Hi,
I'm Linda, and I was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease on Oct., 1992,
by a neurologist. He based his diagnosis on my initial left-hand
tremors, chronic balance and coordination problems, and stiffness. I
started taking Sinemet 25/100 3 times a day, then Eldepryl after a
few months,and later Trazadone for sleep problems. I went to a rehab
hospital for treatment in P.T., O.T., Communications, and stress-
management. I had trouble with stores and libraries due to over-
stimulation, driving during off periods, and mental confusion when
experiencing too much stress or conflicting stimuli. My tremors
involved most of my left side, even my head at times. If a family
member yelled at me, I had whole-body tremors that lasted about
two hours. I also had visual disturbances, problems with swallow-
ing, and diminishing voice volume. Sometimes I would have eyelid
droop, but the medicine helped. I started taking Sinemet CR 50/
200 and my dose was dropped to twice a day. I had a lot of on/
off problems and often felt like I was in "lala land".
I had an MRI in April which the doctor said showed a "shadow"
in the third ventricle of my brain. We repeated the test in June
but the suspected lesion he was looking for turned our to be an
artifact. I went to another neurologist for a second opinion.
This doctor had reservations about my diagnosis. Meanwhile, the
first doctor decided to cease treating patients who were on
Medicaid or similar programs as of July 1st. I decided to stay
with the 2nd neurologist, as I liked his thorough approach as well
as his willingness to spend up to one-hour of time with me to
discuss my situation and answer my questions.
Meanwhile, my husband was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis after
many years of unexplained illness and two industrial injuries in
1987 and 1988. This happened three months before my diagnosis, and
the first neurologist was also treating him, but my husband changed
to the second neurologist a few months before I did. This doctor
had the same reservations about the M.S. diagnosis. He asked for
a psychological work-up from our psychologist before believing
that the illness was not functional. This doctor relies on hard
evidence whereas the first one accepts clinical evaluation such
as the symptoms I manifested. (He did not believe I had essential
familial tremors, although my hands always shake when in a raised
position.)
Oct. 4, my current neurologist decided to reduce my medications in
order to evaluate my tremors. We reduced the doses by one-half for
a week, then another quarter for a week, then none (of the Sinemet
CR 50/2000). He took me off the Eldepryl Oct. 5th. That day, I felt
as if someone had let me out of jail, I had so much energy and
improved clarity. I spend hours hyperactively working outdoors
painting my house, weed-whacking 1-1/2 acres of property, and working
around my barn. I did continue to have the balance and coordination
problems, but they were much-improved, especially when exercising
outdoors. I was able to hike better and longer in the park as well
as to ride my horse with more agility. (I was not permitted to ride
for several months last year because we needed to get my symptoms
under control. However, I did find that I could ride reasonably well
even when I walked in a zig-zag fashion and bumped into things at
the barn. In therapeutic riding, we learned that riding somehow
helps the vestibular system, even for riders in wheel chairs.)
My psychlogist at the rehab hospital thought that I showed some
cognitive problems, and the communications treatment helped me
with some of these problems. My problems impress me as being
similar to those of a learning-disabled person, even though I did
manage to get my masters degree in 1978 and have just passed the
licensed social workers' test in Ohio. Nonetheless, I do have a
lot of concentration problems, and I have had micrographia for
most of my life.
Going off all my medications for Parkinson's was a bit difficult,
and I don't feel I have the function that I had with the 1/4 dose.
My doctor has just stated that I do not have any identifiable
neurological diseases, including PD. I still think I have some
type of organic problem which is exacerabated by stress. Can
anyone offer some insights? LInda
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