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Susan, I'm so sorry for you and your Mother. Others on the List will be more helpful, I'm sure, due to their experience. However, my first thought was regarding your Mother's Neuro. Is (s)he a Movement Disorder Specialist, in particular, Parkinson's. Freezing is the very worst symptom for my Mother. It is the only time she is really frightened. A few months ago she was helped dramatically by introducing Sinemet to her med schedule. The medication is usually used for hallucinations, but it surprisingly helped tremor and freezing. Her Neuro was very surprised but when we say him again a week ago, he said he has had others now that have been helped by it in the same way. My "perception" is that the "right" doctor will be able to get her on some meds that will help a great deal. You will be hearing from many others in the next day or so. It's very late back east right now, or you would have been answered by more already. Just hang in there and continue to let your Mother know you are there for her and always will be. Say a little prayer and I will too. Sharon Starr, Daughter and CG for Rae 74/50/45 (age now/age dx/age first symptoms) [log in to unmask] Florence, AZ -----Original Message----- From: Susan Tomlin <[log in to unmask]> To: Multiple recipients of list PARKINSN <[log in to unmask]> Date: Monday, November 02, 1998 9:04 PM Subject: Hi >Hi, everyone > >I am new here. My mother is 66 and was diagnosed with parkinson's in '92. >She also has rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. My mother was managing >ok on Artane and sinemet ( on occasion ) for the last couple of years. Then >this last month she began to freeze, her feet began sticking to the floor, >her shaking became worse. Then last week she really went downhill. she >couldn't pull up or down her pants, by Friday she couldn't even pick up her >pills. it took her a long time to sit down and even longer to get up. Then >last Saturday night she called to me and I found her lying on the floor, >she could not get up and I called an ambulance. She is now in the hospital. >She can't feed herself ( her hands are terrible from the arthritis ). She >has to have two nurses help her to use the commode. Today she seemed not >very coherent in the morning and extremely sleepy ( no sedative or sleeping >pill was taken ). This afternoon she seemed better. The Doctors are giving >her 2 sinemet a day ( I think ). > >Is it normal for people to go down that fast with Parkinson's? My mother >has been frail for a long time but managed with my help. The hospital >nurses and social workers are telling me she will have to go into a nursing >home. At this point I don't even know how she will be at the end of the >week ( dead or improved ). It's been a terrible time for both of us. Can >anyone give me any ideas or suggestions. Is this the end? My mom was only >diagnosed 6 years ago. > >PS my mom had seen her neurologist 4 weeks ago and he had been impressed at >how fast she got up out of a chair ( Why are people alway better at the >moment they see the neurologist and then they go home and they are the same >or worse? ) > >Take care > >Bye for now > >Susan > > >To Email me: [log in to unmask] > >To see me: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Flats/1391/index.html >