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Dear Listies, Wonder of wonders, we have an appointment for my Dad at the Emory Clinic already, IN TWO DAYS! Thanks to the info received from Lanier Maddux, I called Nancy Watts at the referral center and left a message, which she returned this afternoon. After some discussion, and a warning that it could be at least 3 months until an appointment was available, she put me through to the appointments desk. They must have had an opening. They set Dad up with Dr. Thomas Wichmann on Jan. 15th. I was floored! I said, "THIS January?" I will drive him there and hope to be able to sit in on at least some of the discussions with the doctor. On to my questions: 1. What should we expect on this first visit? 2. What questions should I be prepared to ask? 3. Does anyone know or have experience with Dr. Thomas Wichmann? As a review, my Dad was tentatively diagnosed with PD last summer after nearly a year of tests for heart and gut (those horrible upper/lower GI thingies). He had been losing strength rapidly. Up to Nov. 1996, he was a fanatical rower until one day he could not lift himself out of the shell onto the dock. Blood tests showed he had some anemia, otherwise he was strong of heart and there was no cancer anywhere. My Mom's stroke and subsequent death in Spring '97 didn't help matters. We had trouble distinguishing between health problems and stress/shock reactions. Anyway, the GP put him on levadopa in July, but it had no real effect. Then that doctor died. He found another GP (was on an HMO at the time and had little choice in doctors) who immediately sent him to a neuro. He did an MRI, looked at the results and said "You have a form of PD. It will only get worse" and sent him home with no treatment! He does not have tremors, but has lost nearly all use of his right arm and hand (he's right-handed) and is beginning to lose some strength on the left. He is stooped, he shuffles and seems uncertain about walking. Some here have suggested that this may be "atypical Parkinson's" and that there is not much to be done. However, we want to see what the great team at Emory can do before we give up. He is not on any medications right now, so he is a clean slate for the doctor's to work on. I have been mostly lurking here, but actively. I've learned SO MUCH about all sorts of treatments, from meds, to surgery to alternative things like massage, exercise and herbal. Now I am hoping that your support will help us wend our way through the medical organizations. What suggestions do you have for us? Jane Koenig ([log in to unmask]) Marietta, GA (sort of) cg to Fred 79/6 mos.