Claire, I understand your fear. I really do particularly after all you have been through. BUT - the facts are this AINT going to go away and the Sinemet is not always going to work. The day will come when it just doesn't. You sound like a fearless person by nature. Which is worse, spending the rest of your life sitting on the sidelines of life or taking a chance with one more operation and the chance of really enjoying life again. SUre the prospect of surgery is scary but so is the prospect of spending the rest of your life "off". This calls for real strength but you sound like a fighter. Good luck with your decision. The surgery is tough to deal with but the outcome is worth every minute of it. Terrie -----Original Message----- From: Claire Salamon <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] Sent: Sun, 2 Sep 2007 7:30 am Subject: Re: Life Reassessments Terrie, I was 52 when diagnosed with ''Parkinsonism''. This doctor kept taking tests , tests and more tests. He started me on Sinemet. After two years, I finally saw a movement disorder specialist and he confirmed "Parkinson's Disease" - that was in 1997. I am now at the point that I am almost always OFF. I had so many operations in the last 12 years -- gall bladder, morton's nerouma, cartlidge removed from R. knee, 2 partial knee replacements, 2 vertbre in my back replaced with titanium, there are more ! The last one was a total knee replacement and am still recooping from it (surgery was Feb. 2007.) Most people go on vacation every year; I went to the hospital each year ! Needless to say, I hate hospitals and am afraid of surgery. I think DBS would benefit me but, I am too afraid. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn ________________________________________________________________________ Email and AIM finally together. You've gotta check out free AOL Mail! - http://mail.aol.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn