I like writing about other people, our animals, the trips we take, and various experiences that Sally and/or I have had. I feel very uncomfortable talking about myself but right now I think I must. I am 71 and just a couple weeks ago was diagnosed as having Parkinson’s Disease (PD).
Some of you are probably also at risk. If you have reached your sixties and still think you are bullet proof (as I did) just keep on moving. There is nothing here for you. When you are ready to become human, come on back. I'm a retired Navy Hospital Corpsman and a submariner. If it can sneak up on me you certainly are also at risk. Read on and you can see why submariners or mechanics are possibly at more risk than some others.
The major culprit in PD seems to be a neurotransmitter called Dopamine. Neurotransmitters reside between the nerves in a spaces called synapses and help the nerves convey messages. Dopamine also seems to share responsibility for a problem known as Tourette’s Syndrome (TS) which is well known to special educators. I have known for a long time that Dopamine was a problem with me although, as I child I just knew I was different.
Some of you are probably also at risk. If you have reached your sixties and still think you are bullet proof (as I did) just keep on moving. There is nothing here for you. When you are ready to become human, come on back. I'm a retired Navy Hospital Corpsman and a submariner. If it can sneak up on me you certainly are also at risk. Read on and you can see why submariners or mechanics are possibly at more risk than some others.
The major culprit in PD seems to be a neurotransmitter called Dopamine. Neurotransmitters reside between the nerves in a spaces called synapses and help the nerves convey messages. Dopamine also seems to share responsibility for a problem known as Tourette’s Syndrome (TS) which is well known to special educators. I have known for a long time that Dopamine was a problem with me although, as I child I just knew I was different.
Google Image If I'm going to be honest here, I first noticed that I had adult problems about three years ago. I did not make the connection then but now I know what I am dealing with. I was writing a series of articles on classic motorcycles for a car blog called curbside classic. I also submitted several works on vintage vehicles. It's a great blog and I still read it daily.
At first everything was fine and I was learning. As time went by I began to notice difficulty pulling details out of the pictures in the text. Rookie problems from a guy whose stock in trade had been details and technology. I blamed it on brain fog from some chemotherapy I had to take. The problem is that I don't think I ever really recovered from that. I think it pushed me over the edge but I was in denial. I did over 50 articles for the website but the last dozen were like pulling teeth. Both the editor and I knew that something was wrong and we called it quits. I think I called quits in other areas about then but didn't really realize it.
Coupled with that I think are the accidents that began to happen at about the same time. Off balance flying attempts from various stepladders. I proved I was tough but clumsy. At least now I know there was a legitimate reason and the future looks a lot brighter. Recently I developed tremors that forced my hand.
At first everything was fine and I was learning. As time went by I began to notice difficulty pulling details out of the pictures in the text. Rookie problems from a guy whose stock in trade had been details and technology. I blamed it on brain fog from some chemotherapy I had to take. The problem is that I don't think I ever really recovered from that. I think it pushed me over the edge but I was in denial. I did over 50 articles for the website but the last dozen were like pulling teeth. Both the editor and I knew that something was wrong and we called it quits. I think I called quits in other areas about then but didn't really realize it.
Coupled with that I think are the accidents that began to happen at about the same time. Off balance flying attempts from various stepladders. I proved I was tough but clumsy. At least now I know there was a legitimate reason and the future looks a lot brighter. Recently I developed tremors that forced my hand.
google image I went to my Doctor perhaps three months ago because my right hand began to shake. He gave me medicine of a type called a beta blocker along with instructions to go to a Neurologist if there was no relief. I was still shaking in 30 days but the business card for the neurologist was still in the car.
Then I ran across an article titled the 9 most common symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis that people overlook. MS had killed my brother and I had symptoms that were on the list. You probably do too. Go ahead and google it. It won't get your pulse pounding like making a dive 25 Tons heavy but it's enough for me.
Sally insisted that I use the referral.
Then I ran across an article titled the 9 most common symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis that people overlook. MS had killed my brother and I had symptoms that were on the list. You probably do too. Go ahead and google it. It won't get your pulse pounding like making a dive 25 Tons heavy but it's enough for me.
Sally insisted that I use the referral.
