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Hi Donna and welcome to the List: The most striking thing about your dad's symptoms is the degree of depressive symptoms he appears to be exhibiting. Has he had a history of depressive episodes in the past treated or not? Is there a family history of depression? Has he been treated by a psychiatrist for this episode? How much and for how long was he on each or the antidepressants you mentioned? Are there any especially vivid dreams or hallucinations? If you are generally satisfied with your neurologist and want to continue with him I would suggest asking him for a referral for a second opinion to a movement disorders clinic in your general area. Since it appears that you are in New Jersey you have a wide range to choose from Mt. Sinai and others in NYC, Robert Wood Johnson, and I believe Graduate Hospital (Associated with Univ. Pa) in Phila all have active movement disorders programs. Certainly he can have PD without tremor but there are some PD "look-alikes" which sometimes are treated differently. But it is necessary that his depression be adequately treated. It sounds like it is a clinical depression and not "meerly" a reaction to his loss of function. Good Luck and keep us informed about how he is doing. Charlie P.S. Unless there is an actual emergency a hospital ER will cost you a lot and would be unlikely to give you the kind of expertise that your dad needs. Schedule consultations. Donna A. Bassolino wrote: > > Hi. > > I've been lurking for a few weeks now - I'm, finally getting around to > my intro. > I'm Donna, my dad was diagnosed with PK last Jan - he just turned 74 in June. > > His situation is kind of curious. He has hardly no tremor - but his problem > is his legs. His leg pain - cramps were getting much worse. Everyone just > assumed it was arthritis - but when pain killers didn't help and he kept > saying it wasn't in the joints but in the muscles is when we started the > treck to a number of DRs. His GP started with an orthopedic who confirmed > that it was not arthritis. Next was a vascular specialist and a number of > tests which showed everything was clear. Finally a neurologist who noticed > his gait - his smaller handwriting and the drooling and diagnosed PD. > Although no tremor ? Do any of you have these symptoms ? > > He was put on Sinemet - 25/100 (i think) three times a day - plus phys therapy. > But the Sinemet made him very sick - he stomach was constantly upset and he > didn't want to eat. He also had these weird feelings and could not sleep. > So the N cut him back to 1 in the AM half at lunch and half with dinner. > He also has a sleeping pill - I forget what that is - Surmontril ? > > I should add that before this he was diagnosed with depression -first > he was on Effexor and then switched to Serzone. He's still taking the > Serzone - but is still depressed. The N and his GP say that depression and > PD are often linked. > > I don't think he's doing very well at all. His legs still bother him - > his stomach is still upset and he's still depressed. He has a few good > days - but they are far between. > > Margie's description of Dick as lethargic , foggy (fugue !) and depressed > fit my dad perfectly ! He doesn't do much besides sit in his rocker - and > watches the clock till its time for bed. Its sad - he used to have a lot > of interests (including cooking/stained glass/woodwork/gardeing etc). > Now all he says is that he's too sick. My mom gets mad cause as she > says plenty of people live years with PD (as many of you are evidence - > your fortitude amazes me sometimes !). But obviously that doesn't make > him feel better. He begs me to get him help - but I don't know what > else to do. Can I really take him to the emergency room ? or will they > just send us both home (with more pills ?). Call his Dr's ? Force them > to DO something ? Is there something to DO ? > > We were thrilled by Margie's description of her energizer bunny ! My > mom read that and now thinks Mirapex is going to be a miracle and > talks about all the things they are going to do next summer "when > daddy gets better". He's supposed to see his N in mid Sept and we > pray that his results are half as good as Dick's. > > Last week we had a scare - in the middle of the night I hear my mom yelling > at him (they live with us - but in their own 4 room apt attached to our > house.) He got up to go to the bathroom and his legs got stuck (a 90 degree > angle at the knees) so he couldn't walk back to bed. She's yelling at > him to straighten up and walk - but it was clear his muscles were > so tight that he could not straighten them. Not knowing what else to do > we gave him a Sinemet. (some comments on the list indicate that > might actually make this situation worse - but in his case it seemed to > help). The next day he was back to his regular shuffle. But I also think > it scared him - cause he's been more depressed than ever. > > My mom (74) is his primary caregiver and is extremely active for her age > she could probably outlast me (we call HER the energizer bunny). So this > has been difficult for everyone. > > Does he have to live like this ? Should we drag him back to his Dr.s - > find a new Neurologist ? This guy seems good and was recommended by his GenP. > as experienced with PD. A hospital ? What should we do ? How much > should we expect HIM to do ? The dr's tell him he has to push himself and keep > busy - but he says he's too sick (who are we to tell him he's not ?). > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- CHARLES T. MEYER, M.D. Middleton, WI [log in to unmask]