Looking for Answers

By cjklost

1 min read

My mother has a brother and a half-sister with PD. She has suffered with depression, anxiety and declining physical function for many years. She also has had Addison’s disease for 25 years. We have always attributed her symptoms to the Addison's but the more I learn about PD I wonder if she should see someone to be assessed. I don’t really know that profit how to address it with her primary care physician. I think he’s tired of my grasping for straws. She is 79.

Advice???

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Frank Church Member
Dear cjklost, thank you for your email about your mother. First, the cause and symptoms for Addison's disease are both quite different than those associated with Parkinson's disease. You likelly already know this but Addison's is a problem with your adrenal glad (near your kidneys) not making enough coritsol and other hormones. And you may not know this but Parkinson's is a deficiency of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the brain. Second, they have fairly different symptoms too; importantly, Parkinson's presents with some kind of tremor, stiffness, slow movement and postural instability (these are the so-called major motor symptoms- you may not have all of these symptoms to be diagnosed with Parkinson's). Third, there are definite possibilities to inherited forms of Parkinson's. Finally, I am a basic scientist not a physician, and we do not give medical advice. I would imagine that your mother's primary care Physician would listen to you regarding your mother's health. They are all under a terrible stress and strain right now dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. If you could get a tele-conference meeting set up for you and your mother with her Physician, I am sure that he/she would listen to your questions about you mother's health and consider the possibilities that she may have Parkinson's, or not. Thanks again for contacting this site about your mother's continued health. i wish you all the best success in discussing this with your mother's Physician. Best wishes and stay healthy, Frank for the PD-Team
Angela Robb Member
Hello cjklost - Thank you for sharing your story. Thank you for also being an advocate for your mother to help her receive good care. It is always helpful to have a care team (doctors, nurses, therapist specialities, etc) that can help someone managed their condition. A first step may be to ask the primary care physician if a referral to a neurologist might be helpful. A neurologist is specially trained to assess neurological symptoms. Finding out more information is empowering and can bring the best outcomes. I wish you and your mother the best to find the medical professionals to help. -Angela <a href='https://parkinsonsdisease.net' target='_blank'>ParkinsonsDisease.net</a> team member and Parkinson's Disease carepartner
Dan Glass Member
It can be scary to look "under the hood," but knowing is the first step to treatment and a better quality of life. Sometimes the best ways to ask are to either be straight forward or to say it in a way that makes sense for us. Doctors get it either way. Good luck with this process. I know it's tough, but our good thoughts and support are here.
s-harper Member
Advocate for her! Talk to her doctor about your concerns. If he/she is not willing to pursue your concerns, find one who will. My mother would have gone undiagnosed if I had not advocated for her. My mother's Parksonism started off with a decline in physical function (slow driving & movement), and after she fell twice within months, I demanded she be checked by a neurologist which led to her diagnosis. We had to go through a few doctors to find a good one, but when it's your mom, you will fight to make sure she has the best care. Best of luck!