Google Images When I saw the Neurologist he dismissed my concern about MS. He told me it was highly unlikely despite it “running in the family”. He talked to me for a few moments and watched me walk. He said he thought he had his answer then.
This fisherman is typical of the age group that contracts Parkinson's Disease. The two most famous, Michael J. Fox and Muhammed Ali were considerably younger.
The Doctor spent some time telling me about Parkinson's disease. Dopamine, once again was the culprit. The early warning signs linked below are easy to read and understand. The wikipedia article is more complete.
http://www.parkinson.org/Parkinson-s-Disease/10-Early-Warning-Signs-of-Parkinson-s-Disease
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkinson%27s_disease
Some of the symptoms seem to be the same as those of MS. The ones that I experienced are below:
1. Tremors on just one side of my body, The other side normally comes around later if the disease progresses.
2. Slowness of movement (Bradykinesia), Posture, I couldn’t stand straight when I first stood up, Rigidity- so stiff I could not get out of the couch. and a stiff painful shoulder that the chiropractor worked on weekly, I dismissed all this as some sort of arthritic condition and the chiropractor gave me relief. It was PD.
3. Difficulty getting organized and trouble finishing simple tasks.
4. Trouble Sleeping. Probably the only thing that got worse with treatment,
5. Reduced sense of smell. Some sources say this symptom is a flag for increased risk of dementia down the road.
6. Handwriting became smaller and cramped, hard to read,
7. My steps had become shuffling,
8. My typing was difficult and I hadn’t written anything for the blog for a couple months, and
9. It was difficult putting thoughts into words.
Like any good list of symptoms, you don't need to have them all. This isn't a complete list. It is only the ones that applied to me.
This fisherman is typical of the age group that contracts Parkinson's Disease. The two most famous, Michael J. Fox and Muhammed Ali were considerably younger.
The Doctor spent some time telling me about Parkinson's disease. Dopamine, once again was the culprit. The early warning signs linked below are easy to read and understand. The wikipedia article is more complete.
http://www.parkinson.org/Parkinson-s-Disease/10-Early-Warning-Signs-of-Parkinson-s-Disease
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkinson%27s_disease
Some of the symptoms seem to be the same as those of MS. The ones that I experienced are below:
1. Tremors on just one side of my body, The other side normally comes around later if the disease progresses.
2. Slowness of movement (Bradykinesia), Posture, I couldn’t stand straight when I first stood up, Rigidity- so stiff I could not get out of the couch. and a stiff painful shoulder that the chiropractor worked on weekly, I dismissed all this as some sort of arthritic condition and the chiropractor gave me relief. It was PD.
3. Difficulty getting organized and trouble finishing simple tasks.
4. Trouble Sleeping. Probably the only thing that got worse with treatment,
5. Reduced sense of smell. Some sources say this symptom is a flag for increased risk of dementia down the road.
6. Handwriting became smaller and cramped, hard to read,
7. My steps had become shuffling,
8. My typing was difficult and I hadn’t written anything for the blog for a couple months, and
9. It was difficult putting thoughts into words.
Like any good list of symptoms, you don't need to have them all. This isn't a complete list. It is only the ones that applied to me.
Google Images I had been blaming everything on old age but all this made sense. Old age should take longer. The symptoms just sort of creeped up on me and I guess it's like putting a frog in a pot of boiling water. Make it happen suddenly and he jumps out. Gradually increase the temp and he stays in the pot till he boils. My water started boiling about three years ago but I didn't jump.
My neurologist did an MRI of my head to make sure I had no lesions or signs of Alzheimer's. I seemed to pass that just fine.
He also did a test (called the DAT test) that injected Iodine123 into me. This is a radioactive isotope of the element with a real short half life. It bonds with Dopamine and you can scan it. An hour before the injection he had me drink some Saturated Solution of Potassium Iodide (SSKI). That went to the thyroid and blocked most of the Iodine from entering there. I failed that test miserably The Doctor told me that confirmed the diagnosis and I started the reading process that furnished the links in this article.
My neurologist did an MRI of my head to make sure I had no lesions or signs of Alzheimer's. I seemed to pass that just fine.
