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At 05:54 PM 1/30/00 -0500, you wrote: >Hello Dror, >I live in Virginia, but my father (69), who has just been diagnosed, >lives in the north of Scotland. My mother (64) e-mails me telling me of >my father's distress. She writes about his obsession over taking his >(sinemet plus) medication, about how he does very little else, and about >his dependence on her. He seems to me to be panicking at this time. He >suffered with the symptoms for months before plucking up the courage to >see a doctor. He has been taking the medication since 6th December, and >is impatient to see improvement, but is very discouraged by the delay. He >isolated himself from social contact and has become depressed - except >for a brief period of elation before xmas, immediately after he was >diagnosed. I wish there was something I could tell him that would give >him peace of mind. I call but he is having difficulty concentrating so >our conversation must be brief. I have sent him all kinds of positive >information, but he seems to be so negative at this time that he is >rejecting everyone but my mother. She is a very strong woman, but is >overwhelmed at times, both observing his rapid deteriation and by his >need to have her with him at all times. >I wonder if he should ask his doctor for an anti anxiety medication. >First they increased his medication, now they have decreased it again >because his appetite has been suppressed. I have sent Mum much info about >symptoms of medication etc, telling her that his behavior seems 'normal' >for a PD patient. We had no idea that finding the right medication and >dose would be so difficult. Initially my father was Euphoric with the >diagnosis because it eliminated a worse diagosis, but we were not >prepared for what seems like a rapid deteriation. > >Help! I would love to send some words of wisdom to my parents. > >Doreen M > > Do you have any idea as to the level of expertise of their Doctor? s he a Movement Disorders Specialist? You are correct, the whole situation is tricky.I do not know a soul in that part of the world but I bet someone on this net will be of help. Regards, Thea Seese CG Gordon 71,21