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You wrote: > >Hello all-- > I have written several times on behalf of my mother who was diagnosed with >PD about 1.5 years ago. Until recently we have had no reason to question that >diagnosis as her symptoms appeared to be classic PD. But for several reasons, >we are now questioning that diagnosis. I am hoping that perhaps some people >in this group are familiar with parkinson look-alikes, i.e. other problems >that cause PD-like symptoms. Our first reason for suspiscion is that Sinemet >seems to have no effect whatsoever on her. There is no on/off. She can't tell >the difference between when she has taken it and when she hasn't. In fact, >she has gotten worse over the last six months (since starting Sinemet) than >she did in the whole first year since diagnosis. > Our second reason for questioning the diagnosis is that PD typically >progresses rather slowly. It was a slow progression for my mom at first but >recently it has changed so dramatically that I could see a difference in her >in a matter of *days*. Two weeks ago, she was playing tennis, had a strong >clear voice, could drive a car and keep up with most normal activities. Now, >she cannot retain her balance to walk around the house without falling. Her >speaking is very slow. She appears to be intensely uncomfortable and does >not wish to discuss the problems she is having. > It is as if her PD has progressed five years over a period of five days. >In all my reading on PD I have never heard of such a rapid change in someone >except if they have experienced some sort of traumatic event, which she >hasn't. We are really at a loss. We are also looking for a new neurologist, >one who has more experience with PD. If anyone has any ideas about what is >going on here, I would love to hear them. I have really been enjoying this >group and am learning a lot. Keep up the good work. > > --Ann Strozewski > > Ann: Please e-mail me with your mother's full set of symptoms, the length of time that she has had them, etc. Maybe I can be of some help. Best, Bob -- ******************************************************** Robert A. Fink, M. D., F.A.C.S. Phone: 510-849-2555 Neurological Surgery FAX: 510-849-2557 2500 Milvia Street Suite 222 Berkeley, California 94704-2636 USA E-Mail: [log in to unmask] CompuServe: 72303,3442 America Online: BobFink "Ex Tristitia Virtus" ********************************************************