Parkinsons

[McBp_2003]

Been doing some research on Parkinson's Disease. My Great-Grandfather had it and I saw somewhere that it's passed down to males, although women can devolop it too. I'm a little young to be having it but havenoticed some possible symptoms. BUT I have been having trouble with something. How do you get tested for it? I've seen sites saying it's hard to test for it but not one has said how you would go about doing it.

You need to sleep more and drink less coffee.

[ponygurl]

Squirt.
As of yet, there is no accurate method of determination as to who will develop Parkinsons and who will not.
There are several early warning signs, like tremors, balance problems, motor problems, and tightness in the facial area, especially around the mouth.
People who have a family history of Parkinsons are , on average , 3 x more likely to develop parkinsons than those without family history.
Incidence in males is higher than in females.
I do not know what is available for drugs in the US, but Canada has some wonderful meds for Parkinsons that really enables patients to enjoy a better standard of living in the mid to late stages of Parkinsons.
I am sorry about your Grandpa , Squirt. Parkinsons sucks.. majorly. :(

Have a look at this site.

http://parkinsons.alexian-neurosciences.org/info/earlysigns.asp

[kathleen]

http://parkinsons.alexian-neurosciences.org/info/earlysigns.asp


Good site Pony. It's a good place for Squirt to do some research.

Squirt, you are at least 20 years away from developing symptoms of the disease - if you get it at all. The truth is, you are at higher risk because of your Grandfather but it doesn't mean that you yourself will suffer from the disorder.

The test that is done to determine your status is a genetic one and is quite accurate.

But you really do must sit down and think about whether you want the test done or not before you do it.

Consider this - suppose you go tomorrow and the test shows you carry the defective gene. Then what? Are you going to live the rest of your life waiting for the tremors to start? They may never start. But if they do (say, 30 years from now) by that time medical researchers may have more drugs and information to control the disorder.

Are you willing to live 30 years in anxiety and fear?

If it were me, I wouldn't want to know. But you are going to have to decide for yourself what you want.

People with Parkinson's Disease are great dancers.

This old man and old woman lived (separately) in a retirement home. Everyday, the woman would get up, get dressed, and step out her door only to meet her male friend. They would then go to breakfast together. After breakfast, they would go across the street to the park where they would spend the morning sitting on a bench and the old woman would unzip the mans pants and hold his dick. One morning, when the woman stepped out her door, her man friend was not there waiting for her. Distraught, the woman went down to the cafeteria and had breakfast alone. Afterwards, she went across the street to the park where she saw her male friend sitting on 'their' bench with another woman who had her hand through his zipper, holding his dick. She indignantly marched up to her friend and demanded to know what this other woman had that she did not. The old man said, "Parkinson's disease."

This old man and old woman lived (separately) in a retirement home. Everyday, the woman would get up, get dressed, and step out her door only to meet her male friend. They would then go to breakfast together. After breakfast, they would go across the street to the park where they would spend the morning sitting on a bench and the old woman would unzip the mans pants and hold his dick. One morning, when the woman stepped out her door, her man friend was not there waiting for her. Distraught, the woman went down to the cafeteria and had breakfast alone. Afterwards, she went across the street to the park where she saw her male friend sitting on 'their' bench with another woman who had her hand through his zipper, holding his dick. She indignantly marched up to her friend and demanded to know what this other woman had that she did not. The old man said, "Parkinson's disease."











Ah shit! ;D tears

Ah shit! ;D tears


A keeper, eh? Had a hard time finding that one. :)

[ponygurl]

Another good site , Squirt.
http://www.cnn.com/2003/HEALTH/conditions/10/30/parkinsons.gene.reut/index.html

and..
http://www.michaeljfox.org/

[kathleen]

Would you want to know, Pony?

[jeny]

Squirt, I know you didn't specifically ASK for advice to the question as to whether or not to be tested, but if you DID ask, I would say, "don't do it" I agree with Kathleen that there is nothing to be gained in living under the cloud for the next so many decades. We had a similar dilemma in my family several years ago when my Aunt was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrigs) and she entered into a clinical trial. In addition to trying to find cures, they researchers were looking for patterns of inheritance and most of us (her genetic relatives) gave blood. We were given the option to to find out if we were carriers. Most of us declined. The truth is, In 30 or 40 years I could be in for it, but I don't want to know right now, life to is wonderful to have that hanging over my head.

[ponygurl]

This old man and old woman lived (separately) in a retirement home. Everyday, the woman would get up, get dressed, and step out her door only to meet her male friend. They would then go to breakfast together. After breakfast, they would go across the street to the park where they would spend the morning sitting on a bench and the old woman would unzip the mans pants and hold his dick. One morning, when the woman stepped out her door, her man friend was not there waiting for her. Distraught, the woman went down to the cafeteria and had breakfast alone. Afterwards, she went across the street to the park where she saw her male friend sitting on 'their' bench with another woman who had her hand through his zipper, holding his dick. She indignantly marched up to her friend and demanded to know what this other woman had that she did not. The old man said, "Parkinson's disease."