He also did a test (called the DAT test) that injected Iodine123 into me. This is a radioactive isotope of the element with a real short half life. It bonds with Dopamine and you can scan it. An hour before the injection he had me drink some Saturated Solution of Potassium Iodide (SSKI). That went to the thyroid and blocked most of the Iodine from entering there. I failed that test miserably The Doctor told me that confirmed the diagnosis and I started the reading process that furnished the links in this article.
If you were anywhere "in country" during the Vietnam era you were exposed to agent orange. It’s been the cause of so many things it’s hard to believe we were so stupid. My brief time in country was in the amphibious navy and I doubt I was exposed to a degree that mattered.
In the link below you will see that the VA doesn’t require you to prove that agent orange caused your problems. Just that you were exposed. Bottom line: Exposure to agent orange equals increased incidence of Parkinson's Disease.
Parkinson's Disease and Agent Orange - Public Health
When I was looking that over I had another thought. If agent orange was that significant, diesel fuel could do absolutely nothing good to your brain. Turned out, unfortunately, I was right.
In the link below you will see that the VA doesn’t require you to prove that agent orange caused your problems. Just that you were exposed. Bottom line: Exposure to agent orange equals increased incidence of Parkinson's Disease.
Parkinson's Disease and Agent Orange - Public Health
When I was looking that over I had another thought. If agent orange was that significant, diesel fuel could do absolutely nothing good to your brain. Turned out, unfortunately, I was right.
I know that all our subs are Nucs now but there is still a problem. I know the fumes aren't as bad today because I can’t tell a boat sailor by the smell anymore. However, unless you have some sort of magic energy pill you still have a battery and a diesel for when things go wrong. From the anecdotal evidence I have seen, I expect there is an increased incidence for ICE mechanics as well.
Anyone who ever snorkeled with a tailwind knows the exhaust these big boys can put into the boat. My uniforms smelled like diesel for several months after I finally surfaced. Well anyway, someone thinks there is a correlation and you can read about the research.
http://gas2.org/2008/03/27/how-diesel-exhaust-affects-your-brain/
Anyone who ever snorkeled with a tailwind knows the exhaust these big boys can put into the boat. My uniforms smelled like diesel for several months after I finally surfaced. Well anyway, someone thinks there is a correlation and you can read about the research.
http://gas2.org/2008/03/27/how-diesel-exhaust-affects-your-brain/
Google Image The treatment for PD is a synthetic Dopamine.
Compared to the way I felt before, 10 days of Dopamine has made me feel like this picture. My head is still returning to normal but the body doesn't hurt like before. I had chained myself to the couch for months and stayed on the computer. Then that became untenable when it was hard to type and I made constant errors. After 10 days I can type and the desire to write is returning. I almost jump off the couch compared to the stiffness before. I enrolled in Lumosity and am playing mental games on the computer. I still shake but somewhat less and the dose hasn't even been stabilized. Seems like a pretty fair prognosis is in order.
I'm pretty sure you have more important things to worry about than where this is going with me. Like what you're having for breakfast tomorrow. What is important is knowing what could happen to you. There is a lot of information in these links and if you have reached this point you are, at least a little bit, interested. I hope you have, already clicked and read something. I'm getting better and it only dawned on me pretty recently that I was sick. I will read any comments and try to answer your questions, however, the best source of information if you have some of the symptoms would be your Doctor.
Your turn at bat.
Compared to the way I felt before, 10 days of Dopamine has made me feel like this picture. My head is still returning to normal but the body doesn't hurt like before. I had chained myself to the couch for months and stayed on the computer. Then that became untenable when it was hard to type and I made constant errors. After 10 days I can type and the desire to write is returning. I almost jump off the couch compared to the stiffness before. I enrolled in Lumosity and am playing mental games on the computer. I still shake but somewhat less and the dose hasn't even been stabilized. Seems like a pretty fair prognosis is in order.
I'm pretty sure you have more important things to worry about than where this is going with me. Like what you're having for breakfast tomorrow. What is important is knowing what could happen to you. There is a lot of information in these links and if you have reached this point you are, at least a little bit, interested. I hope you have, already clicked and read something. I'm getting better and it only dawned on me pretty recently that I was sick. I will read any comments and try to answer your questions, however, the best source of information if you have some of the symptoms would be your Doctor.
Your turn at bat.
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