First signs: Hi I’m just wondering what the... - Cure Parkinson's

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First signs

59 Replies

Hi I’m just wondering what the earliest signs of Parkinson’s is? Learning about the problem

59 Replies

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MBAnderson profile image
MBAnderson

I think for many people it's a minor tremor in 1 of their fingers or hands.

dcpambrose profile image
dcpambrose in reply to MBAnderson

I agree with you.

rideabike profile image
rideabike in reply to MBAnderson

Have you ever heard of someone having a tremor one time in a finger (fore). Then I got general dystonia and other PD non-motor and some that may be motor?? Just wondering.

MBAnderson profile image
MBAnderson in reply to rideabike

There is no telling. It presents itself in so many different forms.

From reading through your other comments, I think you've panicked prematurely. I would not jump to Parkinson's from your description.

Why not see a doctor?

rideabike profile image
rideabike in reply to MBAnderson

I saw an MDS who diagnosed dystonia. I can't see Parkinson's being much worse than what I have now. Take L-dopa that helps for 4 hours. Brain fog, intense fatigue, head and internal tremor, stiff face without expression find I can't read other's expressions until I'm on. Neck/head pain and axial stiffness gets worse as the day progresses and eventually results in slow walk with smaller steps, gastroparesis, swallowing difficulties, constipation. Leg dystonia, hand curling or contracture, greatly lessened sense of smell, foot drag if very active, some stuttering and can't find words. Feel like I'm in a box and let out for 4 hours when on and when off back in the box....apathy and anhedonia, (maybe the same but not sure). Eye specialist saw convergence problems and exophoria both can be neuro problems, PD or dystonia.

I am otherwise a happy person?? Ha! I am! Still have my sense of humor. I just feel very disconnected to everything around me and people and find stress and anxiety at levels not experienced before. These changes have been going on for over 5 years. I feel so much better on L-dopa (MP). Can you tell me what I'm missing to make the diagnosis right. Thanks for the reply MB.

MBAnderson profile image
MBAnderson in reply to rideabike

Now, it sounds like Parkinson's, but I'm just another random guy on the Internet.

Often, when people are newly diagnosed, they are highly anxious, sometimes panicked and hyper-vigilant to every little quirk in their body which sometimes leads to less than accurate self-diagnosis or an exaggerated perception of symptoms.

Because it might be Parkinson's, if I were you, I would immediately adopt all the steps you would take if you were formally diagnosed with PD, i.e., the best nutrition/diet/supplement plan, exercise routine and lifestyle changes - because even if you do not have PD, that would help fight off/counteract whatever you do have and if it turns out you have nothing, it's a much healthier lifestyle anyway.

The other thing I would do if I were you is I would go find a motion disorder specialist.

Keep in mind it's not a death sentence. It's a wake-up call.

(I have more info under my profile.)

MBAnderson profile image
MBAnderson in reply to MBAnderson

PS. You're being a happy person is your most valuable possession. Work hard to keep it. I am a happy person, too and it makes all the difference in the world.

MBAnderson profile image
MBAnderson in reply to MBAnderson

PSS. Below you say you sleep all night and sleep in the day which we don't hear very often as a Parkinson's problem. Tiredness/fatigue is a common side effect of probably 100 different maladies, but many of the symptoms you describe above are common to PWP (people with Parkinson's.)

rideabike profile image
rideabike in reply to MBAnderson

All my life sleep was never a problem but now I only sleep with the help of supplements; L-theanine, ashwagandha (now trying tryptophan because of low blood pressure), 5HTP, taurine and 5 mg melatonin. If I wake up, which I usually do at 2am, I have magnesium bis-glycinate by the bed to help get me back to sleep. It's a nightly battle. The more exercise I get helps me to sleep then I have fatigue during the day worse but I'd rather sleep so I have to get moving. Bladder urgency is a problem at night or anytime. So many symptoms that PWP have. I feel it may be an atypical type but time will tell won't it. May also be drug induced or some type of bacteria that got to my brain. Thanks MB Glad you're happy....😊 Sad uses too many face muscles.

Oceanflow profile image
Oceanflow in reply to rideabike

Your Parkinson symptoms seem like mine! I think I’m a non-tremor dominant sub-type.

rideabike profile image
rideabike in reply to Oceanflow

Many of the symptoms listed here are like mine as well. I guess none of us fit into a stereotype because there isn't one but it's interesting to see the variety.

