No offense to the doctors that are spouting this advice, but I think they
are way out in left field. It's apparent they know little about PD.
They sound like surgeons. Also, DBS has been approved in US by FDA.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Sunday, March 04, 2001 1:10
AM
Subject: Seminar
I just attended a seminar at Which Dr Montgomery from
Cleveland Clinic Foundation and Dr Sherman from University of Arizona were the
featured speakers.
I am a new Parkie (diagnosed 1 month ago) and his
recommendation for newly diagnosed Parkies is to start Selegine, not for
symptom relief, but for the possible slowing of the progress of the
disease. When symptoms interfere with the quality of life and you desire
to have them controlled begin with a dopamine agonist such as Requip or
Mirapex. They may equal the effectiveness of levodopa for one to three years.
When their effectiveness begins to wear off then move to levodopa. He did not
recommend taking Sinemet to confirm diagnosis.
He was very negative concerning Thalamotomy surgery, and
feels Pallidotomy surgery should be used only in special situations and that
Deep Brain Stimulation (DPS) surgery is the way to go. This surgery (if
I understood correctly) has not been approved in the US but is being done, and
it is not considered to be experimental. Over 100 such surgeries have
been done in Cinncinnati and medicare has approved them.