is there a test for parkinson's now ? when I was told it was just a prognoses .

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They could only be sure when you are dead. which isn't \A .lot of good .

yours EXPORT.

[larry33b]

No chemical or blood test. Only by observation. Or as you say if you really want to know see if Sinemet helps with the tremors. If it works you've got it.

[etterus]

There has been an objective test for several years in the US and several more in Europe. IT is called a DAT scan. It is a regular c-t scan but with an injection of an isotope that targets the substantia nigra. I've had it 2 years ago... it was confirmed.

[billw91]

GE has developed the DaTscan as a diagnostic tool for Parkinson's. You receive an injection and then your brain is scanned to look for dopamine uptake.

It helped me by providing strong evidence that my not-so-typical symptoms were probably Parkinson's. Do some research, there are always potential negative effects with any medical procedure. And check with your insurance coverage-this is an expensive test.

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Hi I have the datscan a long time ago, well before the DBS op. As anyone who has this has already been told they have pd it prove nothing . i have not seen any blind test papers, with a control who is pd free.

larry .I was given a sinemet and that was it. I would like to know if this also has been tested

yours EXPORT.

[soup]

Have you been on the research pages of the Parkinson's UK web site?

As yet there is no definitive test but the test on voice which can be carried out over the telephone looks promising and they are starting on salivary gland biopsies now. The DAT test tells you if your brain is making dopamine in a normal pattern. L-dopa response is almost the definitive test but still, only time and clinical signs will tell.

Sue

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I GET BACK TO YOU Sue .

yoursEXPORT /JOHN.

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soup I can't seem to find this test .You say it can be done over the phone . Can anyone take it ,do you have to pay ?DO YOU OR ANYONE ELSE FOR THAT MATTER know anyone who has been taking L-dopa for sometime and stop't or anyone who been wrongly diagnosed with parkinson's . I don't think the quack,s would say SORRY WE GOT IT WRONG.

yours EXPORT/JOHN.

[Espo]

Agree that most quacks would not admit error, but in my experience it goes the other way - i.e., inirially misdiagnosed as NOT having PD and wrongly treated for something else; then 1 ~ 2 years later, correctly Dx as having PD. .

[Hidden]

I believe if the Neurologist suspects it is PD and puts you on Dopamine and there is a positive response you are diagnosed with PD. other wise it is one of the Parkinsonism problems which I quite believe must be very many.

I dont know how many people had scans etc whether they are the lucky ones

When I was diagnosed, it was a consultation which lasted all of ten minutes and instructions to go back to the GP in two weeks, which would be the time it took for a letter to be sent to them .

I still have my doubts about me having PD, but then If i said anything they would just put me down as stating i am in denial. you can't win with the quacks

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i have been in denial for 18 long years . I was first told i had parkinson's plus then MSA sent to london to see a pro nial qnien who siad i din;t have MSA when't back to walton my Dr said what dose me know he only a academic ? I have tried ever pill in the book and some .the only thing that works . is L dopa before my DBS OP I was taking about 40 madop

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ar aday after the op four 62-5 madopar aday after about a year I needed more put up one to five 62-5 . a year on put on five 125 madopar then rotigotine 16 mg then eight madopar . Told they would not even think of increasing my meds for 3 years also told if i was 70 i could have as many as i like .I am 51 want them now if I have to I will take them to the courts of human rites. i am runing out of meds on a weekly bases . ANYONE WANT TO BE MY ADVOCATE ?EXPORT.

[chris3274]

I was diagnosed with PD in July of 2012. The neuro wasn't completely sold as I walked

like I had a dystonia. My ins. wouldn't pay for the I paid cash (discounted). Had the scan

and got results late in December. The scans were normal. I do not have Parkinson's. If

you google datscan's you can see what a normal one looks like (2 comma's bright red)

and 2 comma's, left side black. Datscan was approved by FDA in January of 2012 but

some ins. won't cover. They say it is experimental. If you truly arn't convinced you have

pd then have the scan done. Good luck to you.

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chris if you don't have parkinson's , what do you have ? Am i rite in thinking you live in

THE USA ?

yours EXPORT.