Leathan
12-12-2000, 08:25 PM
If you were all asked to hark back and establish what your first symptom was which alerted you to PD , then what would you say? Tremor,fatigue,stiffness,memory,smell,sl eep?
Leathan.....
Leathan.....
Sponsor
dbiker2
12-12-2000, 08:58 PM
twitch in thumb on right hand.
Carole
12-13-2000, 01:13 AM
The index finger on my right hand was tapping away. My little brother reached over and held it down, telling me it was "driving him crazy. Didn't it bother me?" I said I didn't even notice it anymore (that was at my son's baptism.) That was 17 years ago.
Carole
Carole
Carole
12-14-2000, 02:33 AM
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Pelicangirl:
and he sent me to a neurologist.
When I look back though, my husband was the one who noticed it several years before that, not having any idea it was a sign of Parkinson's. He noticed that I didn't swing my right arm when I walked. It wasn't anything that bothered me and I thought "so what?" Then later I found out that was an early sign.
Ruth,
My husband had noticed the exact same thing about me. Neither one of us knew what it meant. He'd noticed my hand looked like a claw after walking a while as well and it "bothered" him.
Carole
and he sent me to a neurologist.
When I look back though, my husband was the one who noticed it several years before that, not having any idea it was a sign of Parkinson's. He noticed that I didn't swing my right arm when I walked. It wasn't anything that bothered me and I thought "so what?" Then later I found out that was an early sign.
Ruth,
My husband had noticed the exact same thing about me. Neither one of us knew what it meant. He'd noticed my hand looked like a claw after walking a while as well and it "bothered" him.
Carole
Betty H
12-14-2000, 07:38 AM
Same story here, about 7+ years ago, we would go for a walk & my husband would say,"why aren't you swinging your right arm, you carry it like it's broken?" I remember telling him, I didn't know, but when I forced myself, it felt like I was swinging someone else arm. Not that it was numb, it just felt "funny". That was the descripive word I used when I went to the neurologist for the first time, complaining of my right arm, ache, tingling, stiff and just felt different, felt "funny".
About the same time, I noticed my hand writing, which had always been small,was even smaller and even I had trouble reading it. Little did we know what was in store for us. Now that we think back, probably like the rest of you, we feel like I had PD at least 2-3 years before the diagnosis. :(
Betty H
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About the same time, I noticed my hand writing, which had always been small,was even smaller and even I had trouble reading it. Little did we know what was in store for us. Now that we think back, probably like the rest of you, we feel like I had PD at least 2-3 years before the diagnosis. :(
Betty H
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Carole
12-14-2000, 06:09 PM
Mine was undiagnosed for years. One thing, I was "so young." I had doctor after doctor scoff at me, even after the diagnosis!! They'd say "you don't have PD," and in a little while, the tremor would start in and the doctors sat there with funny looks on their faces. I just didn't have a lot of tell-tale problems, such as standing up from a chair or getting out of bed; my foot didn't drag; I didn't have a mask; my handwriting was fine - until the tremor. (Which never happened on cue at the doctors) At school, I started signing hall passes with a stamp with my name until the librarian complained, saying she had no idea if it had been forged. When I'd explain that the tremor kept me from writing most times (and by then it did, and everyone had seen it enough), she nodded and said, "Well,,,,,, OK." When I started on Sinemet and finally got the true diagnosis, I was able to control the tremor, write my name, write on the board and overheads, wave, direct choir, swing my arm. Those honeynmoon days on Sinemet were wonderful. A lot of symptoms have added themselves as the disease progresses, obviously, since I've had the surgery. I feel like I'm back in euphoria-days of when I discovered Sinemet, knew what I was dealing with, and seemed so normal most of the time.
Carole
Carole
lizsgrammy
12-14-2000, 07:29 PM
Since there is a family history of PD (my mother, my grandmother, my aunt and uncle,all siblings)had PD, there was a good chance that I would end up with it. I was working as a nurse and one of my co-workers said why arent you swinging your left arm. I did not know the reason why. Also while writing my notes on nursing I noticed my handwriting became smaller and smaller. I who got awards for penmanship. My writing is still very small. and I have great difficulty writing. I went to a nuerologist and he digonised PD right away.
