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Dear list, First an apology--I lurk better than I type. To remind you who I am. I am "Sue-So-Scared-of-Sinemet". I want to thank the 10-12 plus people who in many wonderful ways said "go for it--you'll feel better". You were right, I can't believe the difference. To answer the JANET INTERrogation: 1. My neuro thinks it's time for sinemet because I have progressed rapidly in six months and because my questions for him this time were largely about drugs. 2. My symptoms: tremor worse on left than right, jerky movements in shoulders, dry face and itchy scalp, tremor in lower lip and throat, drooling, balance problems, weakness, extreme pain in shoulders, neck and toes, deterioration of fine motor skills, sloppy driving, loss of emotional control---whew! 3. I only take vitamins, calcium, fish oil tabs,Prempase hormones and now 1-25/100 regular Sinemet twice a day 4. Yes I have only seen this neuro twice on the reccommendation of my internist who also thought I had Parkinsons. 5. In December I told him that I wanted to avoid drugs for as long as possible. He said that in two years I'd be begging him for them. He also reccommended that I do shoulder excersises and walk everyday. 6. My dad has Parkinsons so I recognized the symptoms and the diagnosis confirmed what I suspected. My reaction was to face it head on and learn to adapt to my difficulties. I also decided to tell everyone and hide nothing. This has been good for me in every situation except with my boss (a story I'll save for later). This list is my support group. It means everything that you guys are there anytime I want to sit down and look for information, answers, opinions and wonderful wit. I don't want to give the impression that this isn't hard. I was a carpenter for 17 years--a strong woman--and now the pendulum has swung the other way. The main reason I mention this is to add my voice to all of yours for anyone else out there who may be "Scared of Sinemet". Our motto on the construction site was "DON'T BE SCAIRT". Thank you all again Sue