Hi just a short intro, to ensure I’ve got this post correct. I’m 65 coming 66 (so old git). My story, earlier this year my walking, already hampered by knee and hip problems became worse, balance was becomig poor. I’d had a couple of near misses and head butted a radiator on way to floor and my stutter on foot movement became increasingly noticable. Saw GP and was then on fast track for CT Scan and after that GP started me on meds initially a low dose Sinemet (12.5/50 3x daily). That gave instant if short term relief. Next visit to GP dosage was upped (25/100 3x daily). Again improvement but not perfect so we experimented again adding an extra 12.5/50 at bedtime. All change again and started on Co-Careldopa (25/250 2x daily) and Lecado (200/50 slow release 1x daily,at night ). Only bad side effect nausea and occasional barf, despite taking anti-emetic which had the interesting side effect of causing nausea/vomiting.
My guess is my Parkinson’s probably started 2018/19 and steadily becane worse until late spring 2021. Hidden by work related joint injuries, the afore mentioned knee and hip problems. Now I’m on the Co-Careldopa/Lecado mix, my movement is much improved. Now I am more able to go out rather than be stuck indoors.
For my sins I was 31 years in Ambulance Service 20 of them as a Paramedic before medical retirement in 2013. I’m hoping I can find more ways to improve or at worst stabilise my condition whilst hoping for research to come through. One wee problem, on guitar, my fret fingers seem to be a bit slow, any ideas on helping that would be most welcome.
Hope to contribute more in future
Hi and welcome to the forum @Katsoft. You’ll find this a friendly and supportive place so keep those posts coming. It’s good to hear that you’re getting some helpful medication right now. You’ve already discovered that it can take a while to find the right ones in the right amount, Let’s hope you can benefit from what you’re doing now for quite some time.
How wonderful that you’re able to keep playing the guitar and haven’t give up despite becoming a bit slower. There are other musicians on the forum, and hopefully they can talk to you about they’ve found works for them. You can do a little searching on our website yourself but this article might have an exercise or two that could help.
Don’t forget our friendly advisers who you can reach on our helpline on 0808 800 0303.
Best wishes,
Janice
Forum Moderation Team
Hi Katsoft
Nice to meet you. There’s lots of friendly & helpful people on this forum.
I play the guitar too, and find that soaking my left hand in hot water before playing is useful.
Thanks might give that a try mind you I’m a lefty. Only restarted guitar a few years ago when lefty guitars started appearing at similar costs to right handed guitar. I miss the calloused finger tips on my right hand, but a bit of practice will bring them back.
Hi again.
More about my condition and how lucky I’ve been, was put on higher dose, see previous post, and at this dosage I was to all intents almost free of Parkinson symptoms. My foot/leg stutter had almost vanished, my balance was good, stiffness and muscular rigidity had gone (mostly), best of all my speech and vocalisation were vastly improved and yes my fret hand was improving.
Only problem was nausea, mostly bearable, with anti-emetic but had couple of slight phlegm upchucks and one complete removal of stomach cotents.
Phoned GP for advice about changing anti-emetic meds. Did not get GP who has been treating me. GP contacted Parkinson’s nurse on my behalf. 5 days later, on his sayso and without cotacting me, my meds were reduced to almost initial levels. The effect was almost instant, my Parkinson’s symtoms returned with a vengeance, *********(insert your own relevant comment). Suffered for 3 days and contacted my usual GP, immediately overnight modified release was replaced by original high dose, this showed some improvement. Arrangement was to see/speak to GP after a few days. Did so and the decision is to increase one of my day dose back to higher level.
I’m now being given much more control of my meds to raise/lower my medicine dosages to get the best reduction in Parkinson’s symptoms whilst keeping upchucks to a minimum.
I can do this because my GP is knowledgeable about Parkinson’s, she started me on meds long before other doctors might have. I have not been seen by specialist yet, almost 9 months, and according to some sites I should not be started on meds until specialist had seen me and confirmed diagnosis.
My GP has not only started me on meds but has made sure I’m included in decisions concerning my health.
I would say I’m very lucky to have a GP( not my own in the practice) who has a good knowledge of Parkinson’s and trust in her patient, in my case it might have something to do with my 31 years in Ambulances as a paramedic.
So I’m seeing her tomorrow regarding another wee problem, appoinment made to allow a group of medical students to watch, poke and probe me. I can’t refuse after her helping me.
I’m putting this here for all to see in the hope someone who’s not getting the help they need can check out their GP practice or specialist unit a change of GP, Doctor or specialist Nurse with a view to changing who they see. If I had stayed with my original GP I might not have even started on any meds.
Good thing is tomorrow I’m going back to almost my previos meds levels so Parkinson’s symptoms should become almost negligible
Hi! I am a beginner and wanna take suggestions. Everyone loves an acoustic guitar, but I found here also having an electric is very helpful to aid in learning, especially for us beginners struggling with chord shapes, transitioning speed and of course the strumming patterns. I have a BOSS compressor pedal that I use for sustain when playing country style, but I really prefer the guitar response without that compressor in front of the amp
Hi just some info. Got acoustic and electric at home. Got semi-acoustic here in italy. Found a chord cheat document geta similar effects but using 2 fingers for chords. Also been introduced to using open settings. So past few days I’ve been annoying neighbours over here with my practice