Orthostatic Hypotension or Not?

[Tamarisk]

PWP does suffer with OH but normally once he falls the blood comes back to the head and he is fine, now nearly every morning he has what I think is dyskinesia then becomes unresposive, hands become spastic, can last from a couple of minutes to 20mins. Do any of you experts recognise this happening?

[BLinNJ]

My neuro prescribed medication for my OH, (after I passed out & broke a shoulder!) Two yrs later I'm happy to say I no longer get light-headed when I stand up. There's more than one med out there for OH - ask your doc about that.

[Tamarisk in reply to BLinNJ]

Thank you for your reply, he does take Fludrocourtisona for OH but this is different, he can be sitting in a chair when the attack’s start and he becomes semi conscious and incoherent

[BLinNJ in reply to Tamarisk]

Sounds pretty serious. Maybe you should call the doctor.

[park_bear in reply to Tamarisk]

This does not sound like OH at all. Even when I suffered from disabling OH I still was able to sit. Moreover OH is consistent and does not come in "attacks". You really need a doctor to diagnose what is going on here. If you still think this is OH, get a blood pressure cuff and measure his blood pressure both before and during the attack.

[Tiger101 in reply to BLinNJ]

BLinNJ, my husband has terrible dizziness from OH and it makes it worse with the Rytary they put him on. He has had it before they put him on meds and has fainted twice from it about a year ago. I don't want to wait until he falls and hurts himself!!!They are not addressing this at all!!! Can you tell me what meds you are taking and the dosage? Thanks!

[BLinNJ in reply to Tiger101]

HI, Tiger - I 've always had low blood pressure - runs in the family. But switching to Rytary put me in the danger zone, too. This is something my neuro (whom I left) should have realized. You're right to seek help now.

I'm currently on high doses of Rytary and take 5 mg of MIDODRINE HCL 2x/day for the OH. It's helped tremendously. But even the with the MIDODRINE I'm wary of heat & humidity, and always, always keep myself hydrated.

Maybe your husband will have to give up the Rytary?

[aspergerian13 in reply to BLinNJ]

I'm glad Midodrine works for you and for many others. Midodrine didn't work for me. Cervical spine problems seem a part of my dilemma.

[Tamarisk]

Shrug of the shoulders was the answer, so am asking the community if it is a common happening in PD or something I am going to have to track down myself.

[Tiger101]

I would definitely call the doctor on this. Video tape it if you can so they can see exactly what he is experiencing and what your talking about so they don't poo poo it! Had to learn the hard way for my husband. From what I have read everyone's experiences are so different with PD. This could be some type of seizure or even OH at it's worst! Please let us know how it goes with an update.

[Tamarisk]

I will try to but his next app isnt till mid Feb, we only see him once a year, we have tried to bring it forward but no luck. He takes a steriod 0.1mg once a day, Sinemet 25x250 every 3 hours, 2 amantadina per day and a rivastamine 13.3 patch for the dementia.

[Hikoi in reply to Tamarisk]

Do you have a family physician, i wouldnt think you can only see a neuro over this. It sounds very unusual and like Tiger I thought of seizure. It may well be connected to his dementia.

[ddmagee1]

I have PD and I take two medicines for hypertension, which I’ve had for years. Just this last year, or so, I’ve had several episodes of orthostatic hypotension, where I’m getting up from a sitting position, and I become light headed. The last one, I came very close to fainting. From what I’ve read, some people with PD, get hypotension, and, of course, it is associated with Multiple System Atrophy as well. Only a qualified movement disorders specialist/neurologist/physician, would be able to evaluate for sure, as to what is causing the orthostatic hypotension. I will be seeing two doctors in the next several weeks, and we will see if aí have to have medication adjustments, or what. It is a complicated ailment, that needs to be correctly diagnosed. I don’t have the problem where I become unresponsive and my hands become spastic, right after an episode of orthostatic hypotension. My advice would be that you have this evaluated as soon as possible, by a medical professional. There could be more going on, in addition to the orthostatic hypotension.

[bubee]

What you describe does not sound like OH Sounds more like a seizure Read the side effects of his drugs Call a doctor --see a doc as soon as possible or it not then take hime to an ER This sounds very serious.

[Tamarisk]

As no PWP has suffered this problem from this splended site I think you are right and that something more is going on in the brain, as the general family practitioners do not seem to have a clue about PD I think it might be better to seek a private doctor who might have more knowledge.

Thank you to you all who have sought to offer help.