Living with dual diagnoses: Parkinson’s and schizophrenia would be considered a double whammy in my terms.
I have to admit, I’m a little down today. The symptoms of the Parkinson’s seems like it turns up a notch after each passing week.
I get control of the schizophrenia, then the Parkinson’s starts in. Oh well, I just can’t win. I want to go for walks, but I can’t do that because of the pain in my joints.
I miss it. Of course, I would go for a walk even when it was super cold. Just me, my music, and nature. I miss those days…but now I have a new chapter in my life.
Two illnesses I have to deal with and they are much more alike then you will ever know. Sooner or later (hopefully much later) there will come a point when my limits will be tested.
If I stay in the frame of mind that I have these days, I believe I will make it to the end. Through all the physical and mental restraints placed upon me in the coming years.
Is There a Link Between Schizophrenia and Parkinson’s?
There is a genetic link between Parkinson’s and schizophrenia.
Despite the two conditions having opposite effects on the brain’s dopamine system, a new study suggests that people with schizophrenia are more likely to develop Parkinson’s in later life.
Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder in which the brain cells responsible for producing dopamine progressively die.
The resulting lack of dopamine causes symptoms such as tremor, rigidity, extremely slow movements, and impaired balance.
So whereas Parkinson’s can be treated with a drug called levodopa, which boosts, dopamine levels, schizophrenia is often treated with drugs that block the activity of dopamine.
Drugs for Parkinson’s Disease and Schizophrenia Have an Effect On
Living with dual diagnoses: parkinson’s and schizophrenia, one causing the other.
I have a confession to make, technically I don’t have Parkinson’s disease per say. I have Parkinsonism. It acts just like Parkinson’s but is caused by medicine (in my case).
You see, the medicine I take for the schizophrenia caused these symptoms. It’s a very rare side effect from the med. Lucky me, right?
The name of the medicine is Zyprexa. Even if I stopped the med, that doesn’t guarantee me the immunity from the symptoms of Parkinsonism.
Plus, the Zyprexa is working fairly well on the schizophrenia. I mean I still have some episodes, but they don’t last as long. Besides, I take Artane for the tremors.
What Stage of Parkinson’s is Psychosis?
Living with dual diagnoses: parkinson’s and schizophrenia which both can have hallucinations.
Psychosis is a common symptom of Parkinson’s disease that can occur in the early stages and progress to late stages:
- Early stages: 20–40% of people with Parkinson’s disease experience psychosis in the early stages.
- Late stages: Up to 70% of people with Parkinson’s disease experience psychosis in the late stages.
Psychosis is a mental health condition that causes people to lose touch with reality. Symptoms include hallucinations and delusions:
- Hallucinations: Sensory experiences that are generated by the mind and aren’t real, such as seeing something that isn’t there. Visual hallucinations are the most common psychotic symptom.
- Delusions: Can be mistaken for nightmares or bad dreams, especially if they occur at night.
Other features of Parkinson’s disease psychosis include:
- A spectrum of illusions, hallucinations, and delusions that can manifest throughout the disease.
- A different pattern of psychotic symptoms than other psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia or mood disorders.
- A high frequency of comorbid psychiatric disorders.
- Cognitive impairment may be a risk factor for the development of psychosis.
What is Usually the First Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease and Schizophrenia
There are 10 Early Signs of Parkinson’s Disease:
- Tremor: a slight shaking or tremor in your finger, thumb, hand or chin
- Small Handwriting: you write words on a page has changed, such as letter sizes are smaller and the words are crowded together.
- Loss of Smell: you noticed you no longer smell certain foods very well
- Trouble Sleeping: you thrash around in bed or act out dreams when you are deeply asleep
- Trouble Moving or Walking: you feel stiff in your body, arms or legs? Others noticed that your arms don’t swing like they used to when you walk.
- Constipation: straining to move your bowels
- A Soft or Low Voice: people told you that your voice is very soft or that you sound breathy and/or hoarse
- Masked Face: you have a serious, depressed or angry look on your face, even when you are not in a bad mood?
- Dizziness or Fainting: you often feel dizzy when you stand up out of a chair
- Stooping or Hunching Over: you seem to be stooping, leaning or slouching when you stand
9 Early Signs of Schizophrenia Include:
- Changes in thinking: Difficulty planning, reasoning, or making decisions. Jumbling of thoughts and are unclear or come very slowly.
- Changes in behavior: Social withdrawal, avoiding social interaction, or interacting in socially awkward ways.
- Mood changes: Rapid or dramatic shifts in emotions, depressed feelings, or greater irritability.
- Changes in sleep patterns: Dramatic sleep changes.
