I was diagnosed with PD 1 year ago at the age of 42 but I’ve had various symptoms that could be attributed to it going back many years. The question in my mind is, is it all connected to PD? Here’s a run-down of issues I’ve had in the last few months:
Waking up at 4 or 5 am and not being able to get back to sleep. Sleep issues go back many years. A few years ago had big problems with excessive daytime sleepiness.
Very irregular bowel movements. About 10 years ago I was told I had IBS. Had haemorrhoid banding this year.
Mood swings, feel OK most of the time but get very low about once a month. I was diagnosed with depression 20 years ago and take meds. Anxiety also an issue.
Need to pee often, especially at night, an off and on problem. I’ve always had a “weak” bladder.
Forgetfulness, yes that too, I’m bad with people’s names, even with some people I have known for years, I get names muddled up and then I get anxious about saying the wrong name. I think my working memory has become affected too. Light-headedness too, I get orthostatic hypotension.
I want it to all be connected to PD then it would all make sense. At the same time I don’t want it to be. My symptoms are similar to yours, what lead to my diagnosis was I started dragging my right foot. A huge shock for me too, I could never have managed it.
I don’t have so much trouble with my foot, in fact I bought a skipping rope this year to incorporate into my workout and it was a great idea. I just have lots of other annoying symptoms, like stiffness in my back.
It all looks very familiar to me too.
Haemorrhoids were banded a few years ago - that was fun!
Bladder problems were put down to an enlarged prostrate - benign so no worries there.
My voice hasn’t recovered from throat surgery 12 months ago. I think the lack of recovery can be put down to PD.
Lack of motivation on a regular basis.
PD has a lot to answer for…
I just watched a lot of the Invictus Games. That was motivational.
I’m sorry to hear that lennybear.
My bowels are irregular but not exactly constipated. I don’t got for 2 days, then I go, then about an hour later I need to go again, then again, like I can’t empty my bowels completely. Finally my bowels are empty, then the whole weird process repeats itself.
I have a similar experience as. For when I finally go, I was given a trick by a Prostate nurse specialist. The trick is to raise your legs when you are sitting on the toilet, so your knees are almost up to your chin (as if you were using an Asian toilet). This has the effect of straitening your colon, making it easier to pass the odd log. I use a stool designed for small children to use to reach the sink. It helps me. Do you find any correlation between your on/ off days and your bowel movements? It doesn’t appear to be so for me, but it might be too subtle for me to notice.
Hi David. Thanks for the tip. No, I don’t have on/off days, guess I haven’t progressed enough to that point. The only thing that points to me being “off” is my handwriting getting smaller. My bowels just seem to have a mind of their own. Maybe I need to make some changes to my diet which which is hard, discipline wise.
I still wonder about this, particularly if my mood is and has been affected by PD. Somehow if true it’s very hard to accept.
With my bowel issues I believe it’s the PD. And I’m bleeding again from the rectum, it’s my hemorrhoids though I did have them banded.
With my sleep, is waking up too early and not being able to go back to sleep caused by PD in some way? It could just be anxiety. Is anxiety caused by PD? I can certainly get anxious easily. I don’t handle stress well. Some of it is from my struggle to self-actualise. Perhaps PD has hindered that process. Perhaps it’s all connected.
Hello VW
All your symptoms add up. Mine were very much the same. I also had and still have Rem Sleep Disorder. Hemorrhoids I was told The sphinkter spasms and won,t relax. Try taking deep breaths and relax as much as possible on the loo.
The lack of sleep also adds to the mood swings. Try to do a little exercise 2 hours before bed and drink little just before bed. Catch 22 fluid helps with BM. But less fluid less visit to the loo. American and am learning different words in the Uk.
Life really becomes a ritual with Parkinson’s. If my wife and I go on a 5 day trip it sends me into a tis. Eat wrong, sleep different, slow as a duck on land, shake worse.
Parkinson’s club membership. Free to join. But who the hell wants to be a member. Tom PWP
Yes, some people with Parkinson’s may experience anxiety, including feelings of unease, worry and fear. Anxiety may be related to changes in brain chemicals, which control and regulate your mood. Any concerns you have about living with a long-term condition may also cause anxiety. In the majority of cases, anxiety can be treated. And there are different things you can try to help manage your symptoms.
I’ve been starting to feel more certain that my anxiety and my mood swings are a symptom of the pd. I find I have these mood swings and there’s no other explanation for them. I’ve had depression too and been treated for that in the past (well before the dx) but now it’s just mood swings. I’ll feel low for a day or two and then bounce back. The anxiety has been there a long long time.
So I would say the mood swings and the anxiety are my biggest non motor symptoms, followed by my bowels and my sleep. I had banding done but I must have another haemorrhoid because I’m still bleeding so back to the colorectal dr. Sleep is ok at the moment, I just find I wake up too early and can’t relax enough to go back to sleep.
Other only slightly annoying problems are bad short term memory and orthostatic hypotension.
Fatigue is not an issue for me, I find my energy levels have not changed at all, for now.
I think your observations are right, your anxieties and bowel issues definitely sound like symptoms of Parkinson’s. Have you raised this with your GP or Parkinson’s nurse? If not, I’d recommend that you speak to them about this so they can advise you on the kind of support that’s available to you. You can also speak to one our trusted advisers via our helpline to speak about your symptoms in more details, they can offer more information and support as well.
Do give us a call on 0808 800 0303 or email us at [email protected].
Hi Reah
Thank you for your support. Yes I have raised all these issues with my GP and neuro. In fact they existed many years before my pd diagnosis. I have had specialised treatment for the anxiety but it has never really gone away. I have been taking Effexor for over 10 years now, it does help my mood. I have worked with a psychoanalyst too which was helpful.
Regards
Angus
I’m glad to hear that you’ve already spoken to your GP and neurologist. Unfortunately, a lot of treatments can be trial and error so it’s good that you’ve found the right medication that works for you. As mentioned before, our helpline is always here for you if you need additional support on this.
I’m a 31-year-old guy, and I’m also experiencing these symptoms: weak bladder, detrusor underactivity with a contracted anal sphincter. I’ve seen three different neurologists, but they told me it’s not PD (Parkinson’s disease).
What do you think about my symptoms? I did an MRI with contrast but nothing came out