Hypochondria

[kaypeeoh]

Hypochondria, thy name is Kevin. My first bout with cancer was when I was 5 yrs old. I was just learning to read and was leafing through Life Magazine. I saw a poster-board titled, "The Seven Deadly Signs of Cancer." A few days prior I had noticed a lump near my nipple. When I read The Seven Deadly Signs of Cancer I was convinced I had cancer and went berserk yelling that I needed a doctor. I screamed enough that my parents got me to a clinic. I don't remember much about it other than being told I didn't have cancer. Whew! But the event started a lifetime of hypochondria.

I keep urinalysis strips in the bathroom. I check my urine regularly. The strips showed border-line glucose and ketones so of course I knew I had diabetes. This was a month ago and just today got the lab results. I had a full urinalysis and blood panels. Out of 50 tests the only thing out of normal range was A1C: 5.7 (5.7--6.3).

So blood tests confirm pre-diabetes. Not enough disease for medication, instead I have to eat less junk food. I could argue that semi-sweet chocolate dipped pecans are health food.

Dealing with this caused me to forget my daily Rytary. So without PD medication for the past month I should be deep into the "Off" period. But no, my main symptom being double vision, I an symptom-free.

I have to see the neuro next month and plan to bring this up although I know her response will be intense eye-rolling.

[Smittybear7]

Good luck!

[Bolt_Upright]

I hope they tell you that you never had PD. Good luck.

[kaypeeoh in reply to Bolt_Upright]

Thanks. Yesterday I saw a PT about chronic back pain. It's a problem I've had since high school. I use a treadmill a lot for exercise. One of my earliest PD symptoms was lumbar back weakness that caused me to tilt forward at the hips.

Years ago I was running a marathon and had to quit after falling several times due to back weakness. At age 60 I wondered if I'd need one of those old-people-walkers to remain upright during races.

Back to the present, the therapist suggested I might have caused the problem by always using the treadmill at different elevations, anywhere from 2 to 15% inclines. The inclines meant I was always tilting forwards at the hips to counter-balance myself as if climbing a steep hill. The net effect is chronic straining of the "hip adductors" the muscles responsible for standing and walking up-right. The PT suggested using the treadmill without elevation for a while, just to see whether it helps the back problem. He recommended stretching exercises to help the adductors.

This relates back to PD because videos of old men with PD are often seen shuffling while tilting at the hips, walking like they're having trouble staying upright.

The very first neuro I saw 7 years ago diagnosed me with PD because of my gait.

I just finished an hour on the treadmill. The whole time I was thinking about what the PT had said, that stopping elevations could help. So I did the hour at 0% elevation.

And it was miserable.

[amykp]

OK, wait a sec--did you say your A1c was 5.7? Low?

That is GOOD, and means you DON'T have diabetes, pre or otherwise. People with diabetes have high sugar, not low sugar. A1c is a measure of how much sugar has been built up in your red blood cells over time, so it's a slightly more accurate measure than just a one time number. (That single number might get thrown off by something crazy you did last night, or if you forgot to fast, or something.)

Anyway, I know that's not really the point of your post, but thought I'd put your mind at ease about one thing, at least! :o)

Unless I am misreading something?

[kaypeeoh in reply to amykp]

Hi amykp. Prediabetes means a fasting blood sugar SLIGHTLY higher than normal. Lots of things could cause it. For most people it's nothing to worry about but my hypochondria won't let it go.

[amykp]

ohhh, I see. 5.7 was the lowest end of what they consider pre, not the lowest end of what they consider normal. I did read you wrong. Sorry!

But you can be a hypochondriac then, because, like you, I would take it seriously, at least enough to do something. I say cut out sugar and carbs. And to tell you the truth, I think cutting sugar and carbs is good for a LOT of things, controlling diabetes and neurodegeneration. IMO you can add fat in its place.

(disclosure-I eat a keto diet :o)