Does anyone know anything about Parkinsons Disease

coasterqueen wrote: Some of you remember not too long ago..the same day I was put on short-term bedrest my mother told me my grandmother has a spot on her lung and they are doing tests. I still don't know anything about that but my mom emailed me this morning and this is her messages:

<<Did you get you pants fixed OK? Sorry I could not be there to help you.

For Some reason Mom and Dad stopped by the office and wanted me at the Bingo hall last night with them. It was mom's last night to play bingo I fould out once I was there. The rest of the night went downhill. I no more than sit down and was informed that when she went to the doctor yesterday she was given bad news. She was told to get her affairs in order and that she might have 6 to 9 months at the most. Really nice evening. That is why she is wanting everyone to vist at least one time after Christmas. Sorry to give you such doom and gloom, I know you are not feeling well. But I thought you would want to know. Remember that I love you, Ryan and Kylie very much.>>

Apparently she's being all lovey and acting like she cares about how I am lately. A little strange but I guess I'll just say it's sweet. Anyways...she never explained WHY my grandmother apparently only has so long to live so I emailed her asking if she knew why. This is her reply:

<<She has parkinson-plus disease with Bradykinesia. You might as well say she cannot even walk now, not after what I seen last night. If you look it up on the internet that's the way she was last night, looked like she was either sleeping or staring with no expression on her face, could hardly move her hands and arms, had trouble speeking clearly and was at one time drooling. In the last 3 weeks it has gotten even worse that when she was in the hospitol. They are trying to get a ramp built for her to use, if I can get the guy out there to do it. I called him today and told him to get the estimate to them immediately. If you know any one else who might be reasonable on building a ramp let me know.>>

Okay DH works with a guy whose wife has Parkinsons so we like to think we know a lot about it. I don't know anything about Bradykinesia? Anyways the last time I saw my grandma was beginning of Oct. She told me at that time she had Parkinson's. I told her I didn't think she did because she shows NO signs of having it, visible ones that is. She said she's apparently had it for over 10 years and that's why I said I didn't believe she had it without any signs. Anyways now I'm being told YES she does.

I just don't understand. She hasn't had ANY visible signs til just recently apparently and I've never heard of someone dying this fast from Parkinsons. I'm only questioning this because my mother and grandmother are both literally insane when it comes to sickness. They are both hypochondriacs and totally twist what doctors tell them.

What do you think? Any advice? Anyone know much about it?

darrylswifeskylersmom replied: i have no advice sorry!
but i just wanted to say im sorry to hear about your grandma!
u and your family are in my thoughts and prayers!

gr33n3y3z replied: I'm sorry to hear about your grandma
But I have no advice on either Bradykinesia or Parkinson

amynicole21 replied: I guess she could possibly have had it for 10 years without showing some symptoms. Some people can live with parkinsons for many years (think Janet Reno and Michael J Fox). Here's something about it from Parkinsons.org:

Parkinson's disease belongs to a group of conditions called motor system disorders. Parkinson's and related disorders are the result of the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells. Dopamine is a chemical messenger responsible for transmitting signals within the brain. Parkinson's disease occurs when certain nerve cells, or neurons, die or become impaired. Normally, these neurons produce dopamine. Loss of dopamine causes the nerve cells to fire out of control, leaving patients unable to direct or control their movement in a normal manner. The four primary symptoms of Parkinson's are tremor or trembling in hands, arms, legs, jaw, and face; rigidity or stiffness of the limbs and trunk; bradykinesia, or slowness of movement; and postural instability or impaired balance and coordination. Patients may also have difficulty walking, talking, or completing other simple tasks. The disease is both chronic and progressive. Parkinson's is not usually inherited. Early symptoms are subtle and occur gradually.

I'm so sorry to hear this about your grandmother. I hope that somehow this is all a misunderstanding, and I'm keeping you and your family in my thoughts.

