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Jackie, have you called NPF or APDA for a referral to a movement
disorders specialist? I know NPF has Centers of Excellence in Rochester
NY, White Plains NY, and Mass. Gen Hosp., Boston. APDA might be able to
refer you to someone closer than those places.

You're right, his physician's behavior is unacceptable. Dyskinesia could
be a sign of overmedication, not just that "the drug is working." There
are lots of other possibilities, but the doctor should take the time to
discuss this with you and your husband.

Best regards,
Kathrynne

"Jacqueline D. Richardson" wrote:
>
> In the two months since my husband was diagnosed he has gone from 2 Sinemet (25/100) to 6 per day. He developed dyskinesia and his doctor prescribed Backofen 10mg three times per day to counteract the dyskinesia. I questioned him about the 6 being too much and was that causing the dyskinesia and he said No, the dyskinesia just means that the drug (Sinemet) is working.
>
> I know you folks aren't doctors, but what are your thoughts on this. Many of you have already expressed concern about going from 2-6 per day in so short a time considering he has just been diagnosed and since I've been reading this list I don't recall seeing Baclofen mentioned, but I may have missed it since this is all new to me. Is this commonly given to alleviate the dyskinesia?
>
> This doctor is really totally unacceptable. The day he told my husband he had PD he allowed him all of a 5 minute appointmet. Told him he had PD, take this medication it will take care of things and ushered him out the door. Never allowed my husband to ask questions about PD or the meds or told him what to expect. At first I sort of thought it may have been my husband's fault because he isn't really one to ask a lot of questions. But, the other day when I talked to the doc (I work at the same medical center) I had a small list of questions/concerns I wanted clarified and he totally brushed me off and wouldn't give me the time of day. He was actually downright rude and totally insensitive. Here he was prescribing a new medication and he wouldn't even tell me how often to take it or what we could expect it to do. He kept trying to hang up and I finally said, well will I find the instructions on how much to take on the bottle when I pick it up at the pharmacy??? At that point h!
e broke
> down and told me to have him take 3 a day. I couldn't believe it. If this was a broken arm that would be one thing - it would heal, but this is life altering. I just can't believe a doctor is this unprofessional. There is another neuro here that has Parkinson's listed as his clinical interest so I tried to get an apointment with him and I couldn't get my husband in until DECEMBER. Even though I work at a fairly prestigious medical center (Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center) it has become quite clear that I can't get quality care here and we are going to Boston (130 miles away). I managed to get an appointment there in October so we will muddle along with these meds and hope this new doc is better. He comes highly recommended and if his secretary is any indication (she was an absolute sweetheart on the phone) it should go well. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
>
> Thanks again for letting me vent. I'm trying to be very chipper around my husband and I don't want to complain to him about these things, but I just have to get it off my chest.
>
> Have a nice weekend!!
> Jackie in VT
> [log in to unmask]

--
Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD
Medical nutrition therapy
Author: "Eat well, stay well with Parkinson's disease"
"Parkinson's disease: assessing and managing unique nutrition needs"
http://www.nutritionucanlivewith.com/