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I seem to have entered a new, debilitating phase of Parkinson’s disease.
Until this week, I had what now seems like mild issues with walking, primarily festinating gait and some falls. I was getting physical therapy to help me walk better, and it seemed to be working.
Then something happened at the beginning of this week (a stomach virus? severe constipation followed by 24-hour non-stop diarrhea?) and suddenly I was unable to walk without holding on to furniture, a cane, or my husband’s hand. This inability to walk unassisted waxes and wanes during the day, and I don’t know what to make of it. But I’m afraid to leave the house until I get a better handle on it.
Here are some videos taken today that show what I mean.
I woke up at 8:15, took my morning meds (mainly Sinemet) by 8:30, and expected them to kick in by 9:00. But I was still hobbling around at 9:15, when we took the first video:
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At 9:30 I ate my breakfast, and by 10:15 I was able to walk – although I don’t understand the flighty hand movements:
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At 11:30, I took my next round of Sinemet and shortly after that I felt fatigued and took a nap. When I woke up at 12:20, I was still able to walk, so I went downstairs to the kitchen to make a sandwich. I made the sandwich OK, but by 1:00 I lost the ability to walk again:
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I regained my walking powers by 2:40, and this on-again-off-again situation continued throughout the day (4:00 – can’t walk; 5:30 – can walk). I don’t know what to make of it, and I’m scared.
I should add that up until last week I was physically very active. I’d swim 2500 meters (about 1 1/2 miles) in our town pool. I lifted weights at the gym. I rode my spin bike for an hour at a cadence of over 100 rpm. I walked a lot outside. I did yoga stretches at home. I had physical therapy sessions to help me walk better. Why wasn’t that enough?
Also, my neurologist, a Movement Disorder Specialist, recommended on Thursday that I head to the emergency room of a nearby hospital, because of my stomach problems as well as my inability to walk unimpaired. The doctors found nothing wrong with my gut and sent me home, as the entire time I was there I had no problems walking or standing.
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Update: Sunday, Nov. 6
I took it easy today and had only one instance where I couldn’t walk. Here’s how the day went:
7:00 a.m. – woke up, took Sinemet. No problem walking.
8:00 – ate breakfast.
8:45 – can walk. Took nap.
10:00 – took next round of Sinemet. Still walking OK.
10:45 – ate lunch.
11:30 – suddenly I can’t walk. I tried to take another nap but was unsuccessful.
12:45 p.m. – got out of bed. Can walk.
1:00 – took Sinemet. Worked at desk.
2:00 – ate snack. No problem walking.
3:00 – did light exercises. No problem walking.
4:00 – took Sinemet. No problem walking.
6:00 – ate dinner. Retired to bed.
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Update: Monday, Nov. 7
I saw my neurologist (Movement Disorder Specialist) today, and she said this is not the next stage of Parkinson’s for me. It’s only a temporary side trip due to the wild bout of constipation/diarrhea I had last week. I should be back to normal in a week or so, as long as I get a grip on the constipation front. Many Parkies have problems with constipation, and if left unchecked it can impede your body’s ability to absorb your medications.
Phew!
Gripping stuff!
