Chloe, 
My father was diagnosed with PD over 2 years ago. He has never had tremors, or some of the typical PD signs. He went to a movement specialist, and sure enough had been mis-diagnosed all that time. His new diagnosis is PSP. It is under the umbrella of Parkinson diseases. Much worse, and progression is faster. I would rec.. you find a movement  disorder specialist. PD and the other neuro. diseases related to it, are hard to diagnosis properly  Good luck  Kathy B.
-----Original Message-----
From: chloe.aldam <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Tuesday, February 29, 2000 4:56 AM
Subject: Different symptoms - PD plus?


>Dear all,
>I hope there is someone within this worldwide group that can help.
>My partner's mother was diagnosed with PD nearly 5 years ago (when she
>was 58), then as Parkinsons Plus over 2 years ago.  She does not have
>any tremors, or freezes, or what I have been told is the 'typical
>parksonian walking moevement', but does have a joint stifness. This
>started in her right arm, growing to a general movement stiffness.
>Her voice started to deteriorate at least 2 years ago, so that no-one
>could understand what she was saying so then she tried to speak even
>faster.  One speech therapist was no help, and she ended up using a
>small typing screen for people to read so she didn't have to try to
>talk.
>
>Another therapist gave her an amazing leap forwards. She was given a
>card with all the letters of the alphabet, and told to point to the
>beginning letter of each word and then say the word - and hey presto -
>she was able to communicate by voice (using a different neural
>pathway), not 'normally' but at least it was possible to understand
>about 9 out of 10 words.  The biggest problem now (6 months later) is
>she hates using this card, so will try 3, 4, 5 or more times without
>the card, which is very frustrating for all around her (as well as
>herself).
>
>She has started to have more falls and seems to wish to make herself
>housebound, no matter what encouragement we try and give her.
>
>It seems that her medications are giving her more side effects than
>help. I don't know the details, but she has 3 types of pills:
>one that lets her walk more easily, one that lets her eat, and one
>that helps her to talk.  None of these can be taken in conjunction
>with the others.  One of these tablets has the side effect of making
>her screw up her face and she can barely open her eyes, which she
>finds distressing.  Recently, she has been getting this effect almost
>all the time.
>
>I believe she had a brainscan about 3 years ago, and it did NOT show
>much evidence of damage to areas normally associated with pd'.  She
>has had lots of blood tests for other diseases, but the doctors do not
>seem to have had any success with any medications for any of her
>symptoms.
>
>Does anyone else know of any symptoms like this?
>I would love to contact others who know more about this, to know what
>may be the best things to do to help.
>
>Thank you
>Chloe
>
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