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On 29 May 00, at 12:27, Camilla Flintermann wrote: > I agree with the philosophy here, but have to say that not all > neuros will be helpful re: constipation---some feel it's not their > "department", sad to say. .... PD affects parts of the body that neuros don't necessarily deal with, constipation as mentioned already, muscular aches and pains being another. Just as some aspects may be seem specialized for the internist, so others may be too general for the specialist. I don't like the idea of having different parts of me treated by different docs when one doc might do. You can end up with something nobody wants to claim responsibility for, and no one has the big picture. The way medical care is envisioned, e.g., a primary physician refers you to a specialist, who in theory is supposed to confer with and report back to the primary on your condition, doesn't necessarily happen in practice. Or the patient may be the channel of communication. And you have to make two appointments and visits and pay for two doctors in order to see one of them. Not to mention that the nearest PD/movement disorder specialist can be over an hour's drive away and has no available appointments over the next three months! I've been treated for PD by a movement disorder specialist almost from the beginning. My PD was not hard to diagnose, and it has been progressing slowly and predictably. It's a fairly "routine" case, if anyone's PD can said to be. So I don't see why a family physician with PD experience can't handle it. Some family physicians treat PD, and, I would think, do an OK job at it. I've recently moved and am looking for such a physician. Has anyone had good experience being treated for PD by a family physician or internist? Anyone have thoughts on this question? Phil Tompkins Amherst MA age 62/dx 1990