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Dear List members, I have been asking some private advice on a subject as was asked to post it to the list and get some advice beyond what this person could give me. So, here goes. I was initially diagnosed with panic disorder. I went for a period of about 8 months undergoing psychiatric counseling and lots of antidepressants and anti psychotic drugs. I was put in a psyche ward for nearly a month. All to no real avail. I suffered many side effects to the drugs and very little if any benefit. There were several times that I was extremely overmedicated. After the psyche ward in Oct. 98, I found a psychiatrist / neurologist in Los Angeles who specialized in Panic disorder. I went to see him in November and he put me through a series of tests that brought him to the conclusion that what I was suffering from was not panic disorder, but more in line with a neurological disorder. He sent me home (NC) with the idea that I would see a neurologist here and get an accurate diagnosis. I did see someone who, upon hearing my whole story and what led me to come and see him that day, proceeded to tell me that it was all in my head and that there was nothing wrong with me. His exam consisted of checking my reflexes and my sense of touch by touching me with a kleenex and asking me to rate how much I could feel it. He suggested I see a psychologist who deals with "woman problems". Needless to say, I felt like I was back to square one. Over the course of the following month, my condition worsened considerably and I went back to Los Angeles. At this point, the doctor felt that what he was seeing was something parkinsonian so he decided to give me a sinemet challenge. He had sent me to see a movement disorder specialist a couple of days before who concurred that this was probably all in my head. I did the challenge, and for the first time in all those months, I felt all of the discomfort I had been experiencing melt away. I was elated to feel normal again, but devastated at the implications. The movement disorder specialist, even after the test, did not believe that it proved anything and he and the other dr. are still not speaking. Anyway, my question is this. I am seeing a parkinson's specialist at Emory Univ. in about a week. I had planned to downplay the fact that panic disorder had been the label of choice for a good while previous to pd. My reason was being a bit gun shy after what has happened in the past. I feel that the label I was given has caused a predisposition to thinking this is all in my head. Now, all those who know me well, never felt that anything was in my head but I accepted the judgment of doctors as the final word. The person I was seeking advice from feels that I should not hide any facts from my new doctor and that if they are professional, they will not be influenced by the past and go more on what they see themselves. I am really nervous about this but I think that is good advice. All I know is that sinemet has made me feel normal again, and all the other drugs seemed to make me miserable and I seemed to be worse off with every new drug they tried. I felt rather like a guinea pig but we seemed to be getting nowhere. I apologize for writing a book here, but any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated. thanks in advance. Jennifer Smith