crying for no reason

[PatrickW]

Lately I find myself crying for no reason at all, I get choked up over nothing. I had it when first diagnosed but it went away. The last few months it's come back and I'm not taking anything new. Anybody else?

[Juliegrace]

Although I don't cry, I experience sadness, triggered by something external, more easily. I also giggle or snicker at things that would only have generated a small smile pre-PD.

[PatrickW in reply to Juliegrace]

I don't get the giggles like some people and it's not about seeing/hearing sad things. I just get choked up for zero reason and at inappropriate times.

[JohnPepper]

Hi Patrick. Big boys don't cry, but I am big and at 83 I also cry for no reason whatsoever. I call it "Emotional Instability" in my book. It is just one more symptoms of Pd which we have to accept and get used to.

[lempa_nik]

Nowadays, thanks to the PD, It takes only the slightest sad thought to make me tear up. It also takes very little to tickle my funnybone and bring on a smile or laugh. The medical establishment calls it Pseudobulbar Affect (PBA) and tell us it is very common in cases of brain injury or disease, e.g., Parkinson's, Alzheimers, ALS.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseud...

Everybody knows that having a good cry is cathartic--it just feels good. PBA tears are no different. But it could be plenty embarrassing in most social settings to suddenly start sobbing, even if you are built like a young Arnold Schwarzenegger!

[don-oregon in reply to lempa_nik]

I was diagnosed with Pseudobulbar Affect (PBA). I cry over happy events. I cry when my team wins their game. You can guess who my team is. I cry when someone finally gets a job. Ironically, sad things don't automatically make me cry unless it is a goodbye. I would rather have this than the opposite, laughing when they should be sad, during a funeral for instance.

I am trying to get used to my new normal, if it would only stay in one place so I can get used to it.

[lempa_nik in reply to don-oregon]

Compared to Bradykinesia, Dystonia, Dyskinesia, reduced manual dexterity, and a few other items, this one is a new normal that is easy for me to accept.

[PatrickW in reply to lempa_nik]

Sorry to inform you dumpelkin that this is not the only problem or even close to the worse problem I have from PD, far from it. it's only one of many issues I have from PD, too many to list here. I wish this was my only problem from PD! I just wanted to know if anyone else experiences it, nothing more. I've had PD for 30 years and have many problems and all are worse than crying. I find it hard to believe your dismissive attitude especially since you have PD! It's not a competition

[lempa_nik in reply to PatrickW]

PatrickW, I'm not dismissive at all. Sorry if it seemed that way. Just saying--in resonse to Don--that from my current perspective (5 yrs. in), crying is the least painful of my symptoms. But if you've been at the PD game for 30 years, and are still here to tell about it, that makes you a titan, a hero, and I take my hat off to you! I'll be doing well if I make it half as far.

[PatrickW in reply to lempa_nik]

I'm certainly no hero, but my caregivers are. I've gotten this far because I have a routine of stretching, walking and doing things I enjoy. If I keep to my routine I've got a fighting chance. My PD goes away when I'm doing things I enjoy; playing music is what's saving me, I'm certain of that. I've been able to find other things that make PD disappear for a while like being on the water and working in my gardens. I think everybody has things that will ease the battle with PD, the key is to find what works for you. If I go to play a gig somewhere and I'm shaking, after 2-3 songs it just goes away for a while BUT it always comes back. I could sit here and tell you all the problems I've had with PD ( a lot!) but I'd rather send a positive message about what helps me and maybe it'll help someone else. At the very least it'll get a few of you thinking about it and I can't ask for anything more than that.

[lempa_nik in reply to PatrickW]

Patrick, Much obliged for your inspiring idea on how to beat back "the little monster," the term used by blogger Sherri Woodbridge. Your profile says you are 54 and were diagnosed with PD 3 years ago. So was the "30" years with PD a typo?