Maddie&EthansMom replied: I'm sorry Karen. I don't know much about it. I will ask my mother. Her dad died of Parkinson's when she was a senior in high school. It is a rather debilitating neurological disease, but as far as moving THAT fast....I just don't know. I've mentioned before that one of my best friends is a neurologist and I worked for him back in my teens, but I still don't recall much about the disease. He was very passionate towards the people who had it.

I just wanted to let you know I am praying for your grannie and your family.

coasterqueen replied: Thanks ladies. I haven't had time to do any research yet, but DH said he did a quick search and found out that Parkinsons Plus which I guess is what she has is sort of like Parkinsons..diagnosed as such, meds don't work and in reality really is something much more severe and can't be medicated. I honestly don't know you.

I'm having a really tough time with my feelings because I'm sad if this is in fact what is happening. I love my grandmother a lot. BUT I'm not close to her anymore and a part of me doesn't want to be again because she tends to suck you in and drain you dry. I know that's selfish of me if she doesn't have much time left but I'm not sure if I can mentally take this.

When I get the nerve up I'm going to call my aunt Jenny...the only sane one of the whole bunch..who'll hopefully know the "truth" behind all of this and maybe I can see where I stand in all of this. I don't talk to my aunt J hardly at all but I do know she will tell me the truth versus my mom or grandma. It's very sad to think she might not be here very long after my baby is born. I just don't know how to feel right now.

kit_kats_mom replied: I'm sorry to hear that your grandmother may be ill. I'll be thinking of you and your family and sending you sanity vibes.

I know that my granny is getting to be more and more irritating as she gets older and I dont' really like to be around her anymore at all but I really try to get there as often as I can since you never know what may happen. KWIM?

A&A'smommy replied: I'm sorry to hear about your grandmother!! (((HUGS))) I'm sorry I don't know too much about it except when my Grandfather was diagnosed my grandmother came over to my parents house a lot and did quite a bit of research. I will ask them Saturday where they looked up all there stuff at.... (((HUGS)))

FroggyJK replied: What sad news and what a hard situation to be in with not knowing what the truth is in all of this!!! You and your family will be in my prayers.

redchief replied: Hi,

Sorry about your bad news.

Bradykinesia is a generic term for "slowed movement." Basically it is used to describe slow response to stimuli. The easiest way to describe it is a person with bradykinesia perceives events in real time but their reactions to those events happen as if in slow motion.

It is often described more often in advanced Parkinsons patients as the disease progresses. With Parkinsons, tremors and tics are common, but as the nueral receptors that are damaged begin to die, the nerves cease to react at all or very slowly.

Bradykinesia comes from two roots; brady meaning slow, and kinesis meaning movement or reaction to stimulus.

Parkinson's comes from a lack of dopamine (an enzyme produced in the brain stem that acts like a taxi cab to the brain for nerve stimuli) In other words, lack of dopamine means the signals from nerves of the different parts of the body that control muscle movement and reaction don't get to those parts of the brain that do the controlling.

While tremors is the most recognized symptom, the other symptoms exhibited by your grandmother are consistent with Parkinson's.

I am very sorry because that is such a cruel disease, since the mind knows what it wants to do, but the body doesn't "listen".

MommyToAshley replied: Karen, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your grandmother.

I hope things aren't as bad as your Mom indicated, please update us when you can.

kimberley replied: (((hugs))) Karen. i am sorry about your grandma. p&pt coming your way.

jcc64 replied: I'm sorry to hear about your Grandmother's condition. I don't know much about Parkinsons, but I believe the spot on the lung may be a separate condition. If they have the story straight on the prognosis of 6-9 months, I would say it probably has more to do with that than the Parkinsons.
It sounds like a very complicated situation. Good luck Karen.

Boys r us replied: Wow, I'm really sorry to hear this news Karen! I don't know alot about it first hand, my best friend's dad has been living with it for about 10 years as well and he's a very successful attorney still practicing. He does have the physical characteristics associated with parkinsons.