Comments on: PD, Muscle Cramps, and Bananas http://parkinsonsjourney.com/pd-muscle-cramps-and-bananas/ Mission: To offer encouragement, hope, and support to those with Parkinson's disease and other chronic illnesses. Mon, 09 Jan 2012 08:43:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Sherrihttp://parkinsonsjourney.com/pd-muscle-cramps-and-bananas/#comment-1229 Sherri Tue, 22 Jun 2010 02:05:40 +0000 http://parkinsonsjourney.com/?p=1327#comment-1229 Thanks Rick for the great info!!! Thanks Rick for the great info!!!

]]> By: reverett123http://parkinsonsjourney.com/pd-muscle-cramps-and-bananas/#comment-1227 reverett123 Mon, 21 Jun 2010 11:43:41 +0000 http://parkinsonsjourney.com/?p=1327#comment-1227 I came across this post today and, although a year has gone by, would like to comment on a related aspect. There is a family of disorders that are called "periodic paralyses". Most are inherited but one results from a hyperactive thyroid and results in ten times the numbers affected of all the others. Since thyroid problems can be so hard to spot even without PD, we had best be aware of them.The red flag is episodes of weakness to the point of flaccidity in the legs. This is not a symptom of PD (normally characterized by rigidity). But the two can and do co-exist and interact. For example, in my own case, "attacks" are triggered by, among other things, the wearing off of my PD meds. I have recently come to realize that for a minimum of five years I have assumed that it was all part of going "off" due to the timing.A check of the data on Patients Like Me showed that 2400 people list "stiffness/rigidity" as a symptom and only 50 or so list "leg weakness". However, a loose count at NeuroTalk came up with about five out of 100. Since the latter group has more advanced members, this may mean that this problem becomes more common with time.A good place for info http://www.hkpp.org/faq/thyrotoxic_periodic_paralysis.htmlAnd a personal recount of a typical day for me written before this piece of the puzzle fell into place an be found at http://www.parkinsonsonline.org/ParkipediA/index.php?title=One_Patient%27s_View_of_PDI have long thought that the endocrine system plays amuch larger role in our journey than commonly accepted. -Rick I came across this post today and, although a year has gone by, would like to comment on a related aspect. There is a family of disorders that are called “periodic paralyses”. Most are inherited but one results from a hyperactive thyroid and results in ten times the numbers affected of all the others. Since thyroid problems can be so hard to spot even without PD, we had best be aware of them.

The red flag is episodes of weakness to the point of flaccidity in the legs. This is not a symptom of PD (normally characterized by rigidity). But the two can and do co-exist and interact. For example, in my own case, “attacks” are triggered by, among other things, the wearing off of my PD meds. I have recently come to realize that for a minimum of five years I have assumed that it was all part of going “off” due to the timing.

A check of the data on Patients Like Me showed that 2400 people list “stiffness/rigidity” as a symptom and only 50 or so list “leg weakness”. However, a loose count at NeuroTalk came up with about five out of 100. Since the latter group has more advanced members, this may mean that this problem becomes more common with time.

A good place for info http://www.hkpp.org/faq/thyrotoxic_periodic_paralysis.html

And a personal recount of a typical day for me written before this piece of the puzzle fell into place an be found at http://www.parkinsonsonline.org/ParkipediA/index.php?title=One_Patient%27s_View_of_PD

I have long thought that the endocrine system plays amuch larger role in our journey than commonly accepted.
-Rick

]]> By: Janicehttp://parkinsonsjourney.com/pd-muscle-cramps-and-bananas/#comment-435 Janice Fri, 12 Jun 2009 11:23:37 +0000 http://parkinsonsjourney.com/?p=1327#comment-435 Very good article. When I was dx with PD I was working nights at the hospital (12hrs. 7p-7a) and drinking diet cola all night long. That is too much caffeine and also aspartame that I had no idea what effect that could have on a body. Don't touch the stuff anymore! I do drink a regular cola from time to time when eating out but we no longer keep pop in the house. parkiejan Very good article. When I was dx with PD I was working nights at the hospital (12hrs. 7p-7a) and drinking diet cola all night long. That is too much caffeine and also aspartame that I had no idea what effect that could have on a body. Don’t touch the stuff anymore! I do drink a regular cola from time to time when eating out but we no longer keep pop in the house. parkiejan

]]>