Slow respiratory rate with PD?

[Bhaktitoo]

This morning I did a Google search with the heading “10 to 15 breaths a minute.” Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, MS/auto -immune disorders as well as head trauma and cardiac arrest were listed as possible causes. Does anybody know about this as it relates to Parkinson’s or experienced it yourselves? I’m experiencing it! I’m asking because I’m meeting with the neurologist next Tuesday morning for a do-over a visit.

(Inspired by my visits I’ve here, I pushed again for 3 months to see a neurologist and finally managed it this week but the visit was a bust. I waited from 8 am for almost an hour, after finding to my surprise that I was to see a resident first, then the doctor never appeared. Because I am immuno deficient and it was an office building with hundreds of unmasked people, I gave up and went home, after two inquiries of staff didn’t provide any help. I did tell the resident about my breathing rate—I got an Apple Watch in order to produce demonstrable data since I think I often get “old lady syndrome/send her home” tx. She suggested I see a cardiologist but I already do and it’s not that though my heart rate is in the low 50s and O2 low 90s when this happens. But according to them, this is someone else’s bailiwick. Primary care doctor is a nurse practitioner and don’t think she understood this is not just something that happens to older people, Which I hear a lot.)

At night my breathing is 7.5 to 13 breaths a minute; my daily average is 10 to 15 breaths a minute. This has been going on for six weeks. I’ve had a lot of nerve related symptoms along with it, worsened neuropathy, hot knives, numb toes in the feet, numbness and tingling of arms, odd bladder(no UTI) and cognitive sx, visual changes ophthalmology thinks neuro related, Inability to walk a straight line and worsened tremor, hand, head, voice and jaw. Hmmm. Nobody very interested.

[JayPwP]

I have Bradycardia, with very low heart rate and AV block with pauses upto 2.5 seconds, during early morning in my sleep.

This all came up during investigation of my fainting spells.

First cardiologist advised a pacemaker based on 3 days Holter monitoring. Second opinion cardiologist ordered a Tilt-Table test, 24 hours Ambulatory blood pressure monitor and upon my request 7 days Holter and 2D Echo.

Based on all the results, it was concluded that there was no problem with the heart that could cause a Syncope. The issues observed are all during sleep, which can be normal.

Further investigation showed me that post 25/100 C/L, just when the on state starts, BP goes down to 80's/60's and I feel sleepy, and then slowly comes up after some time.

It is my assumption that on some occasions it may be lowering further causing me to faint. Neurologist appointment is two weeks away.

[Bhaktitoo in reply to JayPwP]

I am sorry that is happening to you. I know what it is like. I fainted any time I had to stand too long in one place from the time I was a child until my early 20s. It sounds scarier, though, not to know what the trigger is.

I have POTS, at its worst 60’s/40’s. Even if you don’t, it’s worth knowing: Are your electrolytes properly balanced, in particular sodium? I’m guessing a tilt table test was to rule out POTS and they checked electrolytes. There are other autonomic disorders besides, so I’m glad you will see a neurologist. I had v. low sodium, 120’s And was told this is great. It’s not.

I wonder if some of the things that are helpful to POTS might help you. If you get more than a few seconds warning when you start to feel faint, crossing your legs tightly at the thighs, Crunching your abs and crouching can keep blood Closer to your head to give you time to get your head down. If your bp allows it, you could try increasing your sodium? My POTS doctor advised me to keep my sodium level at least 142. Helps. I travel with a vial of Celtic sea salt, Which has a high mineral contentand if I feel faint , I wash it down. I also feel better when my blood pressure is above 110 and manage that by drinking licorice tea, chewing Panda licorice or taking cortisone if need is dire. But you want medical input before trying and a blood pressure cuff. As I’ve gotten older, I developed adrenal insufficiency and metabolic acidosis, both of which can affect the functioning of your nervous systems (and get better and worse). I bet somebody will check you out for that, too, if they haven’t already. Good luck At your visit!

[JayPwP in reply to Bhaktitoo]

Thank you 🙏

[JayPwP in reply to Bhaktitoo]

He talks about a case of POTS, around 5.30 video time

youtu.be/sGQW8Tx78hM?si=9sW...(Not working as expected?)

[Bhaktitoo in reply to JayPwP]

I love this guy! I wish I could see him. Thank you so much. Will you let us know how your neurology appointment goes? I did manage to be seen in the movement disorders clinic but they don’t believe in leaky gut, so I’m on my own. they think I have advanced essential tremor rather than PD, but say I need to see a neurologist for The myriad other neuro problems that have arisen with the return of my gut problems…

[JayPwP in reply to Bhaktitoo]

Will do

[park_bear]

The low end of normal is 12 breaths per minute, so you're not that far off. But this part:

>O2 low 90s when this happens

plus the other symptoms you mentioned says to me some form of dysautonomia. B6 shortage and/or toxicity is a potential cause. See my post here along with the links to related posts:

healthunlocked.com/cure-par...

What is your medication regimen?

[park_bear in reply to park_bear]

I see from your previous post you have not been diagnosed with Parkinson's so you're not taking Parkinson's meds.. In that case I would look at vitamin B2. See here: healthunlocked.com/cure-par....

Vitamin B2 can be supplemented safely. I take 100 mg daily.

[Bhaktitoo]

Thank you For your help. Sometimes O2 is 89, respiratory rate is 7.5, ht rate 49, alarming, always at night. I also think it likely an autonomic disorder and wonder if vagus nerve dysfunction Is what they meant at the Cleveland clinic when they said Parkinson’s can cause this. This began after a botched stress echo where they pushed me past 100% of heart capacity and I crashed. So I wonder if their insistence this doesn’t have anything to do with my heart has anything to do with that.

I discovered a book with some self-help vagal exercises and for the first time in 10 years, have managed to tone down migrainelike suffering. Which I’d forgotten until I just wrote this so I’ll try that. Dx POTS in 2014 But never Anything like this.

I have read your posts about the various B vitamins. Before I discovered this site, I had monkeyed around with activated multi B formulas since I have MTHFR but they always made me feel worse. After experimentation, I’m pretty sure it’s the pantothenic acid And perhaps the very high doses of everything in it. I have liver damage, so that’s an issue. Pretty much all of my woes except the tremor developed after being treated for HCV.

In the too many pieces of the puzzle department, I also developed metabolic acidosis, and the only disordered breathing prior Was before I started taking magnesium citrate to manage acidosis (Drinking bicarb was like drinking Drano)So I don’t have to conserve CO2 by not breathing. But that would last less than an hour, and I haven’t had it since 2018. some new thing has arisen (I translate from the Spanish benediction on parting, May no new thing arise!

[Steegen]

Have you done a sleep study to check for sleep apnea? That could explain at least some of the symptoms you've described. It's also common and treatable, so a good idea to get it ruled out if nothing else.