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Parkinson's Disease
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Posted 4/29/2012 8:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hi everyone. I am new to this. Just looking for any support and info I can find. I am only child and my dad was diagnosed 4 years ago with PD and has been on an unbelievable downhill spiral since. Doctors said he was probably half way thru stages when they diagnosed him but we all have been shocked at the progression. He now suffers from dementia, is wheelchair bound, in nursing home and can feed himself sometimes at best. We were in the hospital for close to six weeks and just about lost him then. That was right at the first of this year. His doctor says that if dad makes it 2 years he will surpass the doctors best medical guess. Just back in December he was still walking, taking care of hiimself somewhat, driving and handling his own business affairs. Now just a few months later, here we are at this stage. Anyone else have similar experiences? Given the rate of progression, it is hard to see the doctors diagnosis as being very far off.
Posted 5/1/2012 11:43 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Huskerboy Your story sounds so similar to mine. My mother died in November last year as a result of parkinsons disease. She was diagnosed roughly 4/5 years before this. I dont know a lot about parkinsons but we were informed she had an aggressive strain? I know the shock you feel as you assume a diagnosis of parkinsons disease is a longer term thing and in most cases I believe it is. I think thats why it is really upsetting and traumatic when you see your parent going through a dramatic decline over a very short space of time.
I think parkinsons disease is one of those situations where everyone is an individual so every case is slightly different so I'm afraid it is unlikely you will get a clear cut answer. I know when my mother was diagnosed I would look on line for information but she didnt seem to fit the general picture in terms of timescales of deterioration etc. It was probably about two years ago that my mother was at the stage your father is now, in relation to difficulty feeding herself and wheelchair bound etc. She too was diagnosed with alzheimers disease after diagnosis of parkinsons. I am unclear what info or advice you are seeking but I am happy to answer any queries about my mothers situation . Take care
Posted 5/31/2012 5:13 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Huskerboy,
Yes, same experience. Dad's Parkinson's progressed very rapidly. He just turned 86, and was diagnosed five years ago. He went downhill within a year, from walking with assistance, to wheelchair, to no longer being able to assist himself at all. Went from eating a ton of food, to not being able to chew and swallow food. This happened very quickly. The Dementia did play a part in this turn of events. Hospice care was recommended by his Doctor. He can no longer speak, swallow, or stand. He is unresponsive and has not eaten in 6 days.
Posted 9/9/2012 4:58 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Huskerboy,

This reply is a bit late so I'm afraid it might go missed...

There is a good review paper on accelerated deterioration once symptoms of psychosis appear: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22777251

My mother (57) has also undergone very rapid deterioration. What you say sounds familiar: walking and laughing just months ago, then a sudden decline.
Posted 9/24/2012 3:10 AM (GMT 0)
Hi - I am new too. I was diagnosed with Parkinsons end of 2004 at age 52 and could have had it several years before. I am a woman age 60 now and live in Auckland New Zealand. I managed to fly over to Australia in March to spend my 60th birthday with my cousin. I was working and driving up to 2 years ago.
I am now living in a retirement village for age 55 up.There are villas,townhouses, and apartment blocks. I am in a serviced apartment but I can still do most things for myself. I know I have deteriorated more in the last two yrs than previously. There are abut 500 residents here in total and about 10-15 people with Parkinsons at varying stages. Keeping active physically and mentally have helped me. Parkinsons Assoc of NZ are a fantastic support.I have to do more walking to keep fit and also there is an aqua arobics class in the village pool twice a week which is mainly for people with Parkinsons etc. I don't like the idea of mental deterioration -we do crosswords and mind games and I am trying to put together photo albums for my daughter now age 29 and son age 26 while I can still remember people and places when we lived in Asia for 8 years when they were children Can remember a Neurologist telling me that if the first symptoms of Parkinsons were shaky hands then deterioration was generally slower than other main symptoms. Hope that is the case!
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