 |
 |
Hi Rick.... I won't make any diagnosis 'cause I'm not an MD. 'Sides... lotsa our List members will be giving ya their opinion based upon those symptoms you've mentioned (and they'll prolly be correct). I WILL say tho, that your MD apparently isn't that well versed about Parkinson's 'cause there're lots of us Parkies - myself included - who have had symptoms on one side only for YEARS before getting any symptoms on the other side. I had PD on my right side only for the first 18 of the 22 years I've had this steeeeenkin' disease. (HEY DOC! Get with it!) I was diagnosed with PD 7 years after I got the initial symptoms and I finally began taking Sinemet several years after THAT. My neuro told me I had "Parkinson's SYNDROME," which he claimed was NOT "the" disease, and said it would get no worse - ever. <LIAR, LIAR, PANTS ON FIRE!> Personally, I'd have much rather he'd been on the upp-'n-up with me right from the start. One thing.... it took a coupla-three.... maybe four... weeks for the Sinemet to be noticeably working in my case. The drug was beneficial once it began working tho... Hang in there, m'friend. Barb Mallut [log in to unmask] ---------- From: Parkinson's Information Exchange on behalf of Rick Hermann Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 1998 10:42 AM To: Multiple recipients of list PARKINSN Subject: Hello to the list Hi everyone. I've been reading now for several weeks while I have been trying to get a diagnosis from my neuruologist, who has been calling my condition parkinsonism--right hand resting tremor and rigidity/slowness of movement, weird feeling of having to consciously move my legs to maintain a normal gait, poor balance (no falls), problems with complex mental stuff, like project planning at work, intermittent depression (although on 40mg Paxil). Yesterday the neuro started me on Sinemet 50/200 to see what the response would be; I my first dose this morning, but so far nothing noticeable. I guess I'm in my being scared mode today.My symptoms have been coming on for about 3 years now, very slow progression, so neuro is not saying "Parkinson's Disease" but Parkinsonism. Parkinson's disease, he says, progresses rapidly and becomes bilateral quickly. Also says that only1/200 of people with parkinsonism have true Parkinson's Disease, and that parkinsonism can have a number of causes and is mimicked by other neurodegenerative diseases. So I'm confused today too. And concerned about whether the meds will help. I've let go of what seems to me like a lot over the last 3 years--guitar playing, my ability to smell things, handwriting... And I know that many have let go of a lot more. But I grieve this loss and am desperate to hang on to the many things I still have that bring joy. Being at work semifunctional is very isolating. I'd like to join in with this cybergroup, get and hopefully give support. Am I in the right place, even with a somewhat inconclusive diagnosis? I like what Don said earlier today: about "only" having PD. What a great perspective. Best to all, Rick [log in to unmask]