Greetings fellow PD listers!
        From out of the shadows of the peripheral realm of "lurkdom" comes
another introduction. My name is Gary Wade and I reside in Galveston, Texas.
My 72 year-old father has had PD for 10 years. I have been a list member
since its inception and joined to learn more about PD and how patients and
families cope with the disease. I have been a professional Occupational
Therapist since 1969, and although most of my 22 years of clinical practice
were in adolescent psychiatry and adult substance abuse psychiatry, I did
have occasion, in the late 60's, to work with PD patients who had been
admitted to the back wards of Illinois state psychiatric institutions in the
60's--before there were medications(forms of levodopa/carbidopa) developed to
treat the symptomatology. Those folks were examples of "worst case scenarios"
and there was not a whole lot of physical relief afforded to them at that
time. Medical and rehabilitation science has come a long way since then, but
the state-of-the-art for PD patients still has a long way to go.
     I have learned many useful ideas from this list and have shared my
gleanings with my father(he & my mother live in Estes Park, Colorado and all
communications have been by distant relay in the past year via mail or
phone).  I have been downloading and making hard copies of many of the
postings to this list and Dad has found them to be very interesting,
informative reading. I encouraged him to type a biographical sketch of his
experiences with PD so I could post it to the list to garner
feedback/responses, etc. What follows is his initial bio. sketch:
     "Date:  April 9, 1994
     From:  W.D. (Dave) Wade
     Subject:  General Parkinsons Treatment
     I am 72 years old and was diagnosed as having Parkinsons early in
1984--10 years ago. I have taken the following medications: Artane, Sinamet,
Sinamet CR, Sinamet Generic, Eldepryl, Parlodel, Amitryptoline(helps control
excessive drooling). I am presently taking Sinamet Generic 25/250(2 pills, 3
X's/day), usually about 30 minutes before meals. I have had no side effects
from the Sinamet. I have been on the six pills/day for the past four years.
     I also have a brother who was diagnosed with PD about the same time I
was. He is seven years older than I am. At first we thought that we were
looking at a genetic situation in as much as we had a grandmother who had
PD--although she was 85 years old when she died and she died of cancer.
     I was interested in Ken Bernstein's writings about the hormone melatonin
and its effect on PD patients as I also have trouble with insomnia. I will
inform my neurologist to check on it and see if he can prescribe it for me.
     For the past three to four years I have been falling down several
times/day. I purchased a 3-wheeled walker with hand brakes which I have to
use if I want to move about at all.
     I am still able to drive a car with no trouble, other than having to be
very careful not to fall when getting in or out.
     I attend a support group at Ft. Collins, Colorado. At our last meeting,
I was amused at the reply given by our group leader(an internist physician
who was diagnosed with PD last year). The question: 'How much does the
ordinary neurologist know about Parkinsons?' His reply: 'About as much as any
one of the people in this group!' By which he meant, that most neurologists
didn't know too much about it.
     Subject:  Constipation
     I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has been successful in
combating the constipation problem. I was a person who had bowel movements on
a regular daily schedule and now I can go only every three or four days--and
only then with the use of laxatives. I am getting plenty of liquids(60--80
oz./day), I eat high fiber cereals regularly, eat prunes daily, etc. Still, I
have to use laxatives. Any ideas of suggestions would be greatly
appreciated!!
     Subject:  Exercise
     I have an in-door gym(a DP-2000 For-for-Life) which I purchased from
Sears several years ago. I exercise on it every other day(about 30 minutes)
and I also have an exercycle. Both pieces of equipment are invaluable for
providing the exercise I need. (Son's note: getting out and walking for my
father is a bit difficult in that his home is located on a mountain-side and
all roads are up-and-down hill--a little tricky with his 3-wheeled walker).
My doctor is amazed at the strength I have in my arms and legs. He says it
has to be the result of my exercising regularly. I have lost 30 lbs.(down
from 195 to 165) but I feel better than I did at 195.
     Subject:  Herbicides & Insecticides--exposure to...
     Both my brother and I were raised on a farm in Wisconsin where we had a
lot of exposure to insecticides and herbicides. Also, my brother was a Plant
Pathology Professor at the Univ. of Wisconsin and he worked with insecticides
and herbicides for many years. Therefore, I tend to be of the opinion that
exposure to these items could possibly be a strong factor underlying the
development of our respectve cases of PD.
     Subject:  Other physical problems caused by PD.
     First was the tremor which developed in my dominant right hand. I
haven't been able to write for several years. I use a rubber stamp to sign
checks and other legal documents. I also have a great deal of trouble turning
over in bed. Also, I have trouble focusing on letters which are close up to
me such as letters on a typewriter--which explains the poor look of this
tome!(Son's note: I had to "clean it up" quite a bit in posting this to
ya'll!) I also have to have cough drops and antacid tablets available at all
times to counteract coughs and heartburn which occur without warning. Any
ideas/suggestions would be helpful. Thanks for listening to my story. Pardon
the length."
     {Son's note: much of the coughing problem seems to stem from the
excessive salivation my father experiences. He would literally "drown in his
own juices" if he didn't sleep with his trunk elevated to at least a 45
degree angle in bed or sitting semi-reclined in a recliner chair. Also, over
the past few years, Dad's speech has become increasingly low-toned--almost a
mutter--and very difficult to understand due to poor enunciation. Recently,
he has been going to a Speech Therapist at his local community hospital in
Estes Park and she has been helping him considerably. The last few times I
have spoken with him on the phone, I have noticed a big improvement in voice
volume and clarity of enunciation. Seems to be a useful therapy for those
similarly afflicted. ]
     Well, that's it for my Dad's first posting. I would appreciate any
responses and will forward them to my Dad ASAP after receiving them. Pardon
the length. Guess I'm making up for months of lurking in the shadows.
--Gary A. Wade, M.Ed., OTR
--Galveston Island, Texas
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--(409) 772-8884