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Dear Donna,
-- Well, I hit something in the middle of my post to  you and it said 'your
mail has been sent' -ha-no chance to hit cancel so here goes again
 --Mel had a slight tremor 11 yrs ago which went away with sinemet.  He has
none now and at our support mtg last Sat. the PD specialist (who has 1300 PD
patients)-REALLY- he only treats PD and Dystonia, said "there is a tremor
parkinson and a rigid ?(not sure of the word here)PD.
--A friend reported on his experience with Mirapex.  His biggest problem was
leg pain which has gone away.  He also got his appetite back and is gaining
wt.  He also as some of the others reported, is doing a little yard work.
Have to be careful with depression meds if he is on Elderpryl-our specialist
says she has had good results with Paxil, which Mel took for a while with
good results.
--Can't help you with the nausea as fortunately Mel has a stomach of iron.  I
believe some take sinemet with food.
--I can identify with your mom getting mad but it is more frustration and not
knowing why your relative moves one minute and does everything wrong the
next.  You are correct - if he could move his feet, he would.  I have learned
a lot in 11 years and your mother will too.  Join a support group is my
suggestion.  We not only have one for the PDs and spouses but a Caregiver
group where we can let our hair down.
Watch for Camilla's post on joining the Caregiver list.
--The emergency room is NOT the answer.  I am a nurse and I can vouch for the
fact that few nurses know anything about PD as the PD is not your usual
patient.  In fact the ER may do more bad than good (of course they do good
for heart attacks and respiratory distress) and other things.
The person to call is your neurologist as he depends on feedback from
you--every parkie responds differently.  Check and if he is not a movement
disorder specialist, consider changing ND.  I'm not sure our neuro is but she
has taken very good care of Mel for 11 years and was in on the early research
of sinemet.  It's easy for the Dr. to say push yourself and get busy, it is
ovious your daddy needs some help to do that.  Your mother talking about the
old days and getting back to them will get around to accepting and not
denying the disease.  I had to.  It helps me to get out-even if one has to
hire someone---get away,  its especially hard I believe on a wife whose
husband has always been the strong one, taking care of everything.
I'm very impressed with your creditials!!!!
I Y Q (meaning I like you)
Mary CG for Mel 76/11  [log in to unmask]
I'll be gone from this Sat thru next Thur to Canada with my daughter (first
trip ever without my husband)  It will do us both good.