Eileen
Originally posted by Carole:
Mine was undiagnosed for years. One thing, I was "so young." I had doctor after doctor scoff at me, even after the diagnosis!! They'd say "you don't have PD," and in a little while, the tremor would start in and the doctors sat there with funny looks on their faces. I just didn't have a lot of tell-tale problems, such as standing up from a chair or getting out of bed; my foot didn't drag; I didn't have a mask; my handwriting was fine - until the tremor. (Which never happened on cue at the doctors) At school, I started signing hall passes with a stamp with my name until the librarian complained, saying she had no idea if it had been forged. When I'd explain that the tremor kept me from writing most times (and by then it did, and everyone had seen it enough), she nodded and said, "Well,,,,,, OK." When I started on Sinemet and finally got the true diagnosis, I was able to control the tremor, write my name, write on the board and overheads, wave, direct choir, swing my arm. Those honeynmoon days on Sinemet were wonderful. A lot of symptoms have added themselves as the disease progresses, obviously, since I've had the surgery. I feel like I'm back in euphoria-days of when I discovered Sinemet, knew what I was dealing with, and seemed so normal most of the time.
Carole
Eileen
Originally posted by Carole:
Mine was undiagnosed for years. One thing, I was "so young." I had doctor after doctor scoff at me, even after the diagnosis!! They'd say "you don't have PD," and in a little while, the tremor would start in and the doctors sat there with funny looks on their faces. I just didn't have a lot of tell-tale problems, such as standing up from a chair or getting out of bed; my foot didn't drag; I didn't have a mask; my handwriting was fine - until the tremor. (Which never happened on cue at the doctors) At school, I started signing hall passes with a stamp with my name until the librarian complained, saying she had no idea if it had been forged. When I'd explain that the tremor kept me from writing most times (and by then it did, and everyone had seen it enough), she nodded and said, "Well,,,,,, OK." When I started on Sinemet and finally got the true diagnosis, I was able to control the tremor, write my name, write on the board and overheads, wave, direct choir, swing my arm. Those honeynmoon days on Sinemet were wonderful. A lot of symptoms have added themselves as the disease progresses, obviously, since I've had the surgery. I feel like I'm back in euphoria-days of when I discovered Sinemet, knew what I was dealing with, and seemed so normal most of the time.
Carole
Bruce
12-14-2000, 07:59 PM
I had several symptoms in the beginning, but didn't have a clue I had PD. When I was referred to a neurologist he saw a lot of symptoms that I hadn't noticed. I had extreme fatigue, insomnia, depression, microphagia (small handwritting, couldn't smell anything unless it was a strong odor, didn't swing arms when walking, gradualy losing muscle strength, some memory problems, poor concentration, and gradually moving slower.
I really waited to long before seeing the neurologist as you might tell from all of the symptoms I listed.
It probably wasn't funny at the time, but I was entering charges into the computer and hit the wrong key. This patient was shown to be charged for several thousand tests. Of course. that wasn't difficult to figure out their was no way the patient had that many tests and it was corrected.
I noticed someone describing the tiny handwritting. After I started treatment, I write with much larger letters, but it is barely legible. Bruce
I really waited to long before seeing the neurologist as you might tell from all of the symptoms I listed.
It probably wasn't funny at the time, but I was entering charges into the computer and hit the wrong key. This patient was shown to be charged for several thousand tests. Of course. that wasn't difficult to figure out their was no way the patient had that many tests and it was corrected.
I noticed someone describing the tiny handwritting. After I started treatment, I write with much larger letters, but it is barely legible. Bruce
Syl Miller
12-15-2000, 09:57 AM
The smaller, tho legible hand writing was the first symptom that my co-workers observed and suggested I seek treatment. Looking back now I can see other symptoms years before. I used to have a habit of flipping off light switches as I walked out of a room. Eventually my right arm didn't make it back to my side as I went out and I had to remember to stop and do it so I wouldn't end up with bruised arms. I also had had the drawing up of the right arm and no swing. I noticed this while walking at a health club with mirrors on their indoor track. I did find that if I pointed my thumb forward, it seemed to improve the problem. The most irratating first symptom, was not having any control of my tooth brush when brusing my teeth, I began to have to use both hands.
pete
12-17-2000, 02:32 PM
Leathan.....
Hello
My first observation of something that seemed not bent on going away was a slight tremor in my left wrist and hand. I had it checked by an internist. He did not have a clue(i was 37 at that time).
I was referred to an orthopedist. He diagnosed it as a neck injury and i wore a cervical collar for about 2 weeks; Finally, a neurologist was called in. He did a thorough neurological exam and he said i had pd. He told me later that he was almost sure of pd as the diagnosis when he saw me walk down the hall to his office--not the tremor, but, the beginings of rigidity.
After about 2 or 3 years the tremor went away and has not returned. Some friends of tremor did come by to check me out--rigidity has been a constant ever-present source of trouble --And then there is bradykinesia --that has b een the real monstor--who takes an d takes and takes from the body and causes possibly many problems that the world of neurology does not fully understand today-freezing is a real meanace for me.
I allowed my thoughts to* run too long, Leathan
I hope this will be of interest in your study
take care--pete
Hello
My first observation of something that seemed not bent on going away was a slight tremor in my left wrist and hand. I had it checked by an internist. He did not have a clue(i was 37 at that time).
