Parkinson's Symptoms I missed BEFORE Diagnosis

        I never thought I would have Parkinson's!  Both of my parents died from Cancer so I thought that would be what I would eventually get. I had breast cancer in 2010 and was quite shocked I got it because NO one in my family ever had it!  I later found out that one in seven women get breast cancer.  In May 2018, I developed a bad case of sciatica! I went to my family doc who told me to rest my leg, take over the counter meds and go to PT.  I did all of that. During that time, my sciatica just kept getting worse and worse so I took more and more over the counter pain meds and developed Pancreatitis and had to be hospitalized for a week. The docs all seemed concerned about me having Pancreatitis but I was concerned about my painful sciatica. They talked me into having my gall bladder removed so I did that last Aug. Eventually I got out and went home and went back to PT.  My handwriting seemed to be different and it was hard for me to write nicely and clearly.   I just figured it was part of aging. I also started to have difficulty getting up and down from the couch or a chair.  I thought my couches were too soft so I ordered two new couches(I really did!) I had to use a cane and a walker because what I thought was sciatica kept getting worse. I started seeing a pain management doc and he gave me shots in my back that did NOTHING! I had to pay $1200 per shot for four shots and I got absolutely NO pain relief!   I shuffled when I walked but attributed it to my sciatica. I also occasionally shuffled my feet  most of the day but it was only once in awhile.  I went back to my family doc who said it was all part of sciatica!  I eventually went in the Hyperbaric Chamber  for 20 sessions to see if that would help my sciatica( $125 per session NOT covered by insurance), I also tried acupuncture(also NOT covered by insurance).  I also was given medical marijuana but it really never helped me much. My daughter Renee is a PA and she said that I should get tested for Parkinson's.  I had fallen a few times by then. I thought she was freaking crazy!! I called my family doc for a referral to a neurologist and he gave me one but said I definitely didn't have Parkinson's. I was happy to hear that!  I had to wait a few months to see the neurologist. He wasn't sure what I had, he said it was probably something Parkinson's like or a type of movement disorder. I don't even know what that meant! He said he would put me on Levodopa and if I moved better that I most likely had Parkinson's or a Parkinsonian disease. I wasn't at all comfortable working with a doc who was so nonchalant about my medical condition.  I was on the waiting list to see other neurologists.  I eventually got to see a fabulous doctor who is head of Parkinson's at the hospital. He asked me a ton of questions and watched me walk and perform a few physical activities and he said that I definitely had Parkinson's. I also went for a second opinion to another top Parkinson's specialist who confirmed my diagnosis. He increased my Levodopa and now here I am with  diagnosed Parkinson's. I have Akinetic Parkinson's. I don't have any tremors yet.  I might get them and I might not, 30% of patients never develop tremors.   I was diagnosed in Jan of this year. I still have Sciatica! It is so painful, and my balance is not that good. There are days that I need to use a walker all day long!!  So looking back at my history over the year, I see all of the symptoms, I guess I was just in denial and happy that no one thought I had it.  My daughter is really the person who gave me the correct diagnosis a year ago. I had always thought that Parkinson's started with tremors or that tremors were the hallmark of the disease.  Now  sadly, I know differently. 

         Dan tries to get me to go out almost everyday. I guess he thinks its good for my mental heath as well as a little exercise. I am always willing to go to visit my daughter Amy at the cemetery. We always have folding chairs in Dan's car.  After we sat there for awhile, we left and went to Walmart to return my bat remover which didn't work. Then we went to a Goodwill Store. I have been collecting beautiful Angels for Amy's grave site. I found this beautiful doll at the bottom of a pile of old dolls in a shopping cart. It is the Cinderella doll from the Franklin Mint Heirloom Doll Collection.  She looks so much like Amy so I purchased the doll and will take it to her grave this week.  Just typing that sentence made me cry.  No one ever gets over the loss of a beloved child, no matter how long.  I am sure the doll will be taken or stolen because most things we leave there are gone in a few days.  I just don't get people who steal from dead kids.