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yow wrote >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. The first neuro that I did consult did not make te diagnosis parkinson,because my symptoms had developed to rapidly and because I was to young. In fact I had symptoms many years before but they had within a few months grown rapidly. I had in the summer climbed a mountain in the Alps and could a few months after that not walk to the railway station less than 100m. from our home. But a resting(or non intention tremor) I had that already about 20 years before. After the refusal of the first neuro to take my symptoms seriously I was hospitalized in a hospital with a department for"extra-pyramidal" disturbances. They came with the diagnosis of PD nearly immediately, but feeled not really sure of it before the sinemet showed to have much influence. I remember very clearly the feeling of that first dose of sinemet. 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] > -------------------------------------------------------------- Vriendelijke Groeten / Kind regards, Ida Kamphuis mailto: [log in to unmask]