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Hi David and Welcome, Your symptoms could be PD or something else including something functional i.e.. anxiety related -although that is less likely. PD is difficult to diagnose prospectively although it is easy to diagnose retrospectively. That is- It is simple to look back at someone who is diagnosed with the illness and say a group of symptoms that someone was having were symptomatic of the condition but when a diagnosis has not been made the symptoms individually can be similar in many conditions and it often it hard to put them together as one disease state. In your case a twitch progressing to shaking can be several things that your neurologist must separate, including anxiety. Some MD's tend to discount symptoms that they can't diagnose and blame the patient for their own inability to make a diagnosis. Those are doctors to avoid! You mention a drug which had been prescribed for you "mellerile". If we are talking about the same drug- "Mellaril" (thoridizine) can cause abnormal movements if taken in larger doses and for extended times. What dose were you taking when and for how long? The condition is caused tardive dyskinesia and is a withdrawal phenomenon of the drug. Also Mellaril while you are taking the drug blocks dopamine transmission which can cause a state which looks like Parkinson's. Therefore it would be important to know as much about how you responded to the drug as possible. Your MD probably reacted so strongly and took it out on you because Mellaril would have been inappropriate in PD and if you have tardive dyskinesia (which is unlikely) there could be a question of liability regarding the prescribing MD. I agree with others who have suggested you see a movement disorders MD for definitive diagnosis. If you are in a managed care setting suggest to the neurologist that you be seen for a consultation. That would limit the amount they would need to pay out but would get you a more definitive diagnosis and better start of treatment. David, I am sure that you are not making things up and if you are being treated that way it is important to clear the air or get another doctor. Charlie ----- Original Message ----- From: "davidmeigs" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Saturday, May 27, 2000 2:35 AM Subject: Sounds like I'm not alone! > Hi, > > Several weeks ago, that twitch I sometimes get in my finger turned into my > whole hand shaking, so I mentioned that to my doctor. Then it happened > right in front of him. He asked me if I did it on purpose! I was kinda > hurt and angry that he would even think such a thing. > > He sent me to a neurologist, who after an MIR and a second visit said that > he wasn't convinced about what was going on with me (but he sure heard him > loud and clear when he said PD). Between the lines I felt like he was > accusing me of just making all this stuff up. ERRRRRR! > > Another thing that didn't make since was his reaction when I asked him for > some kind of pill to help me relax. I told him that I used to take a drug > called mellerile that helped me through a difficult time before, and he > almost came out of his chair. > > I thought he was very defensive in his reaction, as if I was trying to prove > something to him. What was that all about? Does anyone know if there is a > tie-in there somewhere? Is there something I don't know? I left his office > thinking I might be nuts. > > I am 43, a husband, and father of five. I don't have a clue about any of > this. One thing I AM SURE OF, I DON'T MAKE THINGS UP! > > If I don't have PD then GREAT! But what IS GOING ON WITH ME? I have a > million questions, can anyone help? > > Thanks, > > David M. aka:"pappy"