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Beth... I was appalled to read that you're being WITHHELD l-dopa! (Sinemet or the equivalent). This seems like an issue of _CONTROL_ to me, rather than the practice of a responsible and caring physician. Since PD is a disease which effects each individual is a somewhat different manner from every other individual having the disease, what possible difference could I take if you were a male, head of household, working to support a wife and kids, and going to lose your job because of the disease making dramatic inroads into your life?! The disease IS terrible, and you DO have it, and you're YOU... This is NOT a gender issue or an occupational issue, and your physician MUST be appraised of that!! If the MD then won't prescribe what IS the drug of choice for most people with PD then get another doctor! Even an internist or family practitioner .... heck, even a PEDIATRICIAN can prescribe you Sinemet!!! (or the equivalent) This is NOT a "gender-related" disease, its' a HUMAN-related disease. Your life IS your life. You'll NEVER be that male your MD has declared you not to be. You're going to be YOU for the rest of your life, and your physician SHOULD be treating you with the most useful drugs for YOU... the person you are, not this fantasy he THINKS should get this valuable drug! And Beth... don't you DARE trash your research project! WHEN you're on the right medication, and possibly also an anti-depressant,, you'll be raring to finish that research and to move on with your life. YOU GO GIRL!! Sending a buncha love your way.... Barb Mallut [log in to unmask] ---------- From: Parkinson's Information Exchange on behalf of Elizabeth Leslie Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 1997 3:20 AM To: Multiple recipients of list PARKINSN Subject: Symmetrel I'm seeking a bit of guidance on this. I've seen the neuro today. He agrees I need treatment. He agrees l-dopa would make me fully functional. He sent me away with a script for Symmetrel! He told me it could take me 3 months to feel any benefit from it. He did agree - a touch reluctantly, perhaps even a little sheepishly - that if I were a guy with wife/family to support and at risk of losing my job he would not withhold l-dopa. (One good thing tho' - I did find out from him how/where to get my Selegiline cheaply. That's a relief.) Guess what folks? I'm not feeling so :) Getting ready to trash my research. I'd really like to hear from anyone who takes/has taken this med. And any other advice you care to fling my way will be welcome. Off-list is fine. Thanks, Beth