Helpful medical insights in this case are beyond me, but it demonstates the same
frustrating lack of physicians grabbing hold & trying to get to the bottom of my
confusing and/or complex brain chemistry problems. Their time constraints, lack
of precise brain chemistry knowledge in general by everyone, and a sense of no
one really taking responsibility have, as in your case, resulted for me in much
unnecessary debility :& suffering. Sorry I'm using your situation to vent. I
hope the caring people with such fine expertise & insight on this list can help
you.
Mary Legan 56/6+
Barbara Patterson wrote:
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Wed, 16 Jun 1999 20:01:27 EDT
> From: [log in to unmask]
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Cc: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: 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 v ery noticeable. 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, “o that only happens forfor two or hree days.” but in my
> husband’s case, his mind was clear FOR THREE WEEKS WHILE ON THE PAIN
> KILLERS. During the next few years, the tremors increased and the mind
> continued to deteriorate. He was often very confused. Sometimes his
> comments were just “off the wall.” He is, or rather was, an attorney by
> the way . It was necessary to resign from his law practice, not from he
> physical aspects of Parkinson’s, but from the mental confusion, lack of
> memory, lack of logic etc. During this time he was taking six sinemets
> daily. 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...unable to even know the month, day, or year. Comments were
> again “off the wall” Total confusion. When my daughter said “look at the
> baby guinea pigs, Dad,” he asked “Are they in receivership?” (this is a
> legal term relating to bankruptcy.) There are times when he is unable to
> even complete a sentence. Meanwhile his tremors became increasingly
> dramatic and more constant, both arms and legs. Usually about a week
> prior to running out of his sinemet , he pesters me to get he prescription
> filled fearful that he is going to run out. About six weeks ago, when his
> supply was depleted, he did not mention it so I decided to see how he
> would be without the sinemet. Remember up until this time his tremors
> were almost constant, arms and legs, and very dramatic. Within a few days
> of being off the sinemet, THE TREMORS STOPPED. THEY JUST STOPPED. I have
> only observed tremors, and very slight ones at that, three times in the
> last six weeks since he has been off the sinemet. It is worth emphasizing
> here that at the same time he stopped taking the sinemet, he also went off
> he aricept, and his mental condition deteriorated even more. BUT THE
> TREMORS HAVE ALL BUT DISAPPEARED.
>
> 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’sspecialist, by the way, highly recommended and highly
> regarded, but the succession of incidents described do not seem to have any
> significance. My questions: is the sinemet related to my husband’s mental
> condition? Why did he tremors almost disappear when he stopped taking the
> sinemet? It was rather interesting that at last weeks doctor’s
> appointment, 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. Is there anyone out there who can help us?
>
> Regards
> Please respond to [log in to unmask]
