MY PARKINSON'S

HELLO. I WAS TOLD about 6 YEARS AGO THAT I HAD PD AT 36YRS OLD.I ALSO HAVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE GOING BACK ALMOST 20YRS IN THE ARMED FORCES. I HAVE DEPRESSION AND HAVE A VERY HARD TIME SLEEPING.  IT FEELS LIKE EVERY YEAR THAT GOES BY ITS A LITTLE HARDER ON ME. THE ONLY THING THAT KEEPS ME GOING IS MY WIFE, AND TWO KIDS AGES 12 AND 10. I TAKE about 23 PILLS A DAY AT 6 DIFFERENT TIMES. FOR PD I'M ON (7) 25/100 PER DAY, (3) .5MG MIRAPIX PER DAY, AND (3) ARTANE A DAY. AND ALL THE OTHER MEDS DAILY FOR DEPRESSION, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, ACID REFLEX, SLEEPING PILLS.. I'M ALWAYS TIRED,AND HAVE GOOD DAYS AND BAD DAYS. I STILL GO TO WORK EVERYDAY AT 4AM I DRIVE about 1 HOUR TO WORK AND START AT 5AM. AND STILL WORK FROM 10-11 HOURS A DAY. SOMETIMES IT IS SO HARD TO KEEP GOING. ALMOST LIKE THE WEIGHT OF THE WORLD IS ON MY SHOULDERS. AND TO MAKE IT WORSE MY WIFE LOST HER JOB about 2 YEARS AGO, BUT JUST GOT HIRED BACK TO THE SAME COMPANY 1 MONTH AGO, BUT MAKING SOME 15,000.00 LESS THAN SHE WAS MAKING 2YEARS AGO. SO I'VE BEEN TRYING TO WORK AS MUCH AS I CAN TAKE TO TRY AND MAKE ENDS MEET. MY COMPANY HAS BEEN REAL GOOD TO ME. BUT BECAUSE OF ALL MY PD PROBLEMS AND MEDS I'M ON THEY PUT ME IN THE PARTS ROOM SO I WOULDN'T HAVE TO OPERATE HEAVY EQUIPMENT OR DRIVE BIG TRUCKS ON THE ROAD. BECAUSE OF THE STESS ON THE JOB AND DRIVING SO FAR 2 OF MY DOCTORS WANT ME TO TAKE A MEDICAL RETIREMNT FROM MY UNION AND FIND A PART TIME JOB CLOSE TO HOME. BUT I JUST CAN'T AFFORD IT. I FEEL LIKE I'M IN MY OWN WORLD SOMETIMES OR LOST. MY TASTE AND SMELL ARE GONE. I HAVE SEXUAL PROBLEMS, AND SO MANY MORE THINGS THAT I HAVE NOTICED YEAR AFTER YEAR. SOME TIMES IT JUST REALLY SUCKS. BUT I LOVE MY FAMILY, STILL COACHING MY SON IN BASEBALL AND FOOTBALL, AND LOVE TO HUNT AND FISH, BUT IT'S GETTING HARD FOR ME TO DO THINGS ON MY OWN. WE DID GO TO COOPERTOWN N.Y. FOR A WEEK AND GOT TO WATCH MY SON IN A WEEK LONG TOURNAMENT OF ALMOST 100 TEAMS FROM ACCROSS THE COUNTRY. IT MAKES MY DAY TO WATCH HIM IN HIS SPORTS BECAUSE OF ALL THE TIME I HAVE SPENT WITH HIM OVER THE LAST 7 YEARS PLAYING BASEBALL AND FOOTALL. THATS WHAT KEEPS ME GOING FORWARD. WINNERS NEVER QUITAND QUITERS NEVER WIN. THATS WHAT I LEARNED FROM ONE OF MY DRILL INSTRUCTORS IN MARINE CORPS BOOT CAMP.   

 jbphotonut

NICE TO HEAR FROM YOU. GOOD LUCK IN THE WOODS. I STARTED USING A CROSS BOW about 4 YEARS AGO. FIRST MORNING I WENT OUT LAST FALL 40 YARDS GREAT 10 POINT.

BEST I'VE GOT IN MICH IN 25 YEARS OF HUNTING. TAKE CARE   

Semperfi,

I here you loud and clear. I was first diagnosed with PD in early 2005 at the age of 48 and began to progress rapidly. I noticed some odd presentations, problems with blood pressure, urinary incontinence, PD meds not effective at they us to be and the beginning of assorted non traditional muscle spasms and aches, visual problems, taste disturbances, chronic fatique. I was rediagnosed with an atyical form of Parkinson’s Plus called (MSA) Multiple System Atrophy. Ironically, one of the first hallmark symptoms for males is sexual dysfunction. I would highly recommend that you consult with a neurologist that specializes in movement disorders. There are a variety of non-trandition Parkinson’s presentations out there, not all are as progressive as MSA, but sexual dysfunction is a initial presentation for many. Unfortunately, most people do not want to discuss this situation so you rarely see it mentioned.

Good luck. If you diagnosis do not make sense, press on for answers. It took me awhile, as non-traditional Parkison's is rarely discussed. But in actuality, one out of ten Parkinson's patients receive a final diagnosis of atyipcal PD after death. MSA and a whole list of alphabet soup non-traditional atyipcal PD's usually receive a final dx at autopsy. Until then, we are defined as either probable or possible dx's. I finally had to go to a major teaching institute that had nationally known PD expert to receive an accurate dx. Most neurologists just say that we have an "unusual" PD presentation and try a throw everything against the wall and see wwhat sticks approach to treatment. You can do better then that.

Stella Marie

Stella

How did your vision and blood pressure problems manifest themselves? I have problems with both and chronic fatigue and was diagnosed with PD in 2004 at 51 years old and have no tremors.

Thanks

Chris