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My observations, and I'm no doctor that's for sure, is that many of the experiences you mentioned are felt by some with early onset and are related to PD. When they show up in older patients the medical community frequently attributes some of this to the normal aging process. You can forget about the "normal aging" process with PD. It's not the end of the world though just a real pain in the rear. The muscle aches (neck first them to the back and legs) have seen that. Believe it or not exercise does help this. There has been a long term study and program going on at the University of Pittsburgh that supports the theory that continuous exercise program will help with PD symptoms you described. Use it or lose it they say. Depression (not at first but it does come) easily controlled by some meds with little side effects except sexual ones, that can be a problem in young onset PD patients. You should read up on the symptoms of depression. There is a very short standard test you can take yourself. Depression is not just feeling sad all the time. The memory thing is also common in PD don't know about young or old (again not at first but it does come in varying degrees) you should read up on Lewey Bodies. Aricept does help if the memory problem is caused by Lewey bodies. I haven't seen it recommended until the problem is more pronounced. If you read up on the drug you will find the medical community believes it "may" help retard the progression of memory problems in some cases, improve it in others and keep at a baseline in still others. Based on your job and your desire to stay on it as long as you can why don't you do some personal research on Aricept, PD, Lewey Bodies and dementia (there goes that awful word again I hate it) After that talk to your doctor from a more informed perspective. Being in the medical field you may be able to provide better (more structured) observational data for the doctor to consider. You should take a baseline test to set your cognitive, memory and small motor movement baseline. You will then be able to repeat the test at another time to determine if there is a progression of dementia related symptoms and if modifying treatments are really helping retard or improve the symptoms. Good luck Frank ----- Original Message ----- From: "Diane Nicolaou" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Wednesday, March 03, 2004 6:42 PM Subject: Blame it on P.D. > Hi, > I don't know about the rest of you but I know I tend to blame all my aches > and pains and anything that goes wrong on P.D. It seems to affect every part of > you. I don't know but I suspect some of the problems are hormone related > and who knows what. Two weeks ago I had terrible backaches-I never had a > backache in my life now they come and go. Lately i've had quite a few headaches, > P.D? sinus? when I have been on my feet all day they ache terribly, P.D.?, old > age? Sometimes lately at the drop of a hat I feel very emotional, P.D.? > Hormones? (I haven't had to deal with that yet but I think its coming). I go into a > room and forget what i went for or I start to introduce someone i work with > every day and all of a sudden I can't remember her name. P.D.? At work I start > to hit a button on my ultrasound machine (that i've used for 14 years) and all > of a sudden i forget which one to hit. My neuro says that memory is not a > problem for people that acquire P.D. at a younger age.?? They say depression > is common, I don't feel depressed.Maybe I just like to blame it all on the P.D. > My P.D. affects my balance and walk and movement in general (no tremor), If > I miss a dose or am late I can hardley walk or I walk so slow I am barely > moving....Thank God for the meds that keep me going. I am still working full > time in a very busy cardiology ofc. > Dr. Fink, feel free to comment, I always appreciate your input and feel that > we are fortunate to have professionals as yourself, Kathrynne Holden and many > others that offer suggestions. > Thanks for letting me ramble > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn