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You asked: "Does anybody find that their ability to control an emotional response to a stressful situation has been impaired. Faced with a stressful situation a year ago, her body responded physically. eg increased pulse rate and blood pressure. A similar situation this week caused a more psychological reaction - she became very tense, even weepy - but her pulse didn't change, and her heart didn't react ( she has had heart problems in the past)" I respond: Just like Heitman, I absolutely lose control in a stressful situation. The tremors multiply about ten-fold IF I have to hold back and not take action. That's the amazing part - When my daughter was training a 3 year mare she was bucked off and had a hard time getting up. She was okay, but you would never expect an old Parkie like me to run across that pasture the way I did. No stumbles, no shuffle, just pure action. And, again like Bill, crying comes far too easy. Understand that I am one bad, mean SOB. I drink beer by taking a bit out of the can. Macho. A manly man. So it gets rather embarrassing at times, like during an AT&T commercial (father hugging daughter as she goes off to school), while watching Oprah, listening to certain music. Little things set me off real easy. It's to be expected, I think. The "why" is totally unknown to me and I haven't seen it discussed here to any great extent. It would make a good study to determine if the emotional sensitivity is due in some way to the physiology of Parkinson's or the side effects of Sinemet. You asked: "She also asks if anybody has found increased sleep disturbances as a result of taking just sinemet?" I replied: That is a topic of a LOT of discussion here. A good, solid sleep is something most PWPers only have memories of. For whatever reason, most of us are up and down several times a night, be it because of a full bladder or because our eyes pop open at 3am and we're wide awake. Turning in bed can be a slow process for a Parkie, resulting in becoming more awake than necessary (use silk sheets). Trying to get out of bed at 3am can be a real scream, also. A chair placed next to the bed can usually give the support necessary. The things you mention that Anne experiences are all normal, just part of the flow. Get her a computer for Christmas, let her join the list. This is a wonderful support group and we'd love to have her. -- The Official PWP Dumpster Gang Hideout http://www.newcountry.nu/pd/ The PWP WebRing http://www.webring.org/cgi-bin/webring?ring=parkie;list The Parkinson Alliance http://www.parkinsonalliance.net/