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Mary Rack wrote: > Hello (please tell us what your name is!) and welcome to the list! My > mother is 76 and has been diagnosed for about 6 years. Your post rang > all sorts of bells for me, so I'm responding and hoping it'll help, if > only to let you know you're not alone. > > Trouble with drugs: it's very difficult to regulate pd drugs. > Having info about the various drugs, side effects, etc. is helpful. > Also, there is widespread agreement that it's VERY impt for a PWP > (person with PD) to see a movement disorders specialist or a > neurologist who specializes in PD. Folks in isolated areas often make > long journeys once or twice a year to consult with such docs and find > it worthwhile. > > Twitching: may be caused by too much sinemet, either in general or > at a specific time. Correct dosing can be affected by stress, weight > loss, dehydration, you name it. > > Depression: if the prozac isn't working, ask for something else. The > "best" antidepressant seems to be a very individual matter! And > encourage your mom to get help for herself. The Eldercare Locator, > 800-677-1116 can tell you about resources in their zip code (BTW > where are you? where are they?) Depression in PWP and their > caregivers is not uncommon, and CAN be treated effectively. > > The latest methods: dopamine (sinemet) seems to still be the main > drug, but there are some new ones, also some surgeries....if you tell > us what drugs your dad is on, you'll probably get some specific > comments and suggestions. > > Wish I could tell you that Mom is functioning well. Really believe > that her rather negative personality has a lot to do with it, though, > as her pd is not all that far along. I get the impression that many > her age are coping much better than she is. > > Keep an eye out for Camilla Flintermann's posts and ask her for info > on joining the CARE lists for caregivers, too. > > Again, welcome to the list. I trust you'll "meet" many compassionate > friends here, many of whom offer us the added gift of humor that > brightens our lives. Keep asking questions, and ask again if you > don't get a response in a day or two; sometimes we all think someone > else will have answered already, and then nobody does! Mary, You have done a pearl of answer and IMHO it should be kept as a standard for future question on the subject for the newbyers to this list. Regards, +----| Joao Paulo de Carvalho |------ + | [log in to unmask] | +--------| Salvador-Bahia-Brazil |------+