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This is Rita.......and I will answer the first part of a message, which was directed to me last week.. (I had kids/grandkids visiting, and I am just catching up on my email of the past 10 or so days). The question was in response to my comments re: low dose (10//100 Sinemet)....I have tried here to give more of an overview of my PD history of the past 15 or so years. My PD progression has been slow. I have more problems with rigidity. I do not have dyskinesia. I do have tremor in all 4 limbs now.......right side was first. I was finally dx in my early 40's........after seeing various neurologists in various parts of the country where we were living during that 9 years. I am now 64. I have definite decrease in fine motor skills, but I am still able to sew with my sewing machine and I am still able to cook for my family/guests. I was on the Cabergoline (cabasar in UK and Europe, I believe) clinical trial in the US for 44 months (mid 90's). Following that I was on Mirapex for about 10 months. I have had liver enzyme irregularities since the cabergoline trial and my primary care physician suggested that I not do any more trials. I was on Eldepryl and Sinemet in the early days after my dx. Eldepryl definitely made my symptoms much worse.....edema in the legs, very poor gait. Cabergoline and Mirapex both resulted in improved mood.....acted as an antidepressant probably (I say this, not a quote from my neurologist). I suffered from compulsive shopping (thrifts and fabric stores). I suffered sleep attacks. I quit mirapex cold turkey when I fell asleep in the cereal aisle at the grocery store. I had previously fallen asleep behind the wheel of my car at traffic lights. I definitely do not recommend stopping any drug this way.....but I reached a point of desperation and fear. I am now, and have been for several years, on a regime of 10/100's (Sinemet) every 3 hours when awake. I can move this to every 2 1/2 hours or so if I am out in public/have guests in my home/have grandkids visiting etc. I DO NOT exceed more than 7 pills of 10/100 in any 24 hour period. I do take a nap almost every day. I stop frequently to just rest during the day. I cannot walk more than about 2 blocks without sitting to rest. I do water exercises, but I am unable to keep up with even a low level water aerobics class. I have loss of strength. I have sleep disruption issues. I have never had dyskinesia as a result of PD meds. I do not believe this is a result of a drug regime, but rather the form of PD which I have. I do experience depression and fatigue (probably my most frustrating symptoms) I do experience problems with heat/activity.......I have dimming of vision in my left eye when I am too active (read Uhthoff symptom in a web search this is more common in MS patients but does have some incidences reported with other neuro diseases.) I have increase of symptoms.......slowness of gait, general 'heavy' feeling, loss of fine motor skills in bright sunlight, some theater lighting. At one time I tried to pursue more answers for these symptoms, but for fear of being labeled a complete idiot by the neurologists, I simply shut up about it rather than continue with that line of questions and the lack of curiosity on the part of the medical community to pursue answers or support for me. All of those symptoms that existed in the mid 90's still exist to this day, and I never mention them in a neuro visit anymore. As I stated earlier, I do not believe my slow progression has anything to do with my med regime. I do believe there are many variations on PD in people and I am one of the fortunate ones. (Did you know that Muscular Dystrophy is an umbrella term for about 50 different diseases? One of our grandsons has a rare form of MD, and it was only after his dx that we learned of this umbrella grouping of diseases..........and I really believe that some day Parkinsons will be described in a similar fashion. I am pleased to see the scientific community moving in this direction.). **************Get the scoop on last night's hottest shows and the live music scene in your area - Check out TourTracker.com! (http://www.tourtracker.com?NCID=aolmus00050000000112) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn