTER. I HAVE NO RELATIVES I KNOW OF WITH PD USUALLY INHERTATED . A NOTE OF INTREST FOR YOU THERE HAS BEEN A STUDY RELEASED RECIENTLY THAT SUGGEST A NON STERODIAL ANTI INFLAMATORY MAY PREVENT PARKINSON I AM GOING TO SHARE THIS INFO WITH MY SON

deleted_user 12/12/2007

i have seen alot of shaking of the hands and confusion when people are in their 80's. my dad is almost 83 and he is on sinemet yet i have to wonder, because his condition and mental confusion is worsening, maybe he ought to just try not taking the med to see what happens?
good luck and bless you and your mom

deleted_user 12/22/2007

In my hubbies case he started off with a slight shaky hand which has now developed in both hands quiet a lot and now sometimes facial tremour he also now suffers from short term memory lose he was diagonised only 4yrs ago he is now 74 and just about house bound as has very poor balance glad you are there to help your mum god bless georgie (aussie)

deleted_user 12/29/2007

Could be PD or side effects of drug. but you seem to have found a good clinic, so they have probably explored all that. i'd just like to add that the two principle causes of dementia are probably Alzheimers and that caused by multiple tiny small strokes. i think that PD ranks behind them in frequency. There are other causes of confusion in elderly that are treatable such as infections (urine, i.e.) and chemical abnormalities in the blood (thyroid, sugar, etc.). Ask your doc.

PDdaughter 12/29/2007

Thanks to all of you, appreciate your responses. I think after the first of the year I'm going to call the doc to see if he can shed a little light and maybe help. Thanks again!

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