Sat on the Park Bench Like Bookends

I had breakfast with a couple of old friends. I am the oldest by one year. We are all past 65 and tending toward the morbid. We were estimating the number of years we have left. I give myself an outside chance of 18 years, the other two gave themselves 13 to 15 years. I think I am being optimistic, but if not, I hope that when I die, I die with dignity.

Anyway, as we older folks tend to do, our conversation drifted into our various ailments. For me there is only PD. I know that because of my exercise machine, I am in better physical shape than both my companions.

Conversation One with a man who has been unable to work since the late 90's - early this century, legitimate I hasten to add. I had not seen him since 2001.

Me: So how is your health these days?
Ga: Better (I hear some doubt in his voice)
Me: What was the problem?
Ga: Bipolar and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. The medication helps with the bipolar but I am still tired.

At this point our colleague returned to the table, hears the chatter and joins in.

Ge: You know, I am tired and stiff and my right arm feels weak. My right leg too Sometimes, when I am relaxed, one of my fingers starts to jump. My doctor says I might have had a stroke<.br> Me: I doubt it. I think there would be more severe signs.
Ge: What were your symptoms.
Me: I went to my GP complaining about weakness in my arms - I didn't mention the hand tremor because it only came after a hard workout so I thought nothing of it. My doc took some tests, said he didn't think it was anything serious but referred me to a neuro just to be sure. By the time I saw him, my symptoms were a hand that tremored when at rest, weaknees on the fight side of my body, a loss of the sense of smell and exhaustion.
Ge: That sounds like me. Do you think I should see someone? Do you think I have Parkinson's?
Me: The odds are against it but I would get it checked anyway.

But what are the chances my friend has PD

If you look at the odds, in 2012 there were approximately 100,000 Canadians with PD out of 35 million people. The odds are very low.

However, that number is expected to double by 2016. Why. Because we are the baby boomers and we are living longer. More aging people + better health care system = longer life.

But you never know. Here from http://www.parkinson.org/parkinson-s-disease/pd-101/10-early-warning-signs-of-parkinson-s-disease are ten warning signs of PD. What do you think? PD or no PD? I will let you know.

Tremor or Shaking

Have you noticed a slight shaking or tremor in your finger, thumb, hand, chin or lip? Does your leg shake when you sit down or relax? Twitching or shaking of limbs is a common early sign of Parkinson’s disease.
What is normal? Shaking can be normal after lots of exercise, if you have been injured, or could be caused by a medicine you take.

Small Handwriting

Has your handwriting suddenly gotten much smaller than in it was in the past? You may notice the way you write words on a page has changed, such as letter sizes are smaller and the words are crowded together. A sudden change in handwriting is often a sign of Parkinson’s disease.
What is normal? Sometimes writing can change as you get older, if you have stiff hands or fingers or poor vision, but this happens over time and not suddenly.

Loss of Smell

Have you noticed you no longer smell certain foods very well? If you seem to have more trouble smelling foods like bananas, dill pickles or licorice, you should ask your doctor about Parkinson’s disease.
What is normal? Your sense of smell can be changed by a cold, flu or a stuffy nose, but it should come back after you are better.

Trouble Sleeping

Do you thrash around in bed or kick and punch while you are deeply asleep? You might notice that you started falling out of bed while asleep. Sometimes, your spouse will notice, or will want to move to another bed. Sudden movements during sleep may be a sign of Parkinson’s disease.
What is normal? It is normal for everyone to have a night when they ‘toss and turn’ instead of sleeping.

Trouble Moving or Walking

Do you feel stiff in your body, arms or legs? Sometimes stiffness goes away as you move. If it does not, it can be a sign of Parkinson’s disease. You might notice that your arms don’t swing when you walk, or maybe other people have said you look stiff. An early sign might be stiffness or pain in your shoulder or hips. People sometimes say their feet seem ‘stuck to the floor.’
What is normal? If you have injured your arm or shoulder, you may not be able to use it as well until it is healed or another illness like arthritis might cause the same symptom.

Constipation Do you have trouble moving your bowels without straining every day? Straining to move your bowels can be an early sign of Parkinson’s disease and you should talk to your doctor.
What is normal? If you do not have enough water or fiber in your body, it can cause problems in the bathroom. Also some medicine will cause constipation too. If there is no other reason such as diet or medicine that would cause you to have trouble moving your bowels, you should speak with your doctor.

A Soft or Low Voice

Have other people told you that your voice is very soft when you speak in a normal tone, or that you sound hoarse? If there has been a change in your voice you should see your doctor about whether it could be Parkinson’s disease. Sometimes you might think other people are losing their hearing, when really you are speaking more softly.
What is normal? A chest cold or other virus can cause your voice to sound different but you should go back to sounding the same when you get over your cough or cold.

Masked Face

Have you been told that you have a serious, depressed or mad look on your face more often, even when you are not in a bad mood? This serious looking face is called masking. Also, if you or other people notice that you have a blank stare or do not blink your eyes very often, you should ask your doctor about Parkinson’s disease.
What is normal? Some medicines can cause you to have the same type of serious or staring look, but you would go back to the way you were after you stopped the medication. Dizziness or Fainting

Do you notice that you often feel dizzy when you stand up out of a chair? Feeling dizzy or fainting can be signs of low blood pressure and can be linked to Parkinson’s disease. What is normal? Everyone has had a time when they stood up and felt dizzy, but if it happens on a regular basis you should see your doctor.

Stooping or Hunching Over

Are you not standing up as straight as you used to? If you or your family or friends notice that you seem to be stooping, leaning or slouching when you stand, it could be a sign of Parkinson’s disease.
What is normal? If you have pain from an injury or if you are sick, it might cause you to stand crookedly. Also, a problem with your bones can make you hunch over.