I was referred to an orthopedist. He diagnosed it as a neck injury and i wore a cervical collar for about 2 weeks; Finally, a neurologist was called in. He did a thorough neurological exam and he said i had pd. He told me later that he was almost sure of pd as the diagnosis when he saw me walk down the hall to his office--not the tremor, but, the beginings of rigidity.
After about 2 or 3 years the tremor went away and has not returned. Some friends of tremor did come by to check me out--rigidity has been a constant ever-present source of trouble --And then there is bradykinesia --that has b een the real monstor--who takes an d takes and takes from the body and causes possibly many problems that the world of neurology does not fully understand today-freezing is a real meanace for me.
I allowed my thoughts to* run too long, Leathan
I hope this will be of interest in your study
take care--pete
Leathan
12-21-2000, 09:33 PM
Hi
any teenagers / early twenties around on this board?
first symptom?
Leathan
any teenagers / early twenties around on this board?
first symptom?
Leathan
Lory
12-27-2000, 09:38 AM
Originally posted by Leathan:
If you were all asked to hark back and establish what your first symptom was which alerted you to PD , then what would you say? Tremor,fatigue,stiffness,memory,smell,sl eep?
Leathan.....
Leathan - thanks for the question. I was fascinated by all the replies, and the similarieties of our complaints -- both symptoms and of Dr's not recognizing the symptoms enough to put them together. Oneof my most irritating symptoms is my right hand doesn't always want to move -- rigidity, bradykenseia, akenesia whateveer. I'll try to get my checkbook out of my purse -- can get my hand around it, but am unable to do anything else. I have to purposefully talk to myself to tell my hand to remove the checkbook from the purse. It can be darned embarrassing in a check out line. Lory
If you were all asked to hark back and establish what your first symptom was which alerted you to PD , then what would you say? Tremor,fatigue,stiffness,memory,smell,sl eep?
Leathan.....
Leathan - thanks for the question. I was fascinated by all the replies, and the similarieties of our complaints -- both symptoms and of Dr's not recognizing the symptoms enough to put them together. Oneof my most irritating symptoms is my right hand doesn't always want to move -- rigidity, bradykenseia, akenesia whateveer. I'll try to get my checkbook out of my purse -- can get my hand around it, but am unable to do anything else. I have to purposefully talk to myself to tell my hand to remove the checkbook from the purse. It can be darned embarrassing in a check out line. Lory
Leathan
12-27-2000, 10:00 PM
Hello friends ,
I was fascinated at the responses - thank you very much for the responses. The symptom with the slow movement - directing and telling a limb what to do has happened to me. I will take all your replies on board as the other symptoms happen/ed to...
take care ,
your friend ,
Leathan
I was fascinated at the responses - thank you very much for the responses. The symptom with the slow movement - directing and telling a limb what to do has happened to me. I will take all your replies on board as the other symptoms happen/ed to...
take care ,
your friend ,
Leathan
Kaethlyn
01-07-2001, 10:57 PM
Hello Pete,
Your post below prompts me to ask you in what way(s) does your "freezing" manifest? For how long? And do you use a wheelchair?
Kaethlyn
Originally posted by pete:
Leathan.....
Hello
My first observation of something that seemed not bent on going away was a slight tremor in my left wrist and hand. I had it checked by an internist. He did not have a clue(i was 37 at that time).
I was referred to an orthopedist. He diagnosed it as a neck injury and i wore a cervical collar for about 2 weeks; Finally, a neurologist was called in. He did a thorough neurological exam and he said i had pd. He told me later that he was almost sure of pd as the diagnosis when he saw me walk down the hall to his office--not the tremor, but, the beginings of rigidity.
After about 2 or 3 years the tremor went away and has not returned. Some friends of tremor did come by to check me out--rigidity has been a constant ever-present source of trouble --And then there is bradykinesia --that has b een the real monstor--who takes an d takes and takes from the body and causes possibly many problems that the world of neurology does not fully understand today-freezing is a real meanace for me.
I allowed my thoughts to* run too long, Leathan
I hope this will be of interest in your study
take care--pete
Your post below prompts me to ask you in what way(s) does your "freezing" manifest? For how long? And do you use a wheelchair?
Kaethlyn
Originally posted by pete:
Leathan.....
Hello
My first observation of something that seemed not bent on going away was a slight tremor in my left wrist and hand. I had it checked by an internist. He did not have a clue(i was 37 at that time).
I was referred to an orthopedist. He diagnosed it as a neck injury and i wore a cervical collar for about 2 weeks; Finally, a neurologist was called in. He did a thorough neurological exam and he said i had pd. He told me later that he was almost sure of pd as the diagnosis when he saw me walk down the hall to his office--not the tremor, but, the beginings of rigidity.
