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Could someone tell me what "MSA" means and how its symptoms differ from that of Parkinson's? Thanks! Gilles Cloutier [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> -----Original Message----- From: Jane Koenig [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Sent: Wednesday, June 16, 1999 11:18 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Stomaching Sinemet Hi Gil, Yes, two of the Movement Disorder Specialists at Emory, including Dr. Ray Watts, have confirmed that it is not Parkinson's, and probably MSA. However, one of them had wanted to try high doses of Sinemet and the other neuros have been busy trying all the agonists, so they still seem to think that drugs might help. Dad is so frustrated and he was the one who suggested trying Sinemet again, even after all the bad experiences with all these drugs. Plus, I see that some other MSA people on this list are taking some of the meds and, perhaps, benefiting some from them. I have not joined the Shy-Drager list, but if there is good info on MSA there, I will. We tested for orthostatic hypertension last fall when Dad was still walking on his own and falling alot. He does not show the wide swings in BP that are typical, although his systolic might drop 10 points when he goes from lying down to sitting to standing. He insists that he never blacked out when he fell, just got his feet tangled up. He so desperately wants to be out of that wheelchair and less reliant on the home health aids that he is willing to keep trying the drug experimentation. I feel so badly for him that I'm willing to help. He relies on me for all information and, most of the time, follows my instructions about taking medicines. Thanks for your response. Jane Koenig (daughter of Fred, 80/MSA) At 10:18 AM 6/16/99 +0300, Gil wrote: >Hi Jane, >People who have MSA often don't respond to Sinemet. >Your father's response to Sinemet and diarrhea apears >to suggest that he is in this category.Has he been evaluated >and tested for MSA by an MSA specialist?Have you joined the Shy-Drager >e-mail list?You can learn alot about MSA there. >Your father's lack of bladder and bowel control is typical of >Shy-Drager/MSA syndrome. >By the way,Sinemet usually causes constipation,not diarrhea; >another suggestion that Sinemet is not for him. >Good luck. >Gil,CG for Aliza dx PD 2/95,dx MSA 10/98 >----------- >You wrote: > >Date: Tue, 15 Jun 1999 12:19:28 -0400 >From: Jane Koenig >Subject: Stomaching Sinemet > >Hi Listfolk, > >My father, Fred (80), has been diagnosed with Parkinsonism (maybe MSA, no >real clear diagnosis) for a little less than two years. Two doctors have >tried Sinemet (25/100) on him, starting with 3 whole pills a day. In each >instance he suffered with diarhhea and, seeing no improvement in his >condition, gave it up. The 2nd of these doctors wanted to titrate him up >to a higher dose, but Dad couldn't handle it. He has also tried every >other agonist out there, except Tasmar. Most had some sort of negative >effect. > >He would now like to try Sinemet again. I cut some pills in half and he >started with 2 halves a day, 'after' eating breakfast and lunch. At the >end of the second day he had a bad evening and night, suffering with both >bladder and bowel control. Since he is now wheelchair bound and stuck in >bed all night until his morning health aid shows up, this was quite >unpleasant for him. > >Can anyone provide some insight on how to acclimate his very sensitive >system to Sinemet so he can build up to a large enough dosage to determine >if it will do any good for him? > >Thanks, > >Jane Koenig >(daughter of Fred, 80/2ish) >