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Some of you may remember that about 10 days ago I sent the list a message relating that my father, diagnosed 13 years, had had a swift downturn in his condition. He went from being able to walk, climb stairs, shower, dress and feed himself to needing assistance in all of those things, in addition to much increased confusion and hallucinations. All of this change without any change in his medications or anything else apparent. His neurologist in Sarasota had said that the rapid degeneration was not abnormal, and that there was nothing that could be done. Not accepting that diagnosis, I reached out to the list for recommendations for a second opinion. The Movement Disorders Clinic at the University of South Florida in Tampa was recommended, along with Dr Sanchez-Ramos who is there one day a week. We saw Dr Sanchez this morning, and I am encouraged and impressed. When told of the rapid change, Dr Sanchez said that this is not a normal progression of the disease, but probably due to a infection that has not been otherwise noticed. He prescribed a urine test, to see if a urinary tract infection is present. He said that a urinary tract infection is often asymtomatic in older patients, and could cause the sudden change. = One cheer for suggesting that there may be a problem, and taking steps to fix it. My father has had problems with fainting, falling, and balance, greatly aggrevated since the change. Dr Sanchez prescribed leg top tight stockings, to increase the blood pressure, much increased salt; and if needed in a week, a drug (fourinase?) to raise the blood pressure even more. A second cheer for breaking my Dad=92s problems into small, solvable steps, and taking actions on those steps. In a month, once the previous problems have stabilized, Dr Sanchez will attack the pyschological problems. A third cheer for going after the next big problem. In short, I am encouraged that we have found a doctor that will take the time and considerable trouble to solve, or at least try to solve, the many problems that have affected by father. As Dr Sanchez so aptly put it, "Sometimes a family neurologist just can=92t take the time necessary to fix the problems." Moral of the story: If your doctor says that nothing can be done, find another doctor. While of course we don=92t know if anything here will work, at least we found a doctor willing to try. I=92ll let you know what happens. --Jefferson Harkins [log in to unmask]