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Hillie wrote:> Hi everyone! >My father (75) has PD. His problem is his head. He says that the feeling is >very hard to describe - it is like something presses his head from outside. >The feeling is stronger in standing. >His PD treatment started about year ago. Now he takes Madopar '125' HBS >twice a day. > Is this feeling connected with PD? What to do? If you know something >about that, please, write! > Hille > Hille, For the first time since joining this list, I am receiving my mail remotely. My access to a phone (it's ALWAYS tied up here) is limited so I don't know how quickly I can get this out. However, I wanted to tell you that I described your father's problem to my mother and she (who in the past was unable to explain her head problems adequately) said, "Yes. That's what I felt." I posted questions about this myself awhile back. My mother (Joyce, 67/5 months) is on Sinemet 25/100 4x/day, Permax .25 mg. 4x/day, and an antidepressant. She remembered that the head problems predated the medication, so we summed it up to PD. It was among her most bothersome feelings. She didn't notice a difference when standing or sitting -- it was always there. But she just told me that now that she thinks about it, she hasn't had the head problem and she thinks it disappeared around the time she started taking antidepressants (started about 1.5 weeks ago). At the time she started the antidepressant, other things happened (my father ended up in the hopital for a week for heart problems -- I am visiting them now) and she feels that dealing with that was so distracting that it might have in part contributed to the disappearance of the head symptoms. I'd like also to say that I was surprised she started on the antidepressant. She never seemed depressed to the point where medication would be necessary (having been a user of antidepressants in the past myself, I didn't recognize similar symptoms in my mother at all). However, when her doctor asked how things were mentally, she said she felt a bit stressed. All in all, I think the antidepressant was a good idea. Also, a few weeks ago I posted about my mother's breathing difficulties. Her doctor cut back on the Permax a bit, and since then she hasn't had the shortness of breath. She did, however, end up undermedicated and built up to the full Permax dose and is on it now without any difficulties. Finally, (I know this is long) two questions: (1) I know that a good reaction to Sinemet is almost part of the PD diagnostic tool kit. Is this true of agonist such as Permax, too? That is, if one reacts well to it, does that suggest that the disease is PD? (2) Being with my mother has made me aware of just how much her life revolves aorund drugs. She doesn't always sleep sucessfully and needs to wake up early anyway to take a drug for her bones that needs to go in 1 hour before eating or drinking (or the Sinemet). Sometimes she is exhausted at night but must stay up for that 10:30 p.m. dose of Permax. The other night she finally just took it at 9:30 (she had been at the hospital with my father, which was exhausting). I'm wondering how flexible you can be with Permax. I suggested going to bed early and then setting an alarm for 10:30, but she was afraid she's never get back to sleep. Any suggestions about this? Thanks in advance. (Don, don't stop saying anything. I find it all interesting and your patio updates gave me just the push I needed to get on my husband about some work that needs to get done around here!) Debbie White [log in to unmask] Debbie White [log in to unmask]