I was diagnosed with PD in October 2008, but first noticed symptoms approx 2 years earlier - having difficulty using fingers on left hand which was originally put down to Carpel Tunnel Syndrome. Went back to Doctors when I noticed that I was tending to drag my left leg and was referred to Consultant who confirmed PD straight away. I take 1 tablet of .088mg Mirapexin at night for restless leg syndrome but was already taking this prior to being diagnosed. Have not been prescribed any other medication for PD. Would like any info/advice on supplements/vitamins that others may have found useful, especially coenzyme Q10. Forgot to say I am female,61 years old, married with 5 grown up children between us. My husband has been a rock but I feel that I need to talk to other people involved with PD. Do not want to join my local group yet as I am finding it difficult to be open and talk to others (friends & family) about PD. Do yoga, walking and low impact aerobics. Hope to hear back.

Hi Jayeff, welcome to the forum. I am 48 and was diagnosed 6 year ago but knew something was wrong about 3 years before. Hope you will find this forum as helpful and friendly as I have. I have found out from reading posts that broad beans, folic acid and vitamin B12 are beneficial. Take care of yourself.

Hello jayeff
Welcome to the forum. If you take the time you will find a lot of information here.
I was diagnosed at 47yrs old over 9yrs ago now. You must still be in a state of shock over it. Whilst it is essential to find out more about PD, do it on your more positive days because it is easy to feel overwhelmed by all the symptoms, different meds and side effects. Keeping positive is the key, although not always possible, of course.
You'll get a lot of support from the forum members, so keep reading and posting.
SlackAlice

Thank you both for replying to my message. Not used to forums so need to get up to speed on etiquette. The broad bean thing - do you have to eat them every meal? every day? for breakfast? I am confused at the moment there seems to be a lot to take in - Now that I have the diagnosis I just want to stay healthy & positive and for the progression of PD to stop right now. I think that emotionally I am still a wreck, finding it hard to tell people that I have PD & get upset which of course doesn't help. I know I don't have to tell everyone but I feel it is written in large letters over my head!! And of course having not taken much notice before, there seems to be a lot about PD out there in newspapers, on TV and overheard conversations - it feels that it is in my face all the time. Am going to browse for more info.

Hi Jayeff
Welcome to the forum. My husband was diagnosed last summer after a couple of years of symptoms similar to yours. He is 49. You asked about broad beans. I think that they are the only food that naturally produces dopamine (the thing lacking in people with PD). I buy them frozen in winter and grow them in the summer. I add a portion of these to my husbands meals most nights. They may help or may not but they certainly wont do any harm.
Due to the fact that you have only recently been diagnosed it may be worth finding out a bit more about the drug rasagline (brand name Azilect). This was only approved last summer in UK and it is thought it MIGHT be the first drug that can actually slow the progression of PD rather than just help with symptoms. It is thought to be most effective if taken soon after diagnosis. There is quite a lot of information on this forum about it. Hope this helps.
Take care
Carrot
PS: We have 6 children between us..beat you by one!!!

Hi,

Just found this on my travels on google search engine...........

Vitamin B6 reverses the effects of levodopa, so efforts must be made to eliminate B6 from the diet. (Eat in moderation bananas, oatmeal, peanuts, whole grains, potatoes, meat, and fish and only eat protein foods in the evening.).

Be interested to know if anyone taking vitamin B6 along with levadopa have noticed their symptoms have got worse.

QT

Thank you both for replying especially you Carrot I will certainly mention thie new drug when I next see my consultant and am off to buy lots of broad beans mmmmmm delicious!!
JF

Cutiepie, has it not occurred to you that if you need to eliminate Vitamin B6 to accomodate levodopa meds then it might be inadequate meds that are at fault? Elimination of a Vitamin has its own side effects. Why not make the supplementary levodopa the one to eliminate?