True story along these lines..
We have , at the home, an oldster who has Parkinsons, and is also catheterized.
As you can imagine, a permanent catheter hanging out of your penis all the time is stressful, painful and cumbersome.
Well. this dear man has hand tremors like nobody's business, and it is worse when he is bothered, agitated , or nervous.
He is all of these when we are changing his catheter, or emptying the bag.
He INSISTS on holding the tubing while we work.. We cannot convince him that his tremors are making this difficult.. or that he is in danger of yanking the tubing out a few inches..
I fear for him.. it's inevitable one day. :-\

[kathleen]

We were given the option to to find out if we were carriers. Most of us declined.

I'm pretty sure I would have made the same choice.

The truth is, In 30 or 40 years I could be in for it, but I don't want to know right now, life to is wonderful to have that hanging over my head.


Exactly. The knowledge itself can change you and/or your life in so many ways.

These changes can possibly be positive (determination to live your life to the fullest in the time you are given). My limited knowledge of human nature makes me think that this reaction would be rare.

[ponygurl]

Would you want to know, Pony?

Not at Squirt's age.

There is no cure.
I have breast cancer on both of my parents sides of the family.
I don't know if I'd even want to know that.

[kathleen]

I fear for him.. it's inevitable one day. :-\


:(

[kathleen]

Not at Squirt's age.

I doubt I'd ever want to know - until it hits. Even then, I'd probably live in denial for a long time. ;D

[ponygurl]

Sometimes early detection is key in treatments. There is that factor to consider.

[jeny]

I doubt I'd ever want to know - until it hits. Even then, I'd probably live in denial for a long time. ;D


When it hits, you just do whatever you want. :D In the last years of my Aunt's life, she and my Uncle traveled to a lot of places they always wanted to go, until she could no longer travel. They spent most of their lives savings, but it was their "retirement" squashed into a few years. My Aunt was a HUGE Disney fan and they would decide on a moments notice to fly down to Florida for a weekend at the Magic Kingdom, things like that. It'll be two years coming up in December, seems like a lot longer.

[kathleen]

Sometimes early detection is key in treatments. There is that factor to consider.


Good point.

Yes, this is a very important factor to consider.

Unfortunately, we are talking about a genetic disorder here. At the present time, there isn't much we can do about it but control some of the symptoms. This may change in 30-40 years. Though I think while the technology may be in place at that time to prevent people from getting it in the first place, not much can be done when the disorder hits.

[ponygurl]

Good point.

Yes, this is a very important factor to consider.

Unfortunately, we are talking about a genetic disorder here. At the present time, there isn't much we can do about it but control some of the symptoms. This may change in 30-40 years. Though I think while the technology may be in place at that time to prevent people from getting it in the first place, not much can be done when the disorder hits.
[/quote

True.. in Parkinson's .. it's symptom control.
In SOME diseases such as Alzheimers.. early detection is key, despite the fact that there is no cure. It is degenerative, but the degeneration can be slowed quite a bit by drugs and mental activities.

[the bib]

People with Parkinson's Disease are great dancers.


BWAH!!!! hahahahahahahahahahahahaha!

I'm glad I didn;t have my coffee in my hand. ;D

[ponygurl]

Perhaps I am pmsing..
But let me be a bitch.
Parkinson's is way more than tremors..I have seen people die of Parkinsons.. it's a hellish way to go.. and I find not much humour in the disease.
Sorry.. had to say it.. now kick my ass if yas want to.

[McBp_2003]

You need to sleep more and drink less coffee.


It's not just the shakes. And I don't drink coffee.

[wendy]

Wouldn't you want to know if you were considering having children?

[kathleen]

Wouldn't you want to know if you were considering having children?


Oops, my bad, this isn't a genetic disorder. I got it mixed up with Huntington's. :-[

Before I answered your question I wanted to calculate the risk factors and that's when I realized my mistake.

It doesn't seem that genetic factors are at play. Actually, I don't think that it is really known what causes it.....though environmental factors seem to be theory that is gaining acceptance.

So no, I wouldn't get tested even if I was considering having children. I was thinking of Huntington's when it came to the testing as well. It's very easy to test for Huntington's, not so for Parkinson's. There apparently are some things they look at but there really can't be an exact determination of the risk.

[ponygurl]

May I be so nosy as to ask what symptoms you have squirt? Od did i misread?

May I be so nosy as to ask what symptoms you have squirt? Od did i misread?



Well, one symptom he has is this black hair growing on his hand. :P

[McBp_2003]

Well, one symptom he has is this black hair growing on his hand. :P

That doesn't cause blindness, does it??

[kathleen]

That doesn't cause blindness, does it??


Not necessarily. It might mean you are turning into a werewolf.

I would get that checked if I were you.