After about 2 or 3 years the tremor went away and has not returned. Some friends of tremor did come by to check me out--rigidity has been a constant ever-present source of trouble --And then there is bradykinesia --that has b een the real monstor--who takes an d takes and takes from the body and causes possibly many problems that the world of neurology does not fully understand today-freezing is a real meanace for me.
I allowed my thoughts to* run too long, Leathan
I hope this will be of interest in your study
take care--pete
brub
01-17-2001, 07:49 PM
Interesting responses. Hold onto your seats for this one. I'm 45 now; dxd when I was 39;what I thought was the first indication was a slight tremor (pinky finger) in my left hand. As time went on and I learned more about "the tell-tale signs", I then realized why I had employees coming up to me 23 years ago, asking me if I was mad or if I was upset about something. They would say things like "Phil, smile" or "Phil, you look like your dog just died". 23 years ago I was an assisant manager in an El Torito Restaurant in Anaheim, California. I was wearing the "mask".
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Phil of AZ
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Phil of AZ
Leathan
01-18-2001, 11:03 AM
Masked face - on umpteen occassions I have felt alright and people have asked why I am sad.
- wearing the mask at the age of 21? , I am 21... too young? people have asked it a lot , reason for sadness - none!
- wearing the mask at the age of 21? , I am 21... too young? people have asked it a lot , reason for sadness - none!
Mona
01-18-2001, 09:34 PM
I am 41. I was diagnosed at 39. Like so many others I had symptoms years before I realized they were symptoms. When I was 31 I would occasionaly have sudden extreme fatigue. There was one occasion when I was folding laundry and my arms suddenly felt weak and heavy. I developed a muscle twitch the palm of my right hand in 1996. In 1998 I developed a resting tremor in that hand and arm and the fatigue was almost constant. It was so bad I had to take naps at work. Thank God I had my own private office. I also had comments from people such as "smile" or "why are you so slow"? Good topic.
Love to all,
Mona :)
Love to all,
Mona :)
Leathan
01-20-2001, 09:38 PM
TRAP they say don't they. Tremor,rigidity,akinesia,posture. Let me pick up on the final one if you will. ever since I was say oh 14 family members have been giving me grief about my bent over posture. So okay I put up with it four a couple of years till I got fed up of the nagging and went to see a spinal specialist , who just said that I had a curvature of the spine on x-ray and was probably just born that way. just told me to do swimming.
so i wonder if even then I may have had the P of TRAP , and concurrently in retrospect people were telling me to smile , so perhaps the R of TRAP was there too all along as well.
however , interesting to note that if i do get diagnosed with PD then the Posture may well be my first symptom I had all these years.
I am still getting these horrendous flare ups , this week I was unable to really take any solid food at ease , as after eating I got problems with breathing , and it went down rather labouriously. hope to see a top neuro soon , MS , PD , ME/CFS do actually appear to be comparable , but I hear stories of ME people eventually actually being duagnosed with MS or PD. the doc's put me on 120mg of propranolol for the shakes
stay cool ,
Leathan
so i wonder if even then I may have had the P of TRAP , and concurrently in retrospect people were telling me to smile , so perhaps the R of TRAP was there too all along as well.
however , interesting to note that if i do get diagnosed with PD then the Posture may well be my first symptom I had all these years.
I am still getting these horrendous flare ups , this week I was unable to really take any solid food at ease , as after eating I got problems with breathing , and it went down rather labouriously. hope to see a top neuro soon , MS , PD , ME/CFS do actually appear to be comparable , but I hear stories of ME people eventually actually being duagnosed with MS or PD. the doc's put me on 120mg of propranolol for the shakes
stay cool ,
Leathan
Donna46
01-21-2001, 08:18 PM
Hi,
I am newly diagnosed with PD and am still learning about it. My first symptom was shaking of my arm. I was really surprised to have the Doctor say I had PD disease.
Donna
I am newly diagnosed with PD and am still learning about it. My first symptom was shaking of my arm. I was really surprised to have the Doctor say I had PD disease.
Donna
seasongood
01-27-2001, 11:51 PM
Hi Donna and Welcome. We're glad to have you "aboard" but sorry for the reason you're joining our group. I am new to the group also, having been dxd only last week, but have found that this is a great group of very thoughtful and supporting people. Don't be shy and don't be afraid to ask questions. We've all been there.
Sylvia
Sylvia
Leathan
04-09-2001, 09:31 PM
sleep problems as first sign of PD? NPF website says there's a characteristic sleep disorder seen in pd resembling that of 1920's sleeping sickness epidemic - true for anyone on board?
thoughts with Googy - unstinting support when i had rough patch.
thoughts with Googy - unstinting support when i had rough patch.