Connection between cicrulatory problems and development of PD symptoms ? ("traces of ischaemic small vessel disease" is mentioned in my notes" - I think that means blocked blood flow) Quoting Monika Lindqvist <[log in to unmask]>: > Dear Diana, I am now 67 years old and was diagnosed with P about 8 yrs ago. > > 50/200 5 times a day. I have been on the same dosages for almost 3 years > now. > snip > Later that year I was hospitalized with a problem that I evidently was born > with - a foramen in the heart that apparently did not close the way it > should when you are born. An atrioseptal repair had to be done and it had to > be > done with an open heart surgery so they could close that hole which they > called > a gaping hole - > which by then had caused a reversal or shunting of the blood flow in the > heart causing a critically low oxygen contents in the blood that the heart > sent > to my brain and body (48% vs the 99-100 that should have come through), > > I imagine the reversal of flow had occurred from time to time as I recalled > severe headaches over several years whenever I spent time at high altitudes. > I > had traveled to India for instance and spent considerable time high up in > the Himalayas. So my substantia negra cells probably suffered a decline > over > time until I finally I realized I must have some cardiac problem, feeling > palpitations and sudden hypertension. I went to see a doctor for an > echocardiogram (which he did to humor me, not because he thought there was > anything > wrong with me, I looked too healthy to him!!) I insisted and much to his > surprise, there it was, an atrioseptal defect! > > In retrospect I probably had lost enough of those precious dopamine cells > to > develop Parkinsons over time. As you probably know by now, there are many > factors that hasten loss of those cells, toxins being all around us these > days. > Who knows why you are losing yours. But medication will help, why are > you > not taking them? True, I was not happy about taking medications - never > took > any pills until I was 60 yrs old and was started on a couple of heart > medications to prevent atrial fibrillation because of the patch that > irritated my > heart's natural pacemaker, and then the Requip to stave off some of the > symptoms of P. > > Anyway, I went back to work after three months and managed fairly well for > a > couple of years - until another snag sent me into retirement - I contracted > mycobacterium avium complex which is a lung afflliction that is hard to get > rid of, could be hospital or community acquired. I went to a lung hospital > in > Denver to seek treatment because no one knew what to do with it here in So. > California. I took medications for 18 months to be sure it was gone. By > then my activity level was not great and I determined to change that. My > first > P doctor told me not to join any Parkinsons support groups - they will > surely > depress the hell out of you, he said. But when I finally went to one I > realized how lucky I was. I could still drive, I could still manage my > household > and all the activities of daily living and vowed to do this as long as I > could. Yes, I realized that I could not return to work in a critical care > area > as stress seems to make symptoms worse but I could make my fight with > Parkinsons my job besides becoming a full time housekeeper, gardener, > accountant, > cook,baker....for me and my partner, who has never made me feel less of a > person for having Parkinsons. > > I corresponded with other Parkinsonians -met John Ball whose disease had > plagued him for over 20 some years but who ran 14 marathons during those > years > to keep the disease at bay. Exercise, it seems, is not just a stress > reducer, > producing endorphins in the brain to give that feel-good sense, it helps us > keep our muscles toned, helps us retain balance and movement and definitely > gives a sense of achievement to the ones that keep it up. John wrote a > book, > Living Well, Running Hard that inspired me to get back on my bicycle and > add > activities that build muscle (yes, even Parkinsonians can build muscle even > as it is a muscle wasting disease) - > > I participate in the Long Beach and LA bicycle marathons, riding at least > every other day to keep in shape, sometimes just a few miles, sometimes > long > distances. I get on the bike even on days when my legs feel like they > don't > even want to get out of bed, and it is easier to ride than to walk. I see a > movement specialist doctor who listens to me and is willing to allow me to > experiment with my medications so that when I feel the stiffness come on > early and > even when it is not time to take the drug, I do and then it usually gets me > through the rough spots and I am able to take the next dose a little later > instead. > > I travel, and since all of my family live in Europe except my kids who live > here - I go to Europe at least once a year. I just have to get up in those > crowded planes and walk around a lot and wish I were wealthy so I could walk > around with a little more space in first class!! > > The cramps are my main problem - especially mornings they are there just as > faithfully as daylight comes. > I am almost afraid of breaking bones in my feet as I try to 'walk out the > cramps' on feet that twist every which way. But then they are gone, just as > suddenly as they came and I get to morning chores, breakfast, cleaning up, > moving lawns, chopping wood for the fireplace, gardening, a morning bike > ride, > meeting or corresponding with friends, taking the dog to the dogpark for > socialization/exercise > > Without the drugs, I realize I could not live fully. I was hospitalized > for > 12 days for a twisted small intestine this past summer, and could take > nothing by mouth, so I was without any P-meds as well, because there is no > intravenous drugs for P yet. The cramps were relentless, the walking around > the > nursing station was an enormous effort. Again, I could not write, brushing > my > teeth was a chore, and ,just shifting my body positions in bed became very > difficult. Back on the medications, I am back to where I was again. > > So, yes, even as the drug companies are most certainly to blame for the > slow > progress in finding a cure for the P, because they make so much money on > controlling symptoms with all these medications, so why should they help > finance research with their profits?? ( Requip costs over $400 dollars a > month > without insurance!). So imagine the drug companies' losses if a cure was > suddenly > found for the P today!! > > I hope for a cure. But in the meantime, why should I not try to live as > full and active a life as the medications allow me? > > So take the drugs and feel the difference! Some days you will feel so > normal > that you think you no longer have the P. Other days the medications don't > seem to do a thing for you or you get that 'between doses' low where you > don't seem to be able to even move your feet. It may take an hour before > they > kick in, especially if you take your dose late. > > But thank God for the good days and accept the bad ones, just keep moving > and get in touch with other Parkinsonians to keep a perspective on your > situation. It may seem bad, but it could be worse. I get back to John Ball > who has > awful tremors and dyskenisea and bad cramping at times, but he keeps going > and even heads a Team Parkinsons organization with his wife. I do not have > the tremors and shaking, and I count my blessings every day I don't feel > the > effects of the disease, I have not suffered the loss of balance a lot of > people tell me about, nor the total inability to put one foot in front of > the > other (freezing). I imagine all of these things may eventually happen to > me, but > I am 8 years into the diagnosis and today, for now, I am not losing sleep, > nor will I allow depression to creep over me like a wet fog, attempting to > rob > me of my tomorrows. I live today, I make plans for the future, and as I > read your questions I felt compelled to answer you because there is more to > life > than Parkinsons disease. > > Sincerely, > > Monika > > > > ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > ---------------------------------------------- This mail sent through http://www.ukonline.net ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn