hi all
betty davey wrote, via jeana and barb p:
>---------- Forwarded message ----------
>Date: Wed, 16 Jun 1999 20:01:27 EDT
>From: [log in to unmask]
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subj: Qustion Re: Parkinson's
>
>In l992 my husband was diagnosed with Parkinson's. At that time his
>only symptom was leg tremors ...rather slight. His doctor prescribed
>sinemet. There was almost immediate mental deterioration but no increase
>in the tremors. His mental confusion was very noticeable.
seven years ago? was there no reduction in tremors?
what did the doc say about the confusion?
this does not sound good
>When he broke his ribs in a fall and had to refrain from taking sinemet
>while taking pain killers, his mind improved considerably. In fact, one
>of my daughters commented "It's nice to have Dad back for a while".
>When he went back onto the sinemet, the mind once more continued to
>deteriorate. When I mentioned this incident to his doctors, it was
>dismissed rather readily. One commented, "that only happens for two or
>three days". but in my husband' case, his mind was clear FOR THREE WEEKS
>WHILE ON THE PAIN KILLERS.
why did he have to refrain from sinemet while taking painkillers?
which painkillers?
response to sinemet
i.e. reduction of symptoms
is considered the acid test for diagnosis of pd
it sounds like possible mis-diagnosis to me
yikes
>During the next few years, the tremors increased and the mind continued
>to deteriorate. He was often very confused. ...
>During this time he was taking six sinemets daily.
sounds like a lot for a newbie parkie
>Because of his mental confusion, the doctor prescribed Aricept
>{medication for alzheimer's} and there was an almost immediate
>improvement. ... quite remarkable really. This did not last more
>than a few months, however, and he once more reverted to a state of
>mental confusion ... Meanwhile his tremors became increasingly
>dramatic and more constant, both arms and legs... About six weeks ago,
>when his supply was depleted, ... I decided to see how he would be
>without the sinemet... Within a few days of being off the sinemet,
>THE TREMORS STOPPED. THEY JUST STOPPED. ...
>WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE??? At the doctor's appointment last
>week, it was suggested he go back on the aricept, but not the sinemet.
>This doctor is a Parkinson's specialist, by the way, highly recommended
>and highly regarded, but the succession of incidents described do not
>seem to have any significance.
it sounds like your husband [and my cyber-sibling]
needs an impartial second opinion
badly
>there was an intern present, and when I explained how the tremors
>stopped when my husband stopped taking sinemet, his eyes almost
>popped out of his head...
so would mine! how did the doc react?
this does not sound good at all
ask these questions of the present doc
and if you are not satisfied with his answers
get your husband to another doc and let us know what happens
janet
janet paterson
52 now / 41 dx / 37 onset
PO Box 171 Almonte Ontario K0A 1A0 Canada
a new voice http://www.geocities.com/SoHo/Village/6263/
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