Hi to Chewexpert and others ..can I refer you to an article in today,s Times Body and Soul ( 17/01/09 go and read)you may find of interest ... Dr Barry Marshall on Helicobacter Pylori ( chewies favourite... along with Chewexpert I am not shy in challenging accepted medical practice ...my first instinct in a lot of these things is WHY???)

More power to this guy,s elbow he actually took on and won !! the medical establishment as to the cause of stomach ulcers
(Helicobacter Pylori)
However the article does not mention Parkinson,s specifically but is well worth a read I like the bit where he challenged the norm to causes of stomach ulcers and was proved correct
I rest my case ..where is the person who is and can challenge the accepted norm in the case of Parkinson,s
regards to all Ian (M)

Hi Chewy,

I'm not suggesting to eliminate vitamin B6 from our diets but avoid taking it either through food or supplement close to meal times due to it effecting the strength of the(sinemet/madapar) and making it less effective.

I understand that Vitamin B6 is the master vitamin for processing amino acids—the building blocks of all proteins and some hormones. Vitamin B6 helps to make and take apart many amino acids and is also needed to make the hormones, serotonin, melatonin, and dopamine. It's found in potatoes, bananas, raisin bran cereal, lentils, liver, turkey, and tuna.

I think what's important to remember is you just can't stop taking anti-parkinson medication and swap it for a supplement. Obviously by carefully monitoring your protein intake around food times, drugs like sinemet and madapar will be more effective and in time with careful monitoring, could lead to being able to reduce the dosage considerably, which for obvious reasons will benefit us more in the later stages of the disease when levadopa may be needed in stronger doses. Hopefully with the combination of a healthy life style, good exercise regime, stress levels controlled(yeah right) and a healthy diet and additional supplements we can slow down the progression of the disease.

Some questions for you Chewy...

What does intrigue me though is, do you know anyone whose pd is controlled by diet and supplement alone and who's had pd for some considerable time?

Would taking a good quality multi-vitamin supplement along with Actomil and a healthy diet rich in green vegetables help?

Also would a low carb diet help?.....because i understand carbohydrates can affect vitamin b12 although i know including Actomil in our diet helps with this.

I found this information if anyone's interested....

The benefits of B-complex vitamins sound almost too good to be true: improved mood, mental clarity, and energy, improved reaction time, reduced homocysteine levels, and smart nutrient effects including alertness, verbal fluency, improved concentration, mental agility, learning, and thinking.

Yet, if you have a B vitamin deficiency, you could find yourself with any one or all of these symptoms:

• Depression
• Dry, rough, cracked, scaly skin
• Dull, dry hair
• Fatigue
• Headache, dizziness
• Poor appetite
• Constipation and other digestive disorders
• Nervousness
• Abnormal growth and development

More reasons to take vitamin B-Complex
If you want to make sure that you’re getting the full complex of B vitamins in scientifically chosen amounts.
If you are under stress—either emotionally, physically, or mentally—your body requires more energy. And that means that you need more B vitamins to assist in the metabolic process—or the utilization of food.
If you’re pregnant, adequate folic acid and B12 are vital for having a healthy baby.
If you are over 50 years old, you may benefit from a supplemental boost. Up to 30 % of adults aged 50 years and older may have atrophic gastritis—an increased growth of intestinal bacteria—and are consequently unable to normally absorb vitamin B12 in food. These individuals are able to absorb the vitamin B12 in dietary supplements however. Vitamin supplements and fortified foods may be the best sources of vitamin B12 for adults older than age 50 years.1
If you consume a lot of carbs (including alcohol), which require a higher intake of B vitamins for proper metabolism.
Some medications, including drugs used to treat diabetes and peptic ulcer disease, may decrease absorption of vitamin B12. Chronic use of those medications may result in a need for additional vitamin B12.
If you want to lower your homocysteine levels. Homocysteine is an amino acid normally found in blood, but elevated levels have been linked to cardiovascular disease and stroke. In fact, a study from Norway shows that a combination of vitamin B6 and folate reduces homocysteine 32% within five weeks in healthy individuals. This has the potential to significantly lower the risk of heart attack and stroke.


QT