Parkinson's question. UPDATE #12 - Relief!

[Karen]

No experience with it, but definitely she should follow up with the doc right away. Shortness of breath can be a symptom of so many things, including heart trouble. Better to overreact than under react at this point.

[Catty1]

She's left a message at the specialist's office and they return calls within 48 hours. I guess that means even on the weekends! I hope so.

When she started the new short-acting meds, she started with 1 pill 3 x day, then worked up to 2 tablets 3 x day. Tomorrow she will take only 1 in the morning, and 1 mid-day.

The pharmacist didn't say 'go ahead', but the risk from hyperventilating and high pulse is greater than that from reducing the medication. I am to call her tomorrow afternoon.

She has her yearly checkup with her GP next week, so will talk to her as well.

Thanks, Karen! I AM worried.

[sasvermont]

I don't want to alarm you, but the symptoms are that of blod clots in the lungs. A CT scan will answer the question. Good luck. I know medicine can be exhausting to deal with.

Sas

[Catty1]

Thanks, SAS. The weird thing is, when she wakes up in the morning and it's 8 or more hours since her last dose of meds, she's fine. It's after she takes the meds that this kicks up! I hope she hears from her specialist soon!

She's also fine after taking one of her 1 hour walks, or if she's lying down.

But I do also wonder if the meds just exacerbate what is already there.

Thanks again!

[dab_20]

I have had a patient with Parkinsons and Alzeimers on Levacabridopa. She often had very shallow breathing, and we had to check O2 levels once per day. I do not know whether it started when she started the med or not, however the RN seemed to blame it on the Parkinsons itself. Make sure to bring it up with the doctor, and he will give you more information.

[Karen]

Does she yet have a peak-flow meter? It's a way to measure who well - or poorly - she's breathing, and so maybe she should take a reading before the meds, an hour after taking the meds, etc., just to document how much it changes.

[dab_20]

Does she yet have a peak-flow meter? It's a way to measure who well - or poorly - she's breathing, and so maybe she should take a reading before the meds, an hour after taking the meds, etc., just to document how much it changes.

This is a good suggestion. These are only about 10 bucks online, if you could get one for her and document the readings before and after each pill is given for a few days.