Shy-Drager Syndrome Symptoms & Diagnosis

Symptoms

Symptoms associated with the involuntary nerves usually occur first. Motor problems similar to those found with Parkinson’s disease may develop later. Symptoms include:

• Dizziness or fainting when standing or sitting up, or changing positions
• Dizziness may be worse in the morning or after meals
• Fatigue after physical exertion
• Muscle weakness
• Neck ache, which may radiate to the shoulders
• Constipation or diarrhea
• Erectile dysfunction in men
• Loss of sex drive
• Inability to control bowels or bladder ( incontinence )
• Urinary frequency and urgency that may be especially bothersome at night (occurs early in the disease)
• Gasping or noisy breathing
• Short stops in breathing during sleep ( sleep apnea )
• Impaired temperature control
• Reduced sweating
• Dry skin
• Vision problems
• Abnormal eye movements
• Slurred, faint speech
• Trouble swallowing
• Poor balance
• Unsteady walking
• Tremors
• Stiffness
• Slow movements
• Loss of facial expression
• Dementia (occurs late in the disease)

Diagnosis

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical exam. This disease is often hard to diagnose. There is no specific test for Shy-Drager syndrome, but testing helps rule out other conditions.

Tests may include:

• Blood tests—to measure electrolytes and other blood chemistries.
• MRI scan —a test that uses magnetic waves to make pictures of the inside of the body.
• Electromyogram (EMG) —a test that measures and records the electrical activity of the muscles at rest and when contracted. It can check for skeletal muscle weakness.
• Tilt-table test—measures changes in blood pressure as your body position changes
• Sleep studies—to check for disorders such as sleep apnea.
• Barium swallow —a series of x-rays of the upper digestive tract taken after you swallow a barium substance, which will show up on x-ray. In people with Shy-Drager syndrome, this test is used to assess swallowing problems.