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Hello all, As I read Don's 2 year report on Pallidotomy and felt so good for him and realizing that this was one of the reasons that this list was formed , I though I would share my five week old L>S> experience with you. Surely, it does not enjoy the same longevity but for me it was a milestone in my 11 year fight (the last five with Sinemet) with PD. So, here goes: Before 1995 I will not go into now: During the period from the beginning of 95 till November, my main and increasing problem was with freezing, painfull stiffness and the worst toe/foot cramping and spasms. In October, I was almost a vegetable from the physical and emotional trama. During an "emergency" visit to the dr. the last week in October, my daily log sheets indicated a definite "OFF" distonic experience. No matter what we tried earlier in the year to adjust the meds worked only slightly or not at all. His suggestion was to liquidfy the Sinemet with a formula of each 25/100 X 100cc OJ with two level teaspoons of Ascorbic Acid (C) added. This total mixture would be divided by the number of hours (including the first one) from early a.m. till late p.m. according to my pill dosage chart. We began this experiment on the first saturday in November. After about three days I noticed a definite reduction in the number of cramping sessions. After about one week I noticed a definite reduction in the LENGTH OF TIME of the freezing and stiffness. The number of freezing and stiffness sessions were about the same. After about three weeks, I REALIZED in retrospect and with my family's help that since the time I started the L>S> my whole appearence and demeanor was changed. I was not so tense, so hesitant of going out with fear of freezing and cramping etc, and in fact it I HAD NO more cramping/spasms. The freezing was almost time predictable and therefore acceptable or controllable. I faxed the dr. and we agreed the daily logs indicated that a "double" drink at 10am and another about 6pm might make an improvement since those were the times of the most severe freezing and stiffness. We did it. A few days later we conferred again by fax and decided to try 1/2 hour (instead of one hour drinks) during those two time frames. This was intended to "smooth" the dosage or working meds in my system. WITH EACH SUGGESTION AND IMPLEMINTATION THERE WAS ADDED BENEFIT. It is now the beginning of my 6th week. a)I have given up my daily companion (helper) b)I have been able to get up and go from about 8am till at least 8pm c)I have NOT used the wheelchair more than three times in five weeks and when I did it was mainly for our families convenience to a movie or dinner during a stiffness time d)I have NOT experienced more than three toe/foot cramping sessions and when I did it was obviously caused by an external stress not related to PD Last weekend during Thanksgiving, Chuck and I drove more than one hour non-stop to NYC, then WALKED (with a folded chair alongside just in case) the city. It was so successful and enjoyable that we did it two complete days that weekend Yesterday, Saturday our day started at 0700 and we fell into bed exhaused and elated at the PERFECT day we had doing so many different things including seeing the 3 hour movie Casino without even getting up from the theatre chair once. Now we look forward to each weekend alone together or with friends or family. WE ARE FULLY AWARE THAT THIS COULD END INSTANTLY, but for the meantime I go to bed each night saying THANK YOU !!!! This has given me and my family a new lease on living. Since we can predict 95% my daily bad periods (also around my monthly cycle) we have found a new PD freedom. SINCE THIS WORKED FOR ME, IT MAY NOT BE FOR YOU. PLEASE CONSULT FIRST Joyce AND Chuck AND family