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Having been a member of this list for a couple of months I should introduce m yself especially since my son, Allan, who introduced me to this list, commented o n 11 Feb, 94, "He has promised to send in his story as soon as he can slow down." So here goes! Barbara Patterson, I sincerely appreciate list PARKINSN, especially since the re is no support group in this immediate area. The list helps fill the void. I am 69, a retired professor of biology at Alfred University where I taught fo r 35 years. About 1980 I became aware of tremor in my right hand that was interfe ring with some of my teaching activities, especially at the blackboard where my w riting went uphill and ended in a scrawl. A diagnosis of PD was subsequently conf irmed after a battery of tests at the University of Miami's PD clinic. Treatment was started with benadryl, then amantidine, then artane, all of whic h reduced the tremor somewhat but resulted in side effects. With amantidine skin mottling occurred--not a problem--but symptoms of Raynaud's phenomenon affecting both my hands and feet during the winter was. (Have any of you experienced this?) . Artane caused dry mouth that made lecturing uncomfortable. Parsidol along with Sinemet 25-100 three times a day improved the tremor but dry mouth and muscle cra mps continued, and "off" periods were common. Current medication, Sinemet CR 50-2 00 three times a day plus one half of a Sinemet 25-100 at the 7 AM dose--to "jump -start" the process, along with 2.5 mg of eldepryl at morning and noon, improved the situation. Even though "off" periods and stiffness still occur they are less of a problem. I have never suffered from nausea from Sinemet, as many of you have , but heartburn is common. Overall I have experienced only moderate progression of PD over time, and invo lvement is still principally with my right hand and arm (I am right-handed). I ca n do almost everything I wish to do without assistance, though I often have to wa it a while to do it. I persist in being both physically and mentally active and i nvolved. To date I have never fallen. In comparing myself with others who have ha d a more stressful experience I consider myself to be very fortunate. I now realize that at the beginning I showed symptoms of depression (sound fam iliar?) which puzzled my wife, Elzada, and concerned my colleagues in whom I init ially found it difficult to confide. When I finally broke that barrier things bec ame much easier for all concerned. I feel that I am reconciled to my situation an d fully appreciate what the future may hold. Elzada is--and has been--fully suppo rtive, and that helps. In fact, since her coronary bypass surgery six months ago mutual support and a careful shared regimen of diet and exercise have strengthene d our marriage. Like many of you I was reared in a rural environment. As a child I suffered a concussion from a fall from a haymow onto a concrete floor. As a biologist I ha ve had contacts with innumerible organic and inorganic reagents, especially prese rvatives like phenol and formaldehyde. I have spent many hours with my hands in p hotographic processing chemicals. Two paternal uncles and an aunt had PD. Heredit y or environment, or both? You have all been helpful to me. I hope I, too, can make a contribution. Gaylord Rough([log in to unmask]) 88 S. Main St.,Alfred, NY 14802. 607-587 -9161.