Do you have small handwriting? It seems to define PD for many doctors but my handwriting if fine. Typing is another story as I can't seem to find the letters or keys anymore. I was never very good at it but I find my brain is slower now and I can't seem to think fast enough to type. L-dopa helps. My arms swing when I walk but not all the time. The head and internal tremor is definitely dystonic and not PD but it's hard to tell where the defining line between the two movement disorders is. A few years ago I kept googling loss of feelings of enjoyment or pleasure. How do you explain that to someone? No one I know would understand. Glad you replied. You're in BC to aren't you? Take care and stay safe!

Kia17 profile image
Kia17 in reply to rideabike

May I ask whether you have done DatScan?

rideabike profile image
rideabike in reply to Kia17

No...It usually wouldnt be offered. Very expensive and no insurance. (Canada)

jimcaster profile image
jimcaster

parkinson.org/understanding...

ion_ion profile image
ion_ion

Minor intermittent tremor in one hand, for tremor dominant PD. For the other I do not know.

chartist profile image
chartist

I think constipation, fatigue and brain fog are common ones I have heard mentioned on the forum .

Art

laglag profile image
laglag

Foot drag & not swinging arm(s).

Thanks for all your replies.

I’ll tell you alittle more about why I’m asking. I’ve been feeling not myself with some problems and whilst looking online. I’ve been feeling constantly tired /fatigued for days and days .. not even wanting to eat. Sleeping all night n sleeping during the day. Whilst looking online one of the problems that came up constantly was this. I’m 40 years old. I don’t knitter anything about this problem and maybe I’m just being silly reading and believing things online

in reply to

I do have tremor in one hand I think.

pandaeyes1 profile image
pandaeyes1 in reply to

You’re on the younger side for Parkinson’s disease to develop. A lot of your symptoms are non-specific, but getting some basic blood work done may be very helpful.

pvw2 profile image
pvw2

Dragging my feet so that I would trip on old unlevel floors, but catch myself, was a sign ten years before I was diagnosed. After a left hand tremor, I was diagnosed. The neurologist noticed I didn't swing my left when walking, and my wife noticed I stooped.

You don’t meet the profile of someone with Parkinson’s.

in reply to

I thought the same but as soon as Parkinson’s came up and some symptoms like I have came up I got really paranoid. This was the perfect place to ask for help Thanks to all of you who have replied

GymBag profile image
GymBag

My wife noticed that I was not swinging my arms when I walked.

My hand writing became small and scrawly, I could not read my notes.

rhyspeace12 profile image
rhyspeace12

My husband had REM sleep disorder many years before he was diagnosed with Parkinson's .Next came brain fog and then he lost his sense of smell.

LAJ12345 profile image
LAJ12345

I think thrashing around in the sleep is also meant to be a very early sign.

Zella23 profile image
Zella23

Frozen shoulder - difficulty healing. Lack of arm swing, loss of sense of smell, unable to run around a squash court as stiffness with movement. Slight tremor when cooking and preparing food.

Millbrook profile image
Millbrook

1. Active dreams and thrashing around in bed- REM sleep disorder one of the definitive symptoms

2. Loss of smell- neuro said could also be caused by virus

3. Balance affected- when u do the pull back test takes more than one step to regain balance

4. Frozen expression on face

5. Frequent night urination

6. Poor lane discipline when driving

7. Choke on own saliva and swallowing difficulty

8. Lack of arm swing when walking

9. Fatigue

10. Stiffness

After more than a year on vitamin B1 hcl have resolved most issues and MRI looks normal. My husband is 63 and we have started on melatonin to improve the nocturia.

pandaeyes1 profile image
pandaeyes1 in reply to Millbrook

I’m glad to hear he is doing well! For many Parkinsonism patients, their MRI brain is usually normal! Or pretty unremarkable. There are some subtle signs but usually aren’t picked up unless you’re looking for them.

