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Hi Bob, I have read with interest your description of your "puzzling experience" whle vacationing in Boulder. My name is Linda Husvar. I was diagnosed with PD in Oct., 1992, after consulting a neurologist who was treating my husband for MS. My first symptom was a tremor in my left hand, and I have been very "klutzy" since early childhood. I also had problems with balance, diminishing voice volume, stiffness(which I sttributed to arthritis), swallowing, vision-impairment, and sometimes mental confusion. The neurologist put me on 25/100 Sinamet, and later 10mg.of Eldepryl (in a.m. and noon doses) as well as Deseryl to facilitate sleep (50, then 75 mg. at bedtime). Last July, this doctor quit treating people on Medicaid and similar insurance programs. I had been to a second neurologist for a second opinion to whom I transferred my records. He did not agree with the PD diagnosis, attributing my problems to chronic anxiety and situa- tional/clinical depression. I have done a lot of research in preparation to return to work as a medical social worker speciali- zing in rural/small town home health aid. The more I read about bio-psychiatry and how organic problems are often mistaken for functional ones, the more determined I was to seek yet another opinion. Dec.10th I will be seeing a PD specialist at Cleve- land clinic. (previously I had been treated at Edwin Shaw Rehab. Hospital for OT, PT, Communication Disorders, and Stress-Mgmt.) I do agree with my neurologist that I was overmedicated. I have felt much better since eliminating Eldepryl and Sinamet, but not as well when I was on a 1/4 dose of Sinamet CR 50/200.(my first doctor had switched me to the Sinamet CR a few weeks after starting the 25/100 Sinamet to help reduce "on/off" problems. To get back to your problem with completing your run in Boulder, I would like to offer some suggestions. Your wife's theory about the dopamine depletion sounds plausible. You could be experiencing a lot of on/off periods because there does seem to be a direct relationship between exercise levels and medication effectiveness. I am surprised that no one had mentioned Sinemet CR as an alterna- tive. It is a controlled release medication which is known for reducing such on/off periods. we have a PDer in our support group who uses both CR and Immediate Release Sinamet 10/100. He says that one can chew the blue (10/100) pill for a boost during a "stuck" situation such as yours. Of course, the ONLY person who can skillfully advise you about medication changes is your doctor. If you haven't done so lately, talk to him! I like to ride my horse as often as possible, especially on the trails at our local state park. I was not allowed to ride for several months last winter but resumed riding as soon as the doctor said o.k. I had periods when I stumbled around the barn, but I had trained my horse, Sammy, to help me and tolerate my tremors and balance pro- blems, much like a good therapeutic riding horse. I found that once mounted, I could balance much better and ride better than I could walk. (I often had a zig-zag walk.) they say in therapeutic riding that horses help wheel-chair bound riders because riding is the only activity that similuates walking. Apparently this has some- thing to do with the vestibular system. Any comments about this or similar issues in exercise? Bob, if you have any ideas about the bio-psychiatry issue in my conflicting diagnoses, please drop me a note. There has been an incredible amount of stress in my life with our physical and economic problems, but these have been occuring many more years longer that the onset of my tremors,etc. The deseryl seems to help a lot as well as my faith. I believe we should all try to keep a positive attitude as much as possible and to look for the humor and simple lessons in life. That's all for now, and I hope other Internet readers will offer their input too. Thanks! Linda