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Dear Friend: I'm very sorry to hear about your wife's problem. My husband has a severe "burning" problem. The neurologist and internist call it a reflux action due to a weakening of the upper stomach (or esophagous muscle) that retains stomach juices in the stomach and prevents their rising upward. He takes Pepcid once a day, and often asks me to bring a spoon of plain yogurt to cool it down. That seems to work. The internist explained that any food product might make it worse (stimulate yet more action of the stomach acids), and recommended instead Mylanta or a similar product. But nothing helps quite like the yogurt, so that's how we handle it. I don't think my husband's is a severe a case as your wife's. And, fortunately, there have never been any hallucinations at all, with any of the many medications he takes. Good luck! k. >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 commentswould be appreciated. >Cheers, >Irv Williams >[log in to unmask] > > ====================================================================== Mrs. Karin M. Beros, MSO [log in to unmask] International and Area Studies voice: (510) 642-8542 Office of the Dean, 260 Stephens Hall fax: (510) 642-9466 Mail Code 2300 ======================================================================