Millbrook profile image
Millbrook in reply to pandaeyes1

I guess it doesn’t matter as long as progression has been halted and improvement seen😅

pandaeyes1 profile image
pandaeyes1 in reply to Millbrook

Ah I’m glad that there’s improvement. Unfortunately, Parkinson’s is a neurodegenerative disease, and currently there’s not a known thing that stops progression. Though there have been multiple studies that exercise is the only thing that slows progression

Millbrook profile image
Millbrook in reply to pandaeyes1

Yes there has been a great improvement. He had an MRI done to exclude a stroke when he had vertigo 2 weeks ago. My concerns about PD were discussed and his neuro said he could not say definitely that he would have it in 10 years time nor that he would not have it in 10 years time and it was pointless worrying about it now. IMO a good doctor manages not only the illness but the patient’s anxieties as well. No medication.

He exercises regularly, takes vitamin B1 hcl , pectasol C ( removes toxins from body ) Miyarisan 588 ( probiotic that clears alpha synuclein, Fountain of life ( Canadian antioxidant lignan from spruce tree- it helped greatly with fatigue) and is much better than before. He still has nocturia poor sense of smell and active dreams occasionally. I am very thankful 🙏🏻🙌

faridaro profile image
faridaro in reply to Millbrook

Millbrook, would you mind to share information on Miyarisan 588 and any studies regarding its clearing of alpha synuclein?

Millbrook profile image
Millbrook in reply to faridaro

Hi. I started my husband on Miyarisan 588 about a year ago after reading articles on how certain probiotics can promote butyrate, the gut brain connection and it’s ability like mannitol to clear alpha synuclein. It was specifically clostridium butyricum. My husband also had a lot of stomach issues like bloating and indigestion and always taking omeprazole or nexium. That was some time ago so I cannot recall where I read it. Fortunately, if you look up Kia 17’s post on butyrate in the search bar I replied to his post and linked some articles. Somewhere along the way Gio also started taking this probiotic because the AOR one that he was taking had some issues. You can buy this Japanese probiotic on amazon.co.jp.

Rhyothemis profile image
Rhyothemis in reply to faridaro

I think she means that Clostridium butyricum makes butyrate and butyrate has been shown to clear a-synuclein:

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?te...

I've been trying to eat resistant starch for butyrate production - so a lot of cooked, cooled grains (teff, sorghum, oats) and beans. Teff consumption has been shown to increase butyrate production in lab mice, but unfortunately a lot of Teff products have a Prop 65 warning on them now and I can't figure out why (glyphosate? lead? arsenic? who knows ...) .

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

Millbrook profile image
Millbrook in reply to Rhyothemis

Thank you!

faridaro profile image
faridaro in reply to Rhyothemis

Thank you for the links!

Rhyothemis profile image
Rhyothemis in reply to faridaro

welcome - I should note that Teff seemed to really help me with constipation - which is caused by dysautonomia but I don't know what's causing that - could be prodromal synucleinopathy or it could be idiopathic.

Anyway, the teff is on top of miralax, colace, broccoli sprouts, benfotiamine and citicholine. The mirilax and colace do absolutely nothing on their own, btw.

Kia17 profile image
Kia17 in reply to faridaro

Consumption of 1 teaspoon of cow's ghee every morning on empty stomach produces enough butyrate.

faridaro profile image
faridaro in reply to Kia17

Kia,

Thanks for sharing! I actually have a jar of ghee in my pantry which I forgot all about, but I don't think it would spoil if storaged unopened.

Kia17 profile image
Kia17 in reply to faridaro

doesitgobad.com/ghee-go-bad/

faridaro profile image
faridaro in reply to Kia17

Perfect - thank you!

pandaeyes1 profile image
pandaeyes1 in reply to Millbrook

I’m happy to hear that. I agree that managing expectations and anxiety is so important in patient care!! I’m glad he’s doing well, and I completely agree! Just live one day at a time and keep doing what you love.

Biff69 profile image
Biff69

Looking back for me it was loss of sense of smell then flappy left hand whilst stretching in the morning

pandaeyes1 profile image
pandaeyes1

The cardinal signs of Parkinson’s disease are bradykinesia (slowness) and resting tremor. That’s only about the typical PD and not the atypical ones. But we know now that the non-motor symptoms can occur much much earlier, such as constipation, autonomic issues, hallucinations/psychosis, loss of smell, etc. Some never develop tremor and predominantly have bradykinesia while others have the other way around. It is important to note that PD is not the same as Parkinsonism. Parkinsonism is a bigger umbrella category and this carries a wider spectrum of possible symptoms. Hope that helps.

knightshade profile image
knightshade in reply to pandaeyes1

Can the tremor be brief such as 5 to 10 minutes in only one hand and occur only once or twice a week?

