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Kristin, Your dad sounds quite a bit like me. My initial symptoms were DXed as arthritis but after about three more years I knew it was something else (because of the ratcheting), so I insisted on seeing a neurologist. On my first visit I had a detailed list of my symptoms and the neurpologist said that, except for the absence of tremor, they were the classic symptoms of Parkinsons Disease. (This was after his own examination). My reaction was to ask what was the prognosis and treatment alternatives. I had just started my graduate work and was in a research mode anyway. I went to the medical library and read several books and articles about PD. My neurologist was the head of the Neurology Department at Walter Reed Medical Center and he made me a partner in my treatment. He gave me the alternatives and their indications and together we worked out a course of treatment. Between visits I was encouraged to make changes in my medications if I felt it might help. When my neurologist retired a couple of years later, he said he was assighneing me to a new intern so I could teach him a lot about Parkinsons Disease! I had been DXed early enough so that for the fist three years my symptoms could be entirely alleviated by the medication. It was then that I volunteered to participate in a clinical trial fror Ropinerole. Although it was a double blind study, I am absolutely certain I was taking the placebo, because I began having extended periods of off times for the first time. Although I was mentally prepared for it, it was still l a struggle phychologically to cope with the increasing incapacity. At that time I was the head programmer on a research project. Fortunately for me, the project director was a geriatrics nurse practitioner specializing in PD and Alzheimers. She hired an undergraduate to key in the code for me and also informed the rest of the faculty what to expect in terms of the mask face and a tendency to stare, etc. Even so, as the disease became more dibilitating I did experience some rather severe depression. Of course, there appears to be a link between PD and depression. Like many parkies I went through a severe depression about 10 years before I was DXed. There are some who believe that this is the first indication of a dopamine deficit (the first physical symptome don't appear until the dopamine is about 80 percent depleted). The hardest part is keeping motivated. I have a tendency to say "why bother, I can't do it anyway". Perfect example: three years years ago I completed all my course work for my PhD--all I had left to do was my dissertation. It has taken me these three years just toto decide what I wanted to do my dissertation on! A part of me is still saying, "why bother, nobody will hire you anyway." This is where a good support group comes in handy. (The department secretary has offered to type my dissertation for me and has said there is noway I am not going to get to get my Phd.). Another thing that is almost essential is a sense of humor. (You don't need to label my medicine "Shake before taking"...I always shake before taking.) And finally you need a deep faith that says, "this too shall pass". I don't have PD, I am an immortal entity who inhabits a body with PD. (My other body is sypmtom free *G*). Through my weakness is God's strength manifest. Three years ago I began composing music. Since trhen I have composed over 40 songs and symphonic works including an Easter cantata (which is available on my home page). I have become the percussionist for a Christian band called "Souls Unlimited" (we do primarily Praise and Worship songs). I also volunteer for studies involving PD. Of course I am in a good area for it. Both Johns Hopkins and the University of MD are active in PD research plus NIH is just down the road. I also participate in "show and tell" sessions for medical students where they get first hand experience with PD symptoms. I hope this has been of use to you. Bruce 54/8 Sinemet CR & Pramipexole ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Bruce G. Warr "Experience is what enables us to recognize Healthcare Informatics Lab a mistake the next time we make it." Information Systems Dept. University of Maryland Baltimore County http://umbc.edu/~warr/ (V) (410)455-3206 (F) (410)455-1073 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~