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Hello Every-body around the globe! I am 48 years old and I was diagnosed with P.D. in 1990. My severest symptom is bi-lateral resting tremor of arms (predomenantly right), legs, feet and chin. They say that tremor is one of the symptoms most difficult to control with medication and for me that seems to be true. Under the guidance of my neurologist we recently increased my levadopa intake up to 1800mg. over a 24 hour period. It did bring the tremor under control but the side effects did not make it worthwhile, (nausea, depression, anxiety, and vivid dreaming). Since then I have been titrating a normal and slow release levadopa with some success. I find that in my case a four hourly dose of 100mg. Madopar (normal release) and 200mg. Madopar HBS (slow release) taken 1 hour after the normal release gives me the best result, over a four hour period. I take this five times a day. After a severe period of depression (which was out of character for me) my G.P. convinced me I would benefit from an anti-depressant, which I reluctantly agreed to after realising I was not going to be able to get that black dog of my back under my own mind power. (I use meditation and had found that helpfull in the past). He prescibed 75mg. of Prothiaden (dothiepin hydrochloride) and I feel like my old self again. My optimism has been restored to me, I am sleeping better, and no more nightmares. I have learnt to live with a certain amount of tremor and have developed coping strategies such as walking on a motorised treadmill, pottering around in the garden, or going for a walk, until my medication "kicks in". The possible mental or cognitive deterioration possible with P.D. frightens me more than any physical loss. Having said that I do feel optimistic that a cure, not just surgery to relieve the symptoms of P.D. is imminent, and here I would like to applaud the American Parkies who so successfully band together across their country to bring pressure to bear on those with the power to allocate those all important research dollars. Great work! You don't realise it but you inspire many of us here in Aussie to keep trying to lift awareness here. Myself and Celia Jones (also a [log in to unmask] subs.) co-ordinate a Young Onset P.D. Support Group and have 32 members. As well as providing an opportunity for us to meet new "parkie" friends, we have family days, arrange education seminaar's, and participate actively in events that will help to raise public awareness of P.D. such as Parkinson's Disease Awareness Week. We intend to participate in the World Walk Day this year. I met Dr. Abraham Lieberman at our Third Australian National Multi-Disciplinary Conference on Parkinson's Disease last year wich was held in Hobart. If any-one out there knows him please pass on my personal thanks to him for his contributions to P.D. The logorithm he made available on the net has been passed on to many Aussie Parkies. If only more doctors would be so accessable and ready to pass on their knowledge and information. The fourth P.D. conference is to be held in Perth next year. A great place for a holiday by the way! Lastly I would like to say a special hello to the Hollander Parkies on the net. I was born in De Hague, in Malaaka Straate. (probably spelt wrong). My parents migrated to Australia in 1956. My husband wanted to take me back for a holiday as I have never been back but I feel it would be just a little bejond my capabilities. The thought of shaking in an airoplane seat for 30 hours in just a little to daunting. But I would love to hear from any Dutchies if you have the time and inclination to tell me a little about your part of Holland. I have only had my computor for two weeks now. I am still in awe of the fact that this letter is going to be read by so many of you! Hope I can work the spell check! Regards Mary Thompson. [log in to unmask]