Possibly misdiagnosed orthostatic hypotension

[WinnieThePoo]

I have just returned from the UK where I joined celebrations for my parents diamond wedding anniversary. Mum got her card from the Queen, so she was happy. And Dad was running round like a toddler, on his feet all day at the party, nobody even remembering we had a wheelchair available. At my sons wedding 6 months ago he couldn't move 20 feet without a wheelchair.

This is almost certainly due to him finally (with a lot of pushing from me) having a colonoscopy which has identified his anemia is due to colon cancer, and providing him with iron infusions pending surgery on 6th March. The orthostatic hypotension had been his neurologists and geriatricians diagnosis, but I wonder if the diziness and thigh muscle cramps were due to oxygen starvation due to anemia.

Certainly the iron infusions have us forgetting that he has a wheelchair, and in the 4 days I was with them, he never even looked likely to "wobble". On my last visit, whenever he moved round the house, somebody shadowed him with a chair to collapse into.

Just hope the surgery is a success. He looks fit enough to survive it now - and you couldn't have said that 6 months ago either

This was massively his most disabling "parkinsons" symptom. He still has the others, well controlled by sinemet, but is a new man at the moment.

It's always worth bearing in mind that just because you have PD doesn't mean you can't get other problems too.

[Fed1000]

This is very comforting. Happy for your parents and especially for dad.

[aspergerian13]

WtP,

An excellent summary of complexity when pathological processes overlap.

[park_bear]

This does not sound like orthostatic hypertension now. It is a simple matter to confirm or reject that diagnosis - measure his blood pressure lying down and then standing - if they are the same then no OH.

[WinnieThePoo in reply to park_bear]

Yes. Maybe it was a bit of a mix. I tried to monitor Dads BP when he "wobbled" whilst I was staying with him, and there was some pattern to low BP which recovered rapidly when seated. He also has atrial fibrilation and had his heart restarted about 4 years ago. But, for the moment, the iron transfusions appear to have transformed his health, and so oxygen loss through anemia looks like the prime suspect.

[Juliegrace]

Does anyone else in your family have PD?

[WinnieThePoo in reply to Juliegrace]

My Dad and I both have PD confirmed by Datscans. Dad has tremor, freezing, rigidity, stoop, gaping , soft voice and minor balance issues - all well controlled by sinemet.

My younger brother has just been referred to a neurologist.

[ConnieD]

Sounds like he was able to truly enjoy their special anniversary celebration!! So happy for him and I pray his surgery goes well!

[20fatcats]

Thats very good news. Yes I agree that often doctors/ specialists put everything down to what ever diagnose you have got and dont look beyond. Hope the operation goes well .