Parkinson's Disease

[sindhu]

My father (53 yrs old) has tremors in hands(both).. his handwriting has changed.. his voice has become shaky .. when he gets tensed his voice becomes more shaky... & from past 5-6 years tremors are being observed... but now it has increased... wen consulted a doctor he said that it's due to heredity... but i'm worried if this could lead to parkinson's disease... wen asked for the second opinion ,the doctor said that nothing can be said until 2 years.... it may or may not be parkinson's disease.... but i'm very much worried ... can this lead to parkinson's .. if so wat are the symptoms that have to be observed.... wat could be the initial symptoms.... can parkinson's disease be prevented by any sort of medication..??? please help!!!

[ouidalloyd]

i'm not the expert on Parkinson's but i have learned a few things since my mom was diagnosed several years ago. Usually they start with falling alot, then the stooped slow baby steps but with feet shuffling not really picking them up. Real unsteady. Mom has that blank, expressiionless stare that has gotten alot worse. Alot of mumbling. Hard to understand. Also constipation, depression and just liking to be secluded from the outside world. Doen's like change. She is taking Sinemet 3x a day. Also on Aricept. The Alzheimer symptoms came with the Parkinson's too. We just upped her Aricept to 10 mg once a day. She is doing physical therapy now after a few falls. She wouldn' listen to me when I suggested it a year ago. Its hard on them to have to be so dependent on someone. She's 79 but before this you would have thought she was 59. There is no preventative medicine but they need to get on a good vitamin regimen Like taking vitamin c, b complex and coQ10. Mom can't take omega vitamins because she's on Plavix or I'd have her on that too. Also make him eat. I have to force my mother to eat. Mini meals are better because they have no appetite and they do get full very fast. Also make sure he drinks plenty of liquids or he'll dehydrate. She's done that a few times too. Good Luck...its going to be a long road ahead. I know and am not halway there. I just want to take of my mom the very best that I can, the way she took care of me and my children when we were helpless babies. Because basically that's what you are doing, taking care of a baby in an adult body. I wish you the best and the strength to do it.

[sindhu]

Thanks a lot.... U are really doing a wonderful job.... and keep it up!!!! very less people nowadays have the patience and concern to look after their old parents..... thanks a lot for the information ...
thank you