SYMPTOMS - SO MANY! WHY ME?

WHY ME?

The following was copied from https://www.parkinson.org/Understanding-Parkinsons/Symptoms/Non-Movement-Symptoms/Depression.  This site is a good place to read about PD.

Movement Symptoms   

There is no single test or scan for Parkinson’s, but there are three telltale symptoms that help doctors make a diagnosis:

1. Bradykinesia
2. Tremor
3. Rigidity

Bradykinesia plus either tremor or rigidity must be present for a PD diagnosis to be considered.

Another movement symptom, postural instability (trouble with balance and falls), is often mentioned, but it does not occur until later in the disease progression. In fact, problems with walking, balance and turning around early in the disease are likely a sign of an atypical parkinsonism.

Additional Movement Symptoms

• Cramping (dystonia): sustained or repetitive twisting or tightening of muscle.
• Drooling (sialorrhea): while not always viewed as a motor symptom, excessive saliva or drooling may result due to a decrease in normally automatic actions such as swallowing.
• Dyskinesia: involuntary, erratic writhing movements of the face, arms, legs or trunk.
• Festination: short, rapid steps taken during walking. May increase risk of falling and often seen in association with freezing.
• Freezing: gives the appearance of being stuck in place, especially when initiating a step, turning or navigating through doorways. Potentially serious problem as it may increase risk of falling.
• Masked face (hypomimia): results from the combination of bradykinesia and rigidity.
• Micrographia: small, untidy and cramped handwriting due to bradykinesia.
• Shuffling gait: accompanied by short steps and often a stooped posture.
• Soft speech (hypophonia): soft, sometimes hoarse, voice that can occur in PD
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• NON MOTOR  SYMPTOMS can include:

• • Cognitive changes: problems with attention, planning, language, memory or even dementia
  • Constipation
  • Early satiety: feeling of fullness after eating small amounts
  • Excessive sweating, often when wearing off medications
  • Fatigue
  • Increase in dandruff (seborrheic dermatitis)
  • Hallucinations and delusions
  • Lightheadedness (orthostatic hypotension): drop in blood pressure when standing
  • Loss of sense of smell or taste
  • Mood disorders, such as depression, anxiety, apathy and irritability
  • Pain
  • Sexual problems, such as erectile dysfunction
  • Sleep disorders, such as insomnia, excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS), REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD), vivid dreams, Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)
  • Urinary urgency, frequency and incontinence
  • Vision problems, especially when attempting to read items up close
  • Weight loss
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  • WHY DO WE CONTINUE TO  LIVE?  see tomorrow's entry