Waiting for a diagnosis of Parkinson's can cause severe depression and anxiety

You know something is wrong, but you don’t have a name for it.

You have all these potential diagnoses floating around in your head. In a desperate search for answers, you spend hours on the internet. But that only adds to your stress. 

You can’t tackle the problem if you don’t know what it is.  And so, you wait…and you wait…and you wait.

Sadly, that’s the story for far too many people living in Canada today.  Currently, Canadians are often waiting anywhere from six months to over two years for a formal diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease by a specialist.

Many of you know, and if not, you can imagine how devastating lengthy wait times are – both to a person’s physical and emotional well-being. Delayed access to a diagnosis and subsequent information and treatment can lead to increased symptoms, job loss, and an inability to carry on with normal activities.. Severe depression and anxiety are also common symptoms.

Meanwhile, an early diagnosis and immediately starting someone on treatment can significantly improve quality of life for a person with Parkinson’s. It can make the difference between a person being able to do their own cooking and laundry, attend family functions, and even keep their job.

That’s why this month we’re focusing on telling stories of difficult diagnoses in Parkinson Post, online, and in our Parkinson Awareness Month campaign in the media.

The time has come for better diagnostic technologies and to push for improved access to Movement Disorder Specialists for accurate diagnosis and specialized care for people living with Parkinson’s.

As we tell these stories, we are preparing for action. Parkinson Canada is convening a series of roundtables in May and June to talk about the issue of a system of care for Parkinson’s. From there, we will have clear recommendations for the government. Learn more about this process and sign up for a report on these meetings so you can take part in our call-to-action this summer here.

With Canada experiencing among the highest rates of prevalence of Parkinson’s, the world’s fastest growing neurological disease, the time to act is now.

Thank you for reading this month’s edition. Please share your own stories of diagnosis or difficulties in accessing care in the comments to an article that you can relate to. Please add your voice to the growing chorus of Canadians calling for improved access to care.