Hi all,
On Wed, 26 Apr 2000, the digest contained:
> Date: Wed, 26 Apr 2000 09:40:40 -0400
> From: janet paterson <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: Six of one ...PD content / back to the knitting ...
> ...
> prepare for the jaNET INTERrogation! ...
I'm ready, ma'am. But, could I ask you to turn on some
lights, untie me from this chair, take off the mask, and put away
the rubber hose? Please?
> ...
> what were/are your symptoms?
> pre-diagnosis? ...
Ever since I can remember, I have had tremors in my hands.
Nothing major, but enough to keep me from doing any kind of "de-
tail" work with my hands. Initially, my *symptom* was what I
would have called a twitch in my right arm. And, my "normal"
shaking had become more noticeable.
About a month or two after I noticed these symptoms, it had
become bad enough to make me seek medical advice. In addition to
the twitch, the neurologist noticed that -- as I walked -- my
right arm didn't swing as freely as my left.
> ...
> what were/are your symptoms?
> post-diagnosis? ...
In the last four years, I have had a variety of symptoms. At
times, I would notice that I would unconsciously clench my hands
tightly. I also developed an ache in my shoulder, elbow, or fin-
gers of my right arm. A little later, I noticed that the muscles
in the right side of my body would tense up. And, on occasion,
my vision would blur slightly or I would require brighter light
to read smaller text.
These symptoms didn't always build on one another. Sometimes
one symptom would fade while another became more prominent.
There was no pattern -- no rhyme or reason I could detect. But,
when recovering from an illness of any kind, the tremors seemed
to worsen. And, in general, the symptoms seem to be at their
worst in the morning but diminish a bit through the day into the
evening.
I have gone through a range of styles of tremors. What started
out as a general shaking of the hands eventually changed into the
classic "pill rolling" tremor. Then, it changed to a clasp-
ing/grasping tremor. Either one was controllable at rest. And,
the non-swinging arm stopped for a while and then changed into a
raised-arm/clenching fist position on both sides.
Eventually, I started noticing the "slowness of movement."
Walking became harder and it would take quite a bit of effort to
do simple things like walking the dog. And, getting into and out
of cars and chairs became a real effort as well. I would have to
expend a great deal of effort using my arms to pull me out and up
into a standing position.
> ...
> what were/are your symptoms?
> 4 years post-diagnosis? ...
At the moment, on the 4 x 50/200 CR, the symptom that is still
noticeable is the tremors. I have noticeable tremors in both
arms and both legs. As I remember, the off-Sinemet tremors were
much worse than the current on-Sinemet tremors. And, except for
the Sinemet-induced dyskinesia, these are the only symptoms I now
notice.
> ...
> in what way were they reduced by the 3x25/250IR sinemet doseage? ...
The first thing I can say is that I generally felt better.
People who knew me and saw me regularly said I looked better.
The only symptom that I noticed -- as described above -- was the
arm/leg tremors and the dyskinesia.
> ...
> in what way were they affected by the 4x50/200CR sinemet doseage? ...
The tremors worsened slightly -- almost imperceptibly. But,
in the year or more since I've been on this prescription, the
tremors have gradually worsened again to be, IMO, more noticeable
and getting harder to hide.
FWIW, if I can sit, undisturbed, and get my body in a relaxed,
meditative state, many times I can get the tremors to stop. But,
the instant I move -- sometimes when I think about moving -- they
will start up again.
One other thing, I do have on-times and off-times. There are
periods during the day when the tremors will all but disappear.
While at other times they appear somewhat strong. I have not
been able to determine a schedule or cause/effect or any type of
pattern at all in these on/off times.
> ...
> why does your neuro think a fifth 50/200CR
> would benefit you at the cost of interrupting sleep? ...
*Our* opinion is :-) that in the period of time between my
last dose at 6 P.M. and my first dose in the morning at 6 A.M.
that all of the Levodopa has been consumed or used. So, it takes
a long time in the morning to get the first (and maybe the sec-
ond) to kick in and provide some relief.
So the theory is that the 2 A. M. dose might provide a sort of
"running start" for the 6 A.M. dose to make it more effective.
And, this is actually more my idea. But, the neuro. said it
wouldn't hurt to try it and see what happens.
> ...
> why you are on your fourth neuro? ...
With the first doctor, I had no insurance and the symptoms
were in their very early stage. The second doctor chose to have
some elective surgery soon after I became a patient and was un-
available for approximately six months. The third doctor (excuse
the use of "language") pissed me off. Now, I am on my fourth
neurologist.
So, Ms. "Kinsey," :-) may I take my had out of the Gom Jabar
now? ;-)
Bill--
...who wants to know who stopped the payment on his reality check?
.___. William A. ....._..._ .......7177 Heritage Drive+------------------+
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