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Although I have corresponded privately to individuals on the list I have not introduced myself nor explained my interest in PD. I will correct that now. My wife is 65 and has had PD for about 15 years. The symptoms have become most severe in the last 4-5 years. She does not have the classic shuffling and stooped posture. she does have slowness of movement, has had difficulty swallowing, but suffers mainly from a burning sensation mainly in her torso which does move to her mouth and throat. She had been over-medicated to 1500 mg of Sinemet/day to help reduce the burning sensation, during which time she lost about 20 pounds, apparently due to the energy expended by the dyskinesia and insomnia. She also suffered from low blood pressure which caused fainting-like episodes which lasted for about 1 minute. She also suffered from hallucinations and delusions during this period. To try to control the hallucinations which her neurologist said was sinemet-induced, she was given respiridone. it was stopped after 3 days because it aggravated her blood pressure situation; it fluctuated from very low to over 190. However, it did almost eliminate her hallucinations. She is now at a level of 850 mg of sinemet, has gained back about 10 pounds, and her blood pressure situation is becoming more normal, although the hallucinations and delusions are becoming more severe. My questions are: 1 - Does anyone else have experience with the burning symptom? 2 - Although I have full confidence in her neurologist, I am considering taking her to either Mt. Sinai hospital in NYC or Columbia-Presbyterian hospital, also in NYC for observation and evaluation. My hope is that her medication and the effect that food has on it can be adjusted. Also to find out what can be done about the hallucinatory side effect of sinemet. I also hope to find out if any of the existing surgical procedures, i. e. Pallidotomy, fetal tissue transplant, etc., can be of benefit. The question is, has any one had any experience with either of these hospitals and which would be the better choice? Thanks for listening. Any comments would be appreciated. This is a second transmission (6/11/95) since the first (6/10/95) did not appear Cheers, Irv Williams [log in to unmask]