BTW, I, too, am interested in any info to help with PD dementia.  David takes Aricept, but I'm not sure that it works all that well.

Bev
---- Claire Heffernan <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Hi to all,
>
> My name is Claire and I am new to the list. I am caregiver for my
> husband, Tom.  Regarding the question about chemicals and their
> connection to PD, it is becoming quite clear.  Recent headline
> articles (LA Times, etc) have reinforced that.
>
> Tom was diagnosed at age 45, he is now 61.  He and his doctors
> attribute his PD most likely to his stint with the US Army Chemical
> Corps at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal in Denver during the Vietnam War
> years.  He was exposed to various nerve agents, among others.  He has
> always felt fortunate not to have been sent to Vietnam, but now is
> paying another price.  He is also a farmer, so had exposure to
> pesticides as well.  Who knows, but the fact is, he has it and we are
> dealing with the present.
>
> He has had DBS surgery which successfully dealt with many of the
> physical problems.
> He never had a tremor, but the slowness of movement, etc made life
> difficult.  Our challenge is in the cognitive area.  His
> hallucinations, paranoia and general confusion are taking over. We
> have been able to reduce his meds by 75% and are hoping that will
> help.
>
> I am looking forward to being on the list again.  I have taken a leave
> from teaching so will have more time to read the volumes of emails.  I
> am also looking for any input in dealing with the dementia.  We live
> in rural Northern California and I have not found a support group yet.
>
> Happy New Year
>
>
> On 1/2/06, Nigel Harland <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> > Hi Beverlly,
> > Welcome to the List. I used to work in the microbiology department of  a
> > large soft drinks manufacturer, part of the daily routine involved
> > sterilising the equipment by spraying it with methanol and then igniting it,
> > which resulted in breathing in the fumes. I must have done this job for
> > about one hour per day, every other week, for ten years
> > I was diagnosed with  PD in 1989, aged 35, can't say for sure that Methanol
> > caused it, but I often wonder.........
> >
> > Best Wishes
> >
> > Nigel Harland .
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Beverly Bashe" <[log in to unmask]>
> > To: <[log in to unmask]>
> > Sent: Monday, January 02, 2006 3:49 AM
> > Subject: Intro
> >
> >
> > > Hi, all.  My name is Beverly Bashe, and I'm new to the list.  I do not
> > > have Parkinson's Disease, but my husband, David, does.
> > >
> > > David has been ill at least 38 years...and we've been married for 40
> > > years.  He was not diagnosed until about 10 years ago, but has been on
> > > leva dopa for about 33 years.  At this time, he's on Stalevo and Permax.
> > >
> > > Three years ago, David had brain stimulator surgery at New York
> > > Presbyterian Hospital after his ability to balance himself went down to
> > > near zero.  Michael Kapplitt was his surgeon.  Michael has been a special
> > > and treasured person in our lives.  He's a fantastic surgeon, brilliant
> > > and passionate about his work, and is a compassionate physician and human
> > > being.  In retrospect, I think that he worked with a neurologist in
> > > Toronto, perfecting the brain stimulator surgery before moving to NY.
> > >
> > > Although the surgery was successful, the disease continues its inexorable
> > > downward slide.  David's mental profile prior to the surgery sent up some
> > > red flags as to the appropriateness of the operation, but, frankly, he had
> > > nowhere to go.  Michael and I discussed the situation a couple of weeks
> > > prior to the operation.  He stated that he didn't want to hurt David, but
> > > if he didn't have it, he'd be spending the rest of his life strapped in
> > > chairs.  Yet...I'm not sure that the operation did him a favor: he was
> > > definitely damaged by the surgery, having lots of residual problems.  His
> > > balance was restored, but that, too, is getting worse again due to the
> > > progression of the disease.
> > >
> > > David's neurologist, David Eidelberg, is in Manhasset, NY, and runs the
> > > Movement Disorders Clinic at North Shore Hospital.  He works pretty
> > > closely with Michael Kaplitt, and was instrumental in David's recovery
> > > post surgery.  Dr. Eidelberg believes that David has early-onset
> > > Parkinsons, brought on by the environmental toxins in the gas station he
> > > owned with his brother, Jerry.  Jerry, btw, developed symptoms about 11
> > > years ago, and died within 5 years.  No one in this long-lived family has
> > > ever shown symptoms of movement disorders before David and Jerry.  Now,
> > > however, a cousin has also been diagnosed, but he was a chemist, handling
> > > and breathing chemicals for 40 years.  Hmmmmmm.
> > >
> > > We're looking for a new neurologist who might be located in Florida.  We
> > > just moved from Long Island, NY, to Delray Beach, Florida.  Dr. Eidelberg
> > > has recommended a colleague of his by the name of Carlos Singer at the
> > > University of Miami, but we haven't gotten in touch with him, yet.  Does
> > > anyone know of him?  Is there anyone else whom some of you might
> > > recommend, someone who's really involved exclusively with Parkinsons?
> > >
> > > Both David and I are looking forward to corresponding with this group.  I
> > > do most of the communicating, because David doesn't have the coordination
> > > to type or use a mouse.  However, he is directly involved with what I
> > > write.  We'd both like to know if anyone on this list has developed
> > > Parkinsons Disease after working with or having been in an atmosphere of
> > > chemicals.
> > >
> > > It will be a pleasure getting to know you.
> > >
> > > Bev Bashe
> > >
> > > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
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> > > mailto:[log in to unmask]
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> >
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> >
>
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