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McHutchison wrote: > > Just wondering, and hoping that someone out there can answer a couple of Mom's questions. > > 1. What would happen if someone who does not have Parkinson's Disease were to take drugs for Parkinson's (sinemet, eldepryl) ? Assuming they overcome the nau > > 2. Each time Dad gets up from his chair, he drifts towards the left. Likewise, while he eats, he'll finish everything between 6 o'clock and 8 o'clock on his > > 3. Dad has quite a bit of difficulty with depth perception. It's hard to watch him reach for his coffee and consistently miss it. (Often he's to the left of > > 4. I've read references to Atypical Parkinson's. Could someone point me to a reference describing that version of the disease? > > Mom may still be resisting the diagnosis, and wondering if Dad's really got Parkinson's Disease. That's the source for question #1. I think it's more that Da > > Any information, ideas, etc. will be gratefully read and passed along. > > Diane McHutchison > Englishtown, NJ > [log in to unmask] > > Long distance caregiver for Dad -- 68 yrs old, 6 yrs diagnosed. Diane, Your post caught my eye because I have been diagnosed as a person with "atypical parkinsonism". My principle problem is what is sometimes called "gait ignition failure syndrome" which is a fancy way of saying i can't start walking, or at least have lots of trouble starting. I was diagnosed about 4 yrs ago and have been having symptoms for about 7 yrs. I have problems with balance and I fall a lot. None of the Parkinsons medications have any effect. I have many of the other symptoms of typical PD patients but the only disabling problem is the gait problem. I am 71 yra old. Your questions: 1. I have asked that same question of my neuro. He says the answer is NO, but i really don't think he knows. 2. I also tend to drift one way, in my case I tend to lean and drift to the right. My right side is my "bad side" so I think that only means one tends to lean and drift toward the most affected side. 3. Eyesight tends to be affected with some forms of PD. In my case my eyes, although they both focus properly do not converge to the same point if I am looking at some on point which is too close, therfor I am seeing double. (great for seeing 3D pictures) 4. There is a book called,PARKINSON'S which I have but unfortunately I can't find it this minute. It has a chapter in the back which lists about 12 named diseases with descriptions which can mimic Parkinsons. However the best I have found is a paper by Stacy & Jankovic which is available (in three parts) from the archives of this list. If you do not know how to get stuff from the archives, see John Cottinghams instructions. The Parkinsons Institute in Sunnyvale CA cant tell me which of the several kinds of atypical parkisonism i have. They tell me that they don't know what causes it or what to do about it. It may be unrelated to PD in the sense that it may have a different cause and a different mechanism. Your mother may be right, i.e. he may not have DP but beleive its no advntage. If he had PD he could take Sinmet and for a while be relieved of his sympoms. Most people with atypical parkinsonism are not helped by the meds for PD. I think the sellite symposium said that about 20-25% of people diagnosed with PD have atypical parkinsonism. ---Milo -- Milo V. Anderson, Ph.D. Box 417 Angwin, CA 94508 voice 707 965 2508 fax 707 965 3148 e-mail [log in to unmask]