Hi! Debra:
    Presumably I am still in the early stage of PD, eventhough I am sure I
had 'facial mask' for at least thirty years.  I am not sure how to define
'facial mask'.  Some people define 'masked face' as an expressionless face
or a sofrt of seriusness in the face.  When you take a still photograph of
your face, you may have to specially try to put up a smile; normally, it
might look rather sad, even if you are feeling happy inside.  I know I have
to make special efforts to put up a smiling face for photogaphs, which might
even look artificial sometimes for no reason of my own at all.  This
phenomenon is highly visible now days, such that a friend of mine, when he
met me after a few years, came annoyingly close to my face and had a an up
close look at my face and asked me what was wrong with my jaw.  Of course,
this came to me as surprise and I don't think I gave him any reply.
    Speech impediment is something I am worried abut too, although I am sure
I am still in a very early stage of the phenmenon, I think.  In 1998, I
first experienced some sort of slurred speech, when I was giving a lecture
in my class. If I am careful, I can still avoid it.  Other thing often
people complained about me was that my voice is very low, although I am
putting the same energy in speaking.  Also I tend to speak way faster than I
use to do a few years ago.  Therefore, I very conciously, speak with a
louder voice and slow pace now days.
    That reminds me.  Does anybody know of a trined speech therapist in
Canada?
        Raj
        [log in to unmask]
******************************

----- Original Message -----
From: "Debra Sutton" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, May 20, 2002 12:32 PM
Subject: Fw: Re: Introducing myself


> Dan, and others,
> Yes there are a wide variety of response to meds, and everybody is
> different.  It is good to hear different people's responses I think so we
> can maybe figure out just what is going on with us.  For example you
> mentioned the "off" effect of not being able get the right word out at the
> right time.  I have been experiencing this more and more lately but I
never
> really associated it to with PD and the meds,but now I am wondering.
> Yesterday I was trying to share in Sunday School and try as I may the
words
> just wouldn't come out right.  It's like the thoughts were there in my
brain
> but somehow they got short-circuited between there and my mouth.
Something
> else new that has been going on for about a month or so that may be
related
> to the 'word thing' that I could use some feedback on.  Lately when I talk
> it seems that my lips move and nothing else on my face does.  It seems
like
> I'm trying to get words out through this little opening that won't widen
> like it is supposed too.  Really hard to explain.  I know that a masked
face
> is sometimes a symptom of PD but just how does that start.  I can still
> smile, it just seems to take a little more effort than it used to.  I
> certainly don't won't to imagine any symptoms (I have enough already) but
> new things can sure be frustrating especially when trying to decide if you
> should chalk it up to PD or not.  So, I guess what I'm asking is if
anybody
> out there would be willing to share the history of  their "masked face"
(or
> whatever it is officially called) .  Thanks,
> Debra
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Dan W Scott" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Monday, May 20, 2002 2:56 AM
> Subject: Re: Introducing myself
>
>
> > Commenting on Debra Sutton's remarks:
> > > Raj,
> > > My opinion would be to take the sinemet.  There is some debate as to
> whether
> > > Mirapex and Requip might slow down the progression of PD but right now
> > > nothing has been proven and the truth is, the side effects of Requip
and
> > > Mirapex are rotten!!  Actually if you lived in Europe or Canada, you
> would
> > > not be allowed to legally drive if you were prescribed either of these
> drugs
> > > due to the incidence of somnolence.  The side effects of the Sinemet
(at
> > > least for me) have been pretty mild and it works much better than the
> > > agonists.
> > > Debra
> > Debra: very interesting, the wide range of responses to medications.
> >   1. I am unaware that I have ever had side effects from Mirapex,
> > certainly not negative ones, I thought. However, you have raised
> > doubt in my mind: sometimes I do get severe muscle pain, immobilizing
> > me for 2-3 days at a time. I wonder now if this was caused by Mirapex.
> > Thanks for the alert, I will try to isolate the Mirapex effect from
> > the Parkinson's next time it happens. Thanks!
> >   2. I sometimes take Mirapex in the afternoon without Sinemet CR
> > and it seems to be effective if I am physically inactive, not
> > exercising.
> >   3. Sinemet has never affected my state of alertness, that I can tell.
> > Not taking it in time, I get 'down' or 'off'; I get confused, bothered
> > by complexity. Also I sometimes can't say the precisely correct word
> > for something, 'close, but no cigar'.
> >
> > Dan W. Scott
> >
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