Thanks Joan, I go to my family Dr. on Jan.20th. so I am going to talk with
him . He has helped me more than any other I have been to. He listens to me
and isn't afraid to refer me to whom ever (we) think I need to see.  Shirley
P.S. All you PDSand CG are great. Even Greg with his dry humor. Don't quit.
-----Original Message-----
From: Joan Hartman <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Friday, January 07, 2000 4:34 PM
Subject: Re: symptoms of PD/Looong Reply


>Shirley...............
>before I was diagnosed I had gone to my MD many, many
>times..once or twice a month for a year with various complaints including
at
>the last month a chart that I made up of  my symptoms and the names of
>various diseases that matched the symptoms and the  MD never
>knew what was wrong with me..........when I showed up one day in tears
>asking "what's wrong with
>me???" and "that I couldnd't go on like this", he  finally referred me to a
>neurologist (widely known and respected in
>my area) who did say he thought  I MIGHT  have PD....he put me on sinemet 3
>times/day (strong dose) and I immediately had a lot of tremors all over my
>body every 10 to  15 minutes.
>   Three
>days later I stopped the medicine on my own  and went back to my MD and got
>another
>referral to a other neurologist who wasn't too knowledgeable and then a
>third neurologist......she gave me no medication
>until she did a 6 month
>observation ....then mirapex and now sinemet (very low dose) has been
added.
>I guess what I'm saying is keep going til you find a doctor that will help
>you and not just guess each time. The great people on PIEN helped me see
>that.........it takes hard work, perserverance, persistance
> along with good medical support....we really can do and be better
>off than we are...just don't give up .      ...Joan Hartman
>----- Original Message -----
>From: Edward Kleinmeyer <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Friday, January 07, 2000 11:55 AM
>Subject: Re: symptoms of PD/Looong Reply
>
>
>> Thanks Barb, I seen the neuroligist this A.M. and he said ( I don't think
>> tou have PD). But he could not give me any answers to questions like, why
>I
>> get chocked,why I shake,why I can't write anymore, why my chin
>trimbles,why
>> my legs and feet swell and ache,why my teeth don't fit even after I have
>had
>> them relined 6 months  or so ago,why my vision has changed even after I
>had
>> them checked 1 yr. ago,why I have ringging in my ears. All he done was a
>> visual check, and sent me for 2 blood tests. 1 for thyroid 1 for enemea.
>> Your experienced with this, Please tell me if I am off base to feel less
>> than satisfied with this evaluation? Be honest,I'm a big girl. Thanks
>> Shirley
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Barb_MSN <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
>> Date: Friday, January 07, 2000 11:49 AM
>> Subject: Re: symptoms of PD/Looong Reply
>>
>>
>> >Shirley....
>> >
>> >I've had  problems swallowing and don't have
>> >dentures (lotsa root canals tho)
>> ><UGH!>
>> >
>> >In my research, I've come to the conclusion that the dental
>> >and throat aspects of PD are either sadly overlooked by
>> >the respective medical professionals who should be up
>> >on these type problems or they just don't know all that much
>> >about what's going on with the average PD patient
>> >vis a vis dental/throat problems (and I DO recognize these
>> >are two different  medical modalities - however what affects
>> >one can so easily affect the other...)
>> >
>> >I'd like to find a savvy dental specialist whose "savviness"
>> >and interest leans towards helping the patient with PD.
>> >I'd also like to find the same with a throat and  neck specialist
>> >(and the latter two seem tot go hand in hand in the medical
>> >world).
>> >
>> >So far, I've been to the best that UCLA has to offer
>> >(Dr. Gerald Berke) and found the medical equivalent of
>> >a "one trick pony, " when it comes to helping the PD patient.
>> >
>> >I was able to get collagen injections into m y vocal
>> >cords, however, when my body began absorbing the
>> >collagen within 12 hours of getting the injections (sigh) that
>> >was that, as far as anything else in the pipe line other than
>> >conventional speech therapy (been there, done  that) <ditto
>> >the Lee Silverman speech therapy>
>> >
>> >It wasn't the MD who told me about voice amplifiers - - -
>> >I came across the voice amplifier I've been using myself
>> >(and it does the job well), however, I DO recognize that
>> >to be another medical "band aid" that doesn't treat or
>> >cure the  underlying problem(s).
>> >
>> >In my case, IF I wanna be heard when I speak (And I DO!),
>> >I'm gonna have to settle for being "Bionic Barbie," and just
>> >plan on taking my voice amplifier everywhere I go.. much
>> >to the chagrin of my younger (31 years old) daughter who
>> >recently asked me if I wasn't using the amplifier to get
>> >attention?  (OYE!!!  I can sure think of other ways to get
>> >attention, tho I must admit that this "bionicness" HAS
>> >caused folks to ask me a LOT of questions  about  WHY
>> >I need the amplifier to be heard.   And I  DO look at that as
>> >an open door to do a some PD advocacy.
>> >
>> >In a rush - contractor due any minute - sorry about the typos...
>> >
>> >Barb Mallut
>> >[log in to unmask]
>> >-----Original Message-----
>> >From: Edward Kleinmeyer <[log in to unmask]>
>> >To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
>> >Date: Thursday, January 06, 2000 9:36 PM
>> >Subject: symptoms of PD
>> >
>> >
>> >I go to neuroligest tomorrow for testing. Thought maybe someone
>> >could tell me, I have been having trouble chewing and my dentures
>> >don't fit well any more,also I seem to be choking a lot . I have
>> >had my dentures relined in the last 8 months but I seem to be
>> >right back where I was before. Is this just another symptom? I'll
>> >admit that I am scared.  Shirley
>>