WELL.....Crap!

[kaypeeoh]

I hoped Manganese poisoning might explain the tremor. But the blood test says manganese levels are normal.

Then I had the DAT scan. Findings: Reduced uptake of the tracer throughout the striata, consistent with loss of dopaminergic terminals and confirming idiopathic Parkinson's Disease.

I saw the scan with the right 'comma' smaller than the left. And explains the left tremor. She had me do the stomping test and even I saw less force to my stomping in the left leg compared with the right.

Because of reactions to Sinemet Dr Bortan is switching to Rytary, 36.25mg/145mg one capsule three times daily.

So now I go back the the cardiologist to determine why I have chest pain that radiates into my left arm. I have no problems spending three hours a day on the treadmill. The pain is there when I'm out in the cold out and goes away with ibuprofen.

[rescuema]

The fact that your Mn serum test came out normal does not rule out the possibility of manganese accumulation in the basal ganglia nor elsewhere in the body such as in adipose tissues. A hair mineral analysis would've had a better chance of indicating it just as in other heavy metals poisoning.

Does your L/C help your symptoms at all? I was under the impression from your past posts that the meds just make you feel worse with side effects?

[kaypeeoh in reply to rescuema]

I don't feel better or worse with respect to Sinemet. I never felt it affected the tremor. I don't have 'Off' periods. Sinemet makes me feel woozy and unfocussed. Dr Bortan says the new drug--Ritary--should stop that.

[rescuema in reply to kaypeeoh]

You might want to revisit with your neurologist or get a second opinion if trying the drug doesn't make you feel better at all.

"DaTSCAN demonstrates nigrostriatal dysfunction typical of PD as a decrease in the uptake of the radiotracer in the neostriatum with a predominantly early deficiency in the putamen and often an asymmetric distribution.27 Dopamine transporter (DaT) uptake is more prominently reduced in the putamen than in the caudate. DaTSCAN may accurately differentiate between early PD and secondary parkinsonian conditions, namely vascular or drug-induced parkinsonism and ET.27 However, DaTSCAN approaches alone are not sufficient to diagnose PD because they do not reliably distinguish PD from other parkinsonian syndromes associated with nigrostriatal degeneration, such as atypical parkinsonism...DaTSCAN demonstrates variable patterns of decreased dopaminergic activity in patients with DLB. These patterns are useful for differentiating DLB from AD, which demonstrates preserved dopaminergic activity.21 However, it is not possible to distinguish DLB from other atypical parkinsonian disorders such as MSA, PSP, and CBD with DaTSCAN due to overlapping patterns."

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

[Smittybear7]

What kind of blood test did they do?

[kaypeeoh in reply to Smittybear7]

I requested a Manganese test. But they did a full metals panel without manganese. The panel came back with no abnormal levels. So I had to ask for manganese. Manganese poisoning is common to welders. I used a mig welder for 40 years. The test came back within normal limits. Then I asked for the DAT exam. This is similar to an MRI. It showed Parkinson's Disease.

[Kwinholt in reply to kaypeeoh]

I’m sorry that it shows definite PD. I didn’t believe it until I saw the results of my DATScan in front of me as well. The difference for me is the cd/ld helped me. I hope the Rytary works for you. Always remember you not alone in this. Sometimes it may seem like we are and no one understands but the sad fact is all of us who have PD really know what you are feeling. Chin up and keep moving. Karen

[LAJ12345]

Hubby had that chest pain too at a bridge tournament and we figured out it was repetitive strain from playing too much bridge! Do you do anything repetitive on that side or sit or lean in a way that tenses that side? Are you holding an umbrella when you are out in the cold?

[kaypeeoh in reply to LAJ12345]

Two years ago I had 100% obstruction of a coronary artery. Endoscopically the obstruction was removed and a stent was placed. The pain I have now is in the same spot, but not as bad.

[LAJ12345 in reply to kaypeeoh]

Ah.