Helpful medical insights in this case are beyond me, but it demonstates the same
frustrating lack of physicians grabbing hold & trying to get to the bottom of my
confusing and/or complex brain chemistry problems.  Their time constraints, lack
of precise brain chemistry knowledge in general by everyone, and a sense of no
one really taking responsibility have, as in your case, resulted for me in much
unnecessary debility :& suffering.  Sorry I'm using your situation to vent.  I
hope the caring people with such fine expertise & insight on this list can help
you.

Mary Legan  56/6+

Barbara Patterson wrote:

> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Wed, 16 Jun 1999 20:01:27 EDT
> From: [log in to unmask]
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Cc: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Qustion Re: Parkinson's
>
>         In l992 my husband was diagnosed with Parkinson’s.  At that time
> his only symptom was leg tremors...rather slight.  His doctor prescribed
> sinemet.  There was almost immediate mental deterioration but no increase
> in the tremors.  His mental confusion was v ery noticeable.  When he broke
> his ribs in a fall and had to refrain from taking sinemet while taking
> pain killers, his mind improved considerably.  In fact, one of my
> daughters commented “It’s nice to have Dad back for a while.” When he went
> back onto the sinemet, the mind once more continued to deteriorate.  When
> I mentioned this incident to his doctors, it was dismissed rather readily.
> One commented, “o that only happens forfor two or hree days.” but in my
> husband’s case, his mind was clear FOR THREE WEEKS WHILE ON THE PAIN
> KILLERS.  During the next few years, the tremors increased and the mind
> continued to deteriorate.  He was often very confused.  Sometimes his
> comments were just “off the wall.” He is, or rather was, an attorney by
> the way .  It was necessary to resign from his law practice, not from he
> physical aspects of Parkinson’s, but from the mental confusion, lack of
> memory, lack of logic etc.  During this time he was taking six sinemets
> daily.  Because of his mental confusion, the doctor prescribed Aricept
> {medication for alzheimer’s} and there was an almost immediate
> improvement.  ...quite remarkable really.This did not last more than a few
> months, however, and he once more reverted to a state of mental
> confusion...unable to even know the month, day, or year.  Comments were
> again “off the wall” Total confusion.  When my daughter said “look at the
> baby guinea pigs, Dad,” he asked “Are they in receivership?” (this is a
> legal term relating to bankruptcy.) There are times when he is unable to
> even complete a sentence.  Meanwhile his tremors became increasingly
> dramatic and more constant, both arms and legs.  Usually about a week
> prior to running out of his sinemet , he pesters me to get he prescription
> filled fearful that he is going to run out.  About six weeks ago, when his
> supply was depleted, he did not mention it so I decided to see how he
> would be without the sinemet.  Remember up until this time his tremors
> were almost constant, arms and legs, and very dramatic.  Within a few days
> of being off the sinemet, THE TREMORS STOPPED.  THEY JUST STOPPED.  I have
> only observed tremors, and very slight ones at that, three times in the
> last six weeks since he has been off the sinemet.  It is worth emphasizing
> here that at the same time he stopped taking the sinemet, he also went off
> he aricept, and his mental condition deteriorated even more.  BUT THE
> TREMORS HAVE ALL BUT DISAPPEARED.
>
>  WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE???   At the doctor’s appointment last week,
> it was suggested he go  back on the aricept, but not the sinemet.    This
> doctor is a Parkinson’sspecialist, by the way, highly recommended and highly
> regarded, but the succession of incidents described do not seem to have any
> significance.    My questions:  is the sinemet related to my husband’s mental
> condition?   Why did he  tremors almost disappear when he stopped taking the
> sinemet?    It was rather interesting that at last weeks doctor’s
> appointment, there was an intern present, and when I explained how the
> tremors stopped when my husband stopped taking sinemet, his eyes almost
> popped out of his head.  Is there anyone out there who can help us?
>
> Regards
> Please respond to [log in to unmask]