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On Fri, 11 Nov 1994, MANLEY WILLIAM FREDERICK wrote: > > My second concern is less well defined. It centers on the issue that my > father is not always so communicative. Sometimes it is difficult to > discuss sensitive issues with him, although lately, with this issue, he has > been very open... > This isn't coming across quite right, > but we don't want him to think that we view him as a victim, or that > we are focussing on it at the detriment of other aspects of our relation- > ship. Since he might not discuss with us his concerns, we can't be > guaranteed that he might think we are fixating too much on "what might > happen" rather than "what is happening". Any comments? Dear Friends, I could use some help in dealing with a similar problem. Dad is nearly 83 and has always been very reluctant to discuss health issues.... his own or those of family members. Lately in fact, he becomes quite easily agitated and irritated in conversation on topics "close to home" including questions (even casual ones) about his health. He overreacts and then withdraws for weeks at a time so that communication with him is all but impossible. Dad shows all the main symptoms of PD and, I believe has taken or is taking levadopa. He had a paternal aunt with PD and his own father showed significant hand tremors, as well. We began to notice his hand tremors about twelve to fifteen years ago followed by the gradual addition of other symptoms. Since I learned at one point several years ago that he had a prescription for L-dopa and since I believed that he would voluntarily visit a medical doctor when he needed to, I declined to broach the subject of PD with him because I knew it would make him angry. In the last year, I have begun to notice other things that worry me.... mostly personality changes; unreasonable behavior; and unwarranted and sudden explosive anger. It has gotten so that I never know who I'm going to meet when I phone Dad or when he visits. He can be the most jovial of companions at one visit and then behave very badly in a subsequent phone call. Is this what dementia is like? Finally, I am considering contacting Dad's family physician with my concerns. By doing this, will I be effectively asking the doctor to breach confidentiality? Has anyone else had a similar experience? What is the best way for me to approach this matter with the doctor so that I won't offend him, but so that I can be sure that Dad is actually getting the medical help that he needs? Diane Rau [log in to unmask]