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My dad 74, diagnosed with PD 8 months ago, has been taking Sinemet CR
since diagnosed and has been taking Eldepryl for 2 1/2 months.  Since
beginning the Eldepryl he has been much more listless, rarely gets out
of his chair.  His 'dizzy' spells from his Meneire's syndrome are more
frequent.  He has anxiety attacks which will root him in his chair for
8 hours, no one can get him up out of that chair.  He's too scared
he'll fall and will go absolutely rigid if we try. He sleeps alot.
He'll watch an hour program and miss at least 30 minutes of the show.
When he has good days he can slowly fix lunch.  He showers without
assistance, even does his own laundry, slowly but he gets it done.  He
has gone from walking 3 to 4 miles a day (just 8 months ago) to barely
making it to the car a couple of times a week.
 
He takes 3 Sinemet CR 50/100 each day, and 1 Eldepryl 5mg each day.  He
also takes Relaphen (arthritis), Maxzide (meneire's) and Lozal
[spelling?] (circulation).
 
All of this to ask a question.   Is this normal for this disease and
this regime of medication?
 
Today was my sons 9 birthday party.  My dads ONLY GRANDCHILD and he
slept sitting up in a hard straight back chair at the kitchen table
through most all of the festivities.  Up until 8 months ago this would
have NEVER happened.  He adores this child and would in times past
never miss anything this child ever did.
 
His doctor's first said he had the slow progressing type of PD and that
it was in it's very early stages.  Could be functional for another 20 -
25 years (his parents lived to be 95 & 96).  In April (5 months after
diagnoses) they now say he is in the later stages and the next step is
a wheel chair, this time next year he will be vegetative.
 
Did his doctors miss his diagnosis?  Could his medication or
insufficient dosage be causing the rapid decline?  Could he recover
some ground if treatment were changed now?
 
I really need some input?  My mother is not handling this well and
things are deteriorating so quickly that I fear drastic measures on her
part may be taken soon!
 
His doctor is in Oklahoma City and my mom would be willing to go
anywhere in Texas or Oklahoma to get him to someone who can help
improve his condition.  Needless to say they have lost faith in both of
the doctors that they have seen in Oklahoma City.
 
Thanks for the vent and any information or suggestion will be
appreciated.
 
Virginia Herd