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I am new to the listserv, but am very excited to be here. I am 51 years old and have been diagnosed with pd for 6 1/2 years. My symptoms were rigidity and slow movement. I am fortunate to not have the tremors.The docs call my case atypical parkinson. It progressed from my left toes up my left side and is now in my right toes. I became so involved that in Dec.'95 I had to retire from 28 years of teaching. I suffered from severe depression this last Jan. when my sinemet no longer was effective and I had to be basically homebound because I could no longer drive. I would walk with only a walker around the house on off periods from meds and with a cane when I had an on period that lasted only one hour or so at a time. My doc suggested a stereotactic pallodomity to relieve the symptoms on the left so I could be mobile again. I had the surgery on March the 6th at Scott and White Hospital in Temple, Texas. It truly was a miracle from heaven. I am now able to walk without the use of any assistance and am back to driving. The prognosis is unknown now as to how long I will have this good of a result, or how long it will be before my right side gets that involved. I am thankful to God for each new day and will try to be patient as I explore new areas of retirement. It is mainly difficult now to find a drug to control my depression. Since the surgery I found that I cannot tolerate the ticyclic antidepresssants or Prozac. I am now on Serzone as of two days ago. I would like more information on antidepressants for pd's and on pallodomity results over the longhaul. I am also interested in communicating with other early onset pd's. I hope to start a support group for that age group in this area. I submitted an article to Guidepost and to Lutheran Witness mags about my modern-day miracle just last week. We all have to have faith, use the power of prayer and expect the unexpected. My E-Mail address is [log in to unmask] for anyone who would personally like more information on the surgery or has information for me to help me prepare for the rest of my life as a pd person. Thank you all for being here.