Just curious as I had gross tremors in my right hand but it stopped after beginning pramipexole. Clonazepam (Klonopin) helps but pramipexole put an end to the gross tremor.

Neurologist said nothing and gave me the prescriptions 3 weeks ago.

Other than that:

Anhedonia

Fatigue

Constipation

Sometimes I noticed my right arm didn’t swing but only happens sometimes

No libido/sex drive

No motivation

Easy to lose balance, trip, fall and bump into things. Walk like a drunk person sometimes.

Depression.

All of this resolved with pramipexole 0.125mg twice daily, except for libido. I’ve been on it for less than a month.

Is PD genetic/heritable?

pandaeyes1 profile image
pandaeyes1 in reply to knightshade

I’m glad the tremors are well controlled. Usually the tremors occur during resting periods and go away with movement. Though in later stages it can occur at rest and with movement. There’s also physiologic tremor that some people have. It’s benign and isn’t an issue. It can be enhanced by medications or anxiety or stress. I have physiologic tremor myself, and it gets more noticeable when I’m nervous.

Most cases of Parkinson’s disease are idiopathic, which means it is sporadic. But there are genetic forms as well, and we are finding more and more genes that contribute in some way.

NellieH profile image
NellieH

I hope you'll see a doctor to try to start working up a diagnosis. Depending on where you are, you can probably get a virtual appointment at this time during the pandemic. It can be very scary just surfing the net.

in reply to NellieH

After reading all these messages which I’m so grateful for, I think I was diagnosing myself without many symptoms mentioned here. 🙈

NellieH profile image
NellieH in reply to

Take good care. I hope you get some answers and start feeling better soon.

koshca profile image
koshca

1.Active dreams.

2. Depression., constipation.

3. Sleep disorder.

4. Frozen shoulder.

5. Finally, arm tremor.

Datscan, diagnosed.

kaypeeoh profile image
kaypeeoh

"6. Poor lane discipline when driving"

I never thought of that as a symptom. I have a tremor and poor handwriting. Balance has been off for a while and recently worse but I blew it off to a cast on my ankle. Today realized I need both hands on the hand rail to make it up the stairs. It's not weakness, it's an urge to turn around and go back down the steps. Just remembered my wife has taken over the driving for my medical appointments. I imagine it's because of #6.

knightshade profile image
knightshade

I’m 48 years old and every few days I would get a gross hand tremor in my right hand in the morning for the past few years. I was only sitting and resting. It only happens once or twice a week.

The whole right hand moves grossly about 3 times per second in a rhythmic manner and stops after 5 or 10 minutes or it stops if I extend my hands out straight in front of me.

I held a cup of coffee and had to hold the wrist of my right hand with my left hand to try to stop it from moving back and forth but it didn’t work. Ended up drinking the coffee with my left hand.

I also find it easy to lose balance, trip, fall or bump into things on a daily basis.

Well, I got a prescription for pramipexole from a neurologist after telling her about the brief, gross tremor episodes at rest and I have no further problems. I even feel happier with more energy and my muscles and joints feel loosened up.

I don’t have a diagnosis of PD but my great grandmother had it. The neurologist didn’t say anything about a diagnosis.

Does that sound more like Essential Tremor? I have no idea as the neurologist said nothing and just gave me the prescription.

OREOLU profile image
OREOLU in reply to knightshade

Hi,my first,non motor symptoms of heart palpitations/anxiety,many years before lack of Lt arm swing.

Astra7 profile image
Astra7

Lack of arm swing, slowness and clenched toes.

2bats profile image
2bats

Hi, my earliest symptoms were constipation from childhood and anosmia in my twenties. Tremor in right hand aged 57 eventually leading to diagnosis of Parkinson’s Disease at age 59 - on the basis that I didn’t swing my right arm and that levodopa ‘fixed’ the tremor. Other symptoms include difficulty maintaining centre of lane while driving and total inability to swirl wine in circular motion! Plus multiple shoulder issues...

You might find it worthwhile to have your B12 checked - see youtube.com/watch?v=OvMxJ6G... - Sally Pacholok — and also get assessed for hypothyroidism by having your thyroid antibodies checked, not just TSH - see Ken Berry MD re thyroid issues. Are you sensitive to the cold?

Best regards, Phil 2bats

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