Hi everyone, lately I seem to be weaving left and right when walking and started bumping into doors and other things in the house, I started using a walking stick which helps is this a normal symptom?
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Yeah, bumping into things and veering off course is really common with Parkinson’s as balance and spatial awareness get tricky.
Great that the walking stick is helping! Mention it to your nurse or neurologist at your next check-up—a physio session or quick meds tweak can often help a lot. You’re definitely not alone in this!
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Hello @Just-a-old-guy , unfortunately Parkinson’s will do this , balance cognitive function are all affected.
There has been many a story in the papers where people have been removed from shops as " normal people" think there drunk , they have no idea about Parkinson’s .
Going through doorway , your cognitive judgment is impaired due to lack of dopamine, your brain can not take in as much information as it did , you have been through a doorway 10000 times but now the input into you brain just can not compute. All the input > small opening, walking all this all at once ! Just go slow.
Sometimes a stripe of coloured tape on the floor on the threshold can help . Your brain is thinking about the tape and not the doorway.
Dopamine as in your tablets ,patch or infusion can also lower blood pressure , so next time you get up from sitting. Give yourself a minute for it to settle. Then set off .
You can get lanyards , sunflower for invisible disability or badges saying. " I’m not drunk I have Parkinson’s"
Hope this helps
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Thanks for the info, not on meds yet, the neurologist has me still under investigation
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Thank you so much for the info Polomint and yes I do look drunk 
Hello @Just-a-old-guy any thing to help
Hello @Just-a-old-guy
Have a look at this
While some balance changes can happen with age, frequently bumping into things and losing your footing isn’t something to ignore. Using a walking stick is a smart precaution, but you should definitely consult a doctor or physical therapist to check for underlying balance or inner-ear issues.
Hello @william23 confused … I am.
With Parkinson’s you have balance problems , I don’t believe its an ear problem more dopamine / lack of cognitive function.
You can have blood pressure problems as well due to the medication.
Can I ask your profession please
I have had walking problems for a good while, my right foot feels like it is pointing inwards although its not! many things can alter my direction of walking, I have to concentrate on my forward direction, being distracted and looking away from directly in front is not fun and changes in slopes and gaps, my wife and myself have to laugh when for some reason my legs want to walk up or down invisible steps, I use a stick for safety but keeping it in rhythm is a problem so occasionally trip over it too, you have to laugh or hide in a dark corner with a blanket over your head 
@Just-a-old-guy weaving when walking was one of the first symptoms I noticed prior to diagnosis. Being Royal Navy (Retired), I used to joke and say ‘uh, ship roll 
. My medication helps a lot with that now.
@Polomint I suffered from Hypotension for months, with some close calls due to blackouts and fainting episodes. Dr’s told me to stop driving etc.
I kept telling Dr’s, nurses etc it was the Amantadine causing it. I’d been given that previously for my Dyskinesia. Long story short, heart flutters and palpitations, even chest pains got people listening to me. I ended up on a cardio day ward being assessed for heart attack and Angina (that’s a separate story). I did the treadmill test and aced it. I took the decision to reduce the Amantadine doseage. Guess what, heart and Hypotension issues went away. Blood pressure now 120/80.
My PD team did some research and agreed it was the Amantadine. They took that info forward to a national conference as a ‘lesson learned’ kinda thing
Cheers
D
Hi @Dino we’re sorry to hear you’re having problems walking at the moment. Stiffness and changing direction while walking are often common issues for people with Parkinson’s. You might find this article on the subject of use to you: Turning when walking | Parkinson's UK. It contains some helpful tips for making walking easier too.
Thank you for sharing your experience with us 
The Parkinson’s UK Moderation Team
Hello @Dusty68
I’m beginning to disbelieve my wife’s PD team , lots of problems reported there way of dealing with it is push her over to another department. And not dealing with it first hand .
As in , they removed rotigotine Patch due to hallucinations = wife could not walk .. my self I would have reinstated ( which I did ) Nope they sent her to mental health !
Speach problem = most get SALT team involved. = Lack of dopamine due to patch removal. Need more dopamine !
It’s ok I’m here to sort it all out and take the #%&T. seams like I’m the only one doing anything . To rectify problems
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@Polomint Off the main topic a bit but I get what you mean. Unfortunately we’re living with PD in what is a postcode lottery. I’m fairly sure you’re aware of that though. My wife and I consider ourselves lucky when it comes to medical support
I do read your posts with interest. I like how you say it as it is, no bulls***!
Cheers
D