[PatrickW in reply to lempa_nik]

I'm 60, was diagnosed sometime in the last decade. My memory is shot and I think it's from PD or the meds regardless what anyone tells me contrary to that. I know my own self better than anybody. Tracing backwards, as we all have to I think, given my symptoms, my Dr. thinks I've had it since my late 20's - but nobody could connect the dots. Pretty normal from everyone I know who has PD. I don't see how any Dr. could ever connect the dots because no 2 cases are alike, we're like snowflakes....

I went from playing music 3-4 times a year to getting paid every week (not enough to live on by far LOL! I truly believe it's either from PD or the meds. I told my wife I'd rather have 10-15 fun years than 25-30 just living a 'normal' life. With PD a'normal' life is not much to look forward to so It's a trade-off I'd take any day of the week. I lost my ability to smell and taste but now I have a killer ear. I can't read music, have no idea about anything musical - song names, groups, nothing. I can play songs I've never heard before on the first run through, I kid you not! Because of that new ability I get asked to sit in and play with everybody and i do because I never know if I will wake up tomorrow with the ability do do it. I figure I woke up one day with the shakes and maybe I'll wake up one day with no musical ability again; so I play a lot. When I play somebody always tells me what key the song is in, no title, no group, just the key and I figure out what key I'm in. I am more surprised than anyone, believe me! Weird. I was always a numbers guy, never creative at all. Now, numbers confuse me and the arts keep my PD at bay. Hard to believe but it's all true. I consider myself to be the luckiest person I know and I have more fun than anyone I know no matter what age. Most days, you wouldn't know I have PD if you met me. My Drs have all told me, at various times this year, that I look better now than I did 5 years ago and I agree. I'm winning this battle, maybe not the war, but at this point, I'll take the battle.

Good luck, maybe this post will help some of you as it has me.

[lempa_nik in reply to PatrickW]

Wow, you're a musical "savant"! All the stories tell what a greedy bastard PD is--how it only takes and takes and takes. This is the first time I've heard of it conferring a gift, let alone an outstanding talent. (Of course, I do acknowledge , with gratitude, that PD has probably softened my heart and made me more sympathetic to the sufferings of fellow creatures.)

May I ask what is your instrument?

[PatrickW in reply to lempa_nik]

Believe it or not, harmonica (harp). No one plays just a harp so I get invited to sit in with a lot of bands and individuals. I like playing open mic nites because a lot of the time I play with almost every band there! It's not that I'm that good as much it is nobody else just plays the harp. Lots of good players out there but most play guitar and use a harp as an accent. Most just play Neil Young, Tom Petty, Dylan or Billy Joel songs. Most play it just for the blues which is ridiculous!. I try to play songs that most people wouldn't think would work with a harp and an acoustic guitar or piano but it works. It mainly works because they guy I play with can write, play and sing great. Some of the songs we play are: Fly me to the moon, Georgia, Wonderful World, Whiter Shade of Pale, Into the Mystic, and some really good originals, just to name a few. One night we were out playing at a local distillery, where we play a lot, and the entire first set he played songs I'd never heard or played before. When we were done I asked him what the hell he was doing and he said 'just keeping you on your toes!). It's fun to see the look on someones face when they play an original song, one they know I've never heard because they wrote it, and nailing it first time; not every time but most. It's very cool. After I get home from playing it takes a few hours to calm down. If my tremors are acting up they go away after I play 2-3 songs, sometimes it takes more, but whomever I'm playing with that night is surprised when they go away just by playing. I have witnesses! LOL

PS: Playing harp is the only instrument where you suck in and blow out - the only instrument that helps people with emphysema. I have emphysema too.Playing the harp helps 2 major diseases, so when I say I'm lucky I really am!

[SufferingSocks in reply to PatrickW]

I find your posts quite inspiring Patrick W and I've learned from them. As with anxiety and depression (which I have) and hubby has PD, It is very important to try to keep happy and do things that make you happier, learn something new, go for walks in nature and above all, be kind to yourself. Suffering Socks

[PatrickW in reply to SufferingSocks]

Thx, now you're making me choked up lol!

