Does anyone else notice that their pd symptoms fade when they are sick with the flu or other similar viruses?

I’ve had pd for a long time and I notice that when I have the flu or a bad cold or upper respiratory viruses that my symptoms fade and I actually feel better. It’s weird. The symptoms come back when I’m well again. Has anyone else experienced this? Thanks

[Smittybear7]

Haven't been sick so I can't add to this. However when it rains I have exacerbated PD symptoms.

[gt2022 in reply to Smittybear7]

Yes, indeed, I feel the same when I get a cold.

[freefallmode]

I experience the opposite effect. So do others according to our local PD support nurse

[Carpediadem]

Yes!! Everytime.!! And also severe hangovers makes me better in my PD

[fido2]

I experienced to my surprise the same a couple of weeks ago. It lasted for a couple of days until I got better from pneumonia.

[klocksmith]

My husband was diagnosed a year and a half ago but he hasn’t been sick since then, so I don’t know. My son had severe ADD when he was growing up and I observed that when he was sick, his symptoms would go away. I tried researching it at the time but I didn’t find any information on it. Coincidence?

[Ponieboy]

So, I also have diverticulitis along with my PD, so when I have flare ups of my diverticulitis I go on clear fluids for 1-2 weeks. It's basically a starvation diet. When I am on fluids only I notice my tremor is almost non-existent. But I have figured out that I am virtually putting almost zero protein and carbs in my system so I think that it allows my meds to work more efficiently. When I am transitioned back to normal foods I will notice my tremors return to their usual schedule.

[1LittleWillow]

I started having obvious PD symptoms in January of 2018. From that point up until now I've only been sick one time, and that was this past January. I was extremely sick with strep throat, and for 8 days I didn't need to take any mucuna at all. It was as if I didn't have PD for a week. Once the strep was gone, my symptoms (mostly tremor) came back. It didn't have anything to do with an antibiotic because I didn't take one (long story).

[Little_apple in reply to 1LittleWillow]

I wonder if the immune system being diverted with the virus, reduces an immune response that triggers PD symptoms.

[Kdsea]

Yep I noticed the same

[DeanGreen]

I have had PD for over 13 years and noticed the same phenomenon. When I have the flu or a bad cold I tend to feel tired and sleepy. Also after I wake up or transition into sleep, my symptoms are diminished so I thought sleepiness may affect symptoms. I went to a hypnotist to. Induce hypnotic sleep, but no improvement of symptoms. PD is a weird disease!

[Zuke in reply to DeanGreen]

PD is a weird disease!

It certainly is!!

[gomelgo]

have the opposite effect ... in fact, it was when I got covid over the summer that my hand tremor became permanently worse

[Ashti in reply to gomelgo]

My husband had the same experience - Covid brought on a continuous hand tremor.

[Oceanwind]

I have noticed the same thing over the last 10 years! It’s almost like my body is distracted well I’m sick and puts its energy into fighting the virus or flu instead of burdening me with symptoms such as gait difficulty , rigidity and speaking problems. It’s almost a relief to be with a virus ! I definitely sleep a lot better!

[Earthman]

When I contracted COVID my PD symptoms got a lot worse. Now I have a bad cold and my PD symptoms are a lot milder.

[Astra7]

I have noticed this with some surprises. It makes me wonder how many of my symptoms are psychological!

[Following_closely]

I have seen that. The first time it happened, it was after I began taking a particular over-the-counter cold medicine and I was hopeful that one of its ingredients was going to turn out to be a previously unrecognized PD treatment. Unfortunately, once my cold improved, continuing to take the cold medicine no longer helped.

I just listened to a seminar today from a prominent PD researcher. One of the conclusions was that people with PD resulting from mutations in Parkin or PINK1 have a very different disease than those with idiopathic PD, and one of the differences was that the first group had markers of inflammation whereas the second group didn’t. Findings were similar in animals with or without those mutations. Maybe we shouldn’t be surprised when a question like yours results in opposite responses from different members!