Parkinsons Disease

[Deleted User] · 03/01/15 - 19:00

My father passed away eight months ago, he had Parkinsons. He had the disease for eight years and the last year was awful for him which ended with him being unable to swallow or speak. My mother found it particularly hard having only myself to help look after my dad. Now eight months on my mother has developed a tremor in her hand, one of the symptoms of Parkinsons. Her doctor has booked her an hospital appointment to be tested for the disease.
I don't think I can cope with this again, not when I know what a awful disease it is and what my mother knows will happen to her. I've looked up anything else it could be but all her symptoms point towards Parkinsons. We have no other family so it would just me.
I'm still grieving for my dad and I don't think I'm strong enough to do this again.

azalea · 03/01/15 - 19:11

I'm very sorry for your loss. My grandfather suffers from Parkinson's and iv seen first hand what it does. It's heartbreaking. I don't really know what to say, it's such a terrible disease. I wish you and your mum all the best and I hope she receives good news x

Rae_Roo · 03/01/15 - 19:15

Sorry OP for your loss, I am hopeful it's something else with your mum, I'd think it'd be extraordinarily unfortunate for both your parents to develop this illness.

I would add that back in my student days when I did care work, I dealt with a lot of parkinsons patients, some at home, some more advanced and in facilitates, symptoms can vary extensively, I know it's easy to jump to the worse case scenario. I do remember several patients who took a long time to be diagnosed due to not having the tremors at the onset, people can present in different ways, I hope your mum is ok.

Fibromite59 · 04/01/15 - 01:28

I am so sorry that you are going through this awful time, but just wanted to tell you the following.

I have had a tremor in both hands for about three years now and I never got around to doing anything about it. However, just over a year ago, I went to see my doctor about something else and when she handed me my prescription she noticed that I had a tremor and sent me to see a neurologist fairly quickly. I saw one within the next month and he got me to walk across the room etc, but said that it wasn't Parkinsons but probably caused through some tablets I take or maybe a mixture of tablets (I am on several different tablets). He suggested that it might be a particular one, which I have managed to get off now, but the tremor is still there, and there are no other tablets that I can stop taking. All I am trying to say, is for you not to get too worried yet (I know that is easier said than done), but to wait until you mother sees the specialist. Apparently, stress can also cause a tremor and she will have been under a lot of stress with your Dad being so ill.

Please let us know how thing go on with you, and I pray that all will be well.

KJ44 · 04/01/15 - 18:00

Apologies for this but I saw the thread and I think it needs promoting. Unfortunately it isn't that reassuring but all I'm saying is that a tremor might not be PD.

I have a tremor and it's not responding to the usual PD drugs (mirapexin) after a year so what I thought the neurologist had said was PD based upon my walk and so on might not be. I had a DATscan test before Christmas and await the results. It costs the NHS a lot of money so I'm cool about it, better to see if the PD drugs work and save the NHS money for awkward cases like mine.

I'm scared shitless about the long term if it is PD.

KJ44 · 04/01/15 - 18:16

Let's hope OP's mum has something other than PD. I'm kinda hoping I've got this:

http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/resting+tremor

essential tremor a hereditary tremor with onset at varying ages, usually at about 50 years of age, beginning with a fine rapid tremor (as distinct from that of parkinsonism) of the hands, followed by tremor of the head, tongue, limbs, and trunk it is aggravated by emotional factors, is accentuated by volitional movement, and in some cases is temporarily improved by alcohol.

goonernatalie · 04/01/15 - 20:37

All the best to your mum

[Deleted User] · 05/01/15 - 18:52

Thank you everyone for your kind words.
My mother has been back to the doctor who has decided to rule other things out first as he said she wasn't showing a lot of the symptoms of Parkinsons. He said she may possibly have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome which affects the hands. Although when I read about it, it doesn't mention anything about a tremor only pins and needles.
I'm trying to put my trust in him as he was the one who diagnosed my father with Parkinsons so he should know what he's looking for.
So now it's very much a waiting game.

Hey there!

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