I'm keeping happy, just found out an hour ago that I'm performing at a township event this Wednesday night with 2 different bands playing back to back - now that's fun! Especially because the 2nd guy likes to throw in songs I've never heard before let alone played. Tells me he wants to keep me on my toes! Just thinking about it gives me a rush and I'm feeling better as I write this! And I've been sick in bed all day, now I'm and going to do my stretching while I'm up for it.

[jimo2017]

with this damned pd i think in my case the tears are frustation knowing i cant do what i once did

[JANVAN in reply to jimo2017]

I couldn't better say it........ sometimes its really frustrating, because I'm still young, a bit skinny, but certainly fit looking. And people always estimating me 10 years younger and what do you from sports, etc.......

I try then to "shortcut" the contact and not to do much movements.......

[4000Nights]

Yep Patrick... that's me.... i am a 74 year old male but at times the slightest thing, e.g., the car commercial where they take the dog from the pound, makes me tear up

[jujulini in reply to 4000Nights]

i am the same way (and that same commercial). stupid sentimental things - i dont actually cry, but i get misty-eyed, quivery lip, and a strange voice. i try to hide it, because my daughter will say, "are you crying over this?" and then i really feel stupid. but i dont get that way when something should really be sad....like my aunt dying........

[wifeofparky in reply to jujulini]

do not let someone else's comment affect you. They are not in your shoes so they do not truly understand. Your emotions are often enhanced. If it is troublesome, speak with your MDS

[jujulini in reply to wifeofparky]

no, its really not a big issue. it doesnt even happen everyday. but thanks for the concern.......

[PatrickW in reply to jujulini]

sounds like I experience the same thing you do

[ddmagee1]

It could be Pseudobulbar Affect. Many people with neuro-degenerative disorders get that. I’ve had some episodes when I just feel like laughing, at an inappropriate time, or I feel like crying, for no reason at all.

[jujulini in reply to ddmagee1]

i used to do the laughing thing before i was diagnosed and started on c/l. i had terrible bradykinesia, and was like a zombie, but i would get these laughing episodes at the dinner table. my 4 yr old daughter would encourage it, because it made me look like i was alive. since i started taking the c/l, that doesnt happen anymore.

[PatrickW in reply to jujulini]

I've never had the laughing thing just the choked up thing. I don't have to see anything sad to trigger it, it just overwhelms me for a short time but can happen anytime

[Larrydds]

I have the same problem. Crying was a very rare thing, now it is common

[M-o-ggy in reply to Larrydds]

It was almost unheard of for me to cry. Now the least thing sets me of.

[wifeofparky]

Sometimes meds need to be adjusted. Call your MDS

[PatrickW]

thank you to all of you for your responses. I tear up but the worse thing is getting so choked up I can't answer a question, seems like it's not just me

[don-oregon in reply to PatrickW]

As I commented before, I tend to cry around happy events. With that said, my wife just commented last night that since I have been on the high dose Thiamine HCL program (5 months) I have not had the crying episodes that I had before.

I actually started to chuckle, when reading these replies. My mind started visualizing a video showing all of us with our opposite reaction happy things and sad events. It would be sooo funny it would make most of us cry.

[S70AWD]

Hallmark commercials are the worst for making me cry.

[M-o-ggy]

I do this. I didn’t know it was a sign of PD. It started about 17 yr ago. I can remember listening to the account of the Penderyn Lifeboat and crying ( even though I had heard it before)

I choke up over anything now. As a younger woman I never did.

I cried all through my older sons wedding and was so embarrassed with myself.

It’s nice to know. I will add it to the list of - the stare, the rage , the emotions. What else is there to trip me up?

[PatrickW in reply to M-o-ggy]

It's too much to worry about what could trip you up next!. Better to work on what you've got here and now because what comes next might not be what we expect. PD''s a crap-shoot and none of us have the same problems which makes it harder.