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Dear Members, After some six months of lurking on the list since my diagnosois of PD, I have gathered the courage to participate and ask for some feedback relating to my situation. Bye the bye, I have been most impre- with the quality of the information shared on the list between members, and the caring and humane atmosphere which pervades the list. I have learned much, and have much to learn. The feedback I seek relates to the ambiguity of my situation. The context of my situation is as follows. I am a 45 year old diagnosed with PD in June of this year, currently taking Eldepryl 5 mg. at 8 am. and noon. The PD diagnosis took place after 2 months of profound depression for which there was no apparent precipitant, and one which I personally felt had a chemical basis to it. In passing, I have 16 years experience in providing community mental health services to the severely mentally disabled, and consider myself somewhat capable in making this type of judgement. The depression had no justif- ication in the context of my life situation at that time. Nonetheless, I decided I needed some medicinal help in dealing with it, and was prescribed 60 mg. of Prozac daily. The depression, although not intractable proved difficult to treat. After some 2 months of Prozac, I developed several neurological symptoms; muscle weakness right foot/leg, tremor right hand/arm, loss of dexterity right hand, and general balance problems especially when pivoting to the right side. These symptoms were sufficient to alarm my primary care physician and I was referred to a neurologist. (In passing, post-introduction reports on the drug Prozac contained in the PDR make reference to the worsening of movement disorders, although these reports are rare. As well, I am not in a position to say with any certainty whether PD falls into the category of movement or elsewhere). The neurologist, after an office examination, and a CAT scan, diagnosed PD and I was prescribed Symmetryl 100 mg. TID. Because of the above mentioned coincidence of PD symptoms and Prozac, the medication for the depression was changed. I had a short lived success with the Symmetryl lasting approx. 11/2 months at which point it became ineffective. I was then switched to Eldepryl 5 mg.BID which I continue to take up until the present day. After a brief honeymoon of a couple of weeks on Eldepryl, it is now only effective 50% of the time, in batches of 3-5 days with no particular reason being evident. (My job is however, of a very high stress nature). From my perspective my symptoms appear to be worsening, but this is not aparent to those who do not know me well. The symptoms are bilateral, but still worse on the right side. I have difficulty being heard, as the volume of my speech is diminished. I occassionally have difficulty swallowing, and experience choking in swallowing fluids from time to time. I have difficulty negotiating cramped spaces, especially small stairways, and frequently bump into door jambs. I mention these problems because I have many years experience in the martial arts and have a certain appreciaton of my ability to move my body. Remaining unconvinced about my situation due to the rapid worsening of my condition, (the diagnosing doctor had predicted a very slow progression), I sought a second opinion. An MRI was performed as well as an exam by a second neurologist. To sum the results up briefly, the second neurologist said I had 'something', that all other causes had been ruled out, but that he did not see enough clinical evidence to diagnose PD (conservatism obviously surpasses the boundaries of politics; as compared to the first opinion, this was one of my bad days). All of this has had for effect to keep me in 'denial', and prevent me from dealing with the situation in earnest. Any and all feed back would be appreciated via this much valued 'electronic support group'. Regards to the 1000+ members, Brian