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My daddy's journey with PD

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Parkinson's Disease
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Posted 1/19/2015 1:37 AM (GMT 0)
Honestly, I still awaken every single day hoping that the nightmare that my dad and our family are experiencing with PD will come to an end. I wish I would wake up from this nightmare. Parkinson's came like a thief in the night and took the dad that I once knew. It was insidious to say the least.
It started seven months ago. My dad started having shortness of breath, anxiety, severe insomnia, depression, quit smiling and laughing, facial expressions are completely gone, balance problems(he would lose his balance and fall forward like he was running), dizziness, orthostatic hypotension, hoarseness, constipation, stiffness and rigidity in his muscles (especially around his neck and shoulders), delusions, fear, feeling of impending doom,suicide attempt, staring off into space and never talks unless we talk to him.
His PCP missed these symptoms and after three ER visits and two hospitaliztions, he still didn't agree but finally a neurologist confirmed his diagnosis his last hospitalization. That was October. We couldn't get a neurologist appointment until February.
Last week, my dad's delusions got so bad that I had him admitted to a psychiatric hospital(after camping out in the ER for over 20 hours) to try and get his meds under control. He's not safe at home and my mom who is 76 has Alzheimer's. She still knows us but she stays confused and disoriented most of the time. She can't comprehend what's going on with him.
After nine days in the hospital, he came home just as confused and delusional as when he went in. I'm just numb how fast all of this happened. My dad has been forgetting more and more since the delusions got bad. It's hard losing both your parents at the same time and to such horrible diseases. My prayers go out to all of you and I could relate to most of the post on here. I have lived it and hate for anyone to endure this hell.
Posted 5/31/2015 2:44 AM (GMT 0)
To daddy's Girl and everyone else that is going thru this - my prayers are with all of you too. My father is to 77 years old and has had PD for 15 years and we are in the final stage. My mom to has Trigeminal and her painful disease is equally a huge hardship. Thank goodness we have a large family of 6 children and each of us is actively involved. I truly can't imagine this if you are that caregiver alone. My father walked with walker out of the assisted living and ended up in a memory care hospital for a month and has now had to be in a memory care unit. He has never been separated from us before but, my mom can no longer care for him. We can't quit our jobs and Dad needs 24 hour care. The memory care for Dad is $8000 per month and to have a 24 hour nurse at home would be $12,000 per month. My Dad too is delusional and calls crying begging to get out of memory care. He has a beautiful facility with great staff but, all but one of the other patients are far beyond the stage my Dad is. He needs 100 percent physical care but, feels he can take care of himself. He is impulsive and too would not be safe at home. He walked out of the his home and was almost hit by a car that is why he can not leave memory care now. The doctor suggests we only see my father in the morning and come with another sibling as he gets so upset he can't come home. What is sad is their is no transitional memory care in our area that we can find. Now he is walking stronger since he has had daily therapy at the memory care. Which makes him feel he could get out. I agree this is hell on earth. We cry a lot! I never thought in my life I would have both parents so ill and watch them struggle and be so sad. Our PD doctor said this could go on for possibly 5 years provided my dad doesn't fall with a head injury or choke. He also told us the next years are going to be the hardest years of our lives. We all have aged 20 years in the last 2 months. Never could I have prepared for what our family is enduring. I miss my Dad!
Posted 8/6/2015 3:50 AM (GMT 0)
I took care of my mother who had PD fo over 15 years in our home. She passed away 2 years ago. Luckily she did not have dementia, but was physically disabled. I cannot even imagine taking care of two parents with cognitive impairments. My heart goes out to you. Daddy's girl, your Dad due to it's fast progression sounds more like one of the Parkinson's Plus disease. I believe there are about 4 or 5 of them. Only a movement disorder specialist can help diagnose which it may be. I hope the neurologist has done a CT scan of brain to rule out hydrocephalus since it seems like your Dad's symptoms came on suddenly.
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