- Changes in perception: Feeling strange or cut off from the world, or things looking or sounding different from what others are experiencing.
- Hallucinations: Hearing, seeing, tasting, smelling, or feeling things that are not there.
- Delusions: False beliefs that are not consistent with one’s culture. For example, believing a billboard is sending a message meant specifically for you.
- Disconnecting: Spending less time with friends and family, avoiding phone calls, or avoiding conversations.
- Unusual behavior: Odd, uncharacteristic, or peculiar behavior
The Alernative Medicine- Clozapine
Living with dual diagnoses: parkinson’s and schizophrenia, thanks, I’ll stick with the Zyprexa.
Clozapine is used to treat severely ill patients with schizophrenia who have used other medicines that did not work well.
This medicine is only available through a restricted program. You might be asked to read and sign papers that explain how the medicine works and some of the unwanted effects.
Clozapine can cause some very serious blood problems that you will not be able to feel.
Your doctor will check your blood at regular visits and it is important that you have your blood tests done when they are scheduled.
The pharmacy will give you this medicine only if your blood tests show that it is safe for you to take it.
Informing me of this med was a specialized neurologist. I said no thank you because of the weekly blood draw which I can’t afford without insurance.
What are Some Superfoods for Parkinson’s Disease?
Snack on small quantities of walnuts, cashews and other nuts to promote brain health.
Also try to incorporate berries, which contain beneficial antioxidants.
Also, foods that may have anti-inflammatory effects in the brain, like salmon, tuna and dark, leafy green vegetables.
What Causes a Rapid Decline in Parkinson’s?
Living with dual diagnoses: parkinson’s and schizophrenia. A rapid decline in Parkinson’s disease can be caused by a number of factors, including:
Medications
Changes in the timing, dosage, or type of medication can cause sudden worsening of symptoms.
For example, levodopa, a medication used to treat Parkinson’s, can cause “off” episodes where symptoms worsen suddenly.
Constipation can also make it difficult to absorb levodopa, which can lead to a sudden decline in Parkinson’s.
Infections
Infections like urinary tract infections can cause sudden progression of Parkinson’s.
Stress
Stressful events, anxiety, depression, and other emotional trauma can worsen Parkinson’s symptoms.
I can atest to that fact. When my anxiety was high, so were the tremors in my right arm. That’s mainly where my tremors started.
Sleep
Poor sleep or lack of sleep can impair attention, judgment, and the ability to multi-task. I think my doctor and I have found a “concoction” of meds to help me sleep.
I say that because being on all these meds, I’m sleeping again…peacefully.
Stroke
A stroke can cause an abrupt worsening of Parkinson’s symptoms, particularly movement and balance.
Serotonin Syndrome
Patients with LSPD are at an increased risk of serotonin syndrome, which can cause a sudden decline in mobility and other symptoms.
Other factors that can contribute to a decline in Parkinson’s include: Dehydration, Acute or chronic pain, Anxiety or panic attacks, and Use of dopamine antagonists.
Sum It All Up
Living with dual diagnoses: parkinson’s and schizophrenia by handling them with meditation. So, I have two illnesses that are opposites but can be linked together through the Zyprexa I take.
I bought a book on holistic medicine, and they had herbs to take for Parkinson’s disease. You have to be at least have a certificate as a practioner to get these herbs.
That goes to show how potent they are. I think my time is running out. So is my memory. I did start to take Ginkgo Biloba for that. So far so good.
I think I’ll still take the Zyprexa and see it through to the end. Positive mindset…right?Peace and alway’s love. Until next time…
Articles About Parkinson’s and Schizophrenia
-Parkinson’s and mental health
-Parkinson’s Disease
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8525-parkinsons-disease-an-overview
-Schizophrenia
Have a Good One,
Cindee Murphy
“One Voice Who Has Parkinsonism”
“As much as Parkinson’s is about movement, the end stage is being frozen. So the more I let that happen, the more I’m gonna be stuck within that and unable to reverse it.“-Michael J. Fox
“A lot of times, when you have a disability, one of the things you deal with is other people’s projections of what your experience is and their fear about it, and not seeing the experience you’re having. There’s nothing horrifying about it to me. It is what I deal with. It is my reality and my life, but it’s not horrible.”-Michael J. Fox
“Yes, my schizophrenia is a life condition, but I do not see my schizophrenia as a life sentence.”— Bethany Yeiser
“Well, for the past 40 years I’ve had auditory hallucinations in my head, all day every day, and I can’t get them out. Every few minutes the voices say something derogatory to me, which discourages me a little bit, but I have to be strong enough to say to them, ‘Hey, would you quit stalking me?… Don’t talk to me — leave me alone!’”— Brian Wilson
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