Parkinson's

[StadEMS3]

My dad was just diagnosed with Parkinson's today on my Mom's Birthday... He's been doing the "Ozzy" shuffle, falling down and drooling, and other classic symptoms for a while now. He has been put on 100mg Amantadine and the docs say this should help with his symptoms.

He's 76, has anyone had experience with this disease? What am I to expect?

 

[limblips]

My dad was just diagnosed with Parkinson's today on my Mom's Birthday... He's been doing the "Ozzy" shuffle, falling down and drooling, and other classic symptoms for a while now. He has been put on 100mg Amantadine and the docs say this should help with his symptoms.

He's 76, has anyone had experience with this disease? What am I to expect?

I hate to bear bad news, but from my experience with my mother (78 diagnosed 8-9 years ago. It is a very debilitating disease. She is at the stage now where the drugs aren.t lasting as long or as effective as they were. She has fallen and broken both shoulders (pins/screws) and recently her hip, (had to have a replacement hip). Some patients never progress that far, it just seems to go to a point and remein the same. I hope that is the case with your dad. I really hate to watch my formerly very active mother go down like she has. It hurts.

 

[Cowgirl]

Sorry to both of you.

 

[RareBreed]

Sorry to both of you.

 

[Aerogal]

I highly recommend you both get the following book:

"What your doctor may not tell you about Parkinson's disease" By Jill Marjama-Lyons, Mary J. Shomon

Mary Shamon is a Holistic Patient Advocate and if it wasn't for her website about Thyroid disease I would still be suffering not knowing what was wrong with me.

They advocate the use of natural substances vice chemicals (unless absolutely necessary) to help reverse the symptoms of disease. This includes diet modification, the best exercises to use and herbal and natural remedies (be sure to check with your doctors about medication interaction)

 

[ginwoman]

My dad was just diagnosed with Parkinson's today on my Mom's Birthday... He's been doing the "Ozzy" shuffle, falling down and drooling, and other classic symptoms for a while now. He has been put on 100mg Amantadine and the docs say this should help with his symptoms.

He's 76, has anyone had experience with this disease? What am I to expect?

get him to a good neurologist.
There are drops the doc. can prescribe to help with the drooling. I think they are really eye drops. I'm sure there are websites out there geared to Parkinsons you should check out. The office on aging is a wonderful resource. Good luck to you. My brother is 60 and has had Parkinsons for 6 or more years. He is in a nursing home because his needs are so great.