By the way, Julius.... my sister married Stan Margolis of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Parents - Harry and Molly Margolis, Dominion Bottling Margolis'..... Relatives? Barb Mallut (Auntie Barbie to her 2 Canadian Margolis nephews) <smile> [log in to unmask] -----Original Message----- From: Julius Margolis <[log in to unmask]> To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> Date: Thursday, August 19, 1999 11:32 PM Subject: Respiratory Dysfunction > My wife, Doris, 76/6, has had severe difficulties in breathing during her >off periods. The neuros tell us there are chest muscle rigidities and as a >consequence breathing is more "labored." Better drug management will >reduce her off periods and that is all that we can do to improve her >breathing. I think much more is involved and I hope that some of you have >been plagued with a "breathing problem" and may come up with better advice. > Her labored breathing, especially at night, results in severe contractions >of her diaphragm which has to compensate for the chest rigidities. This >pumping of the diaphragm, I feel sure, is a major contributor to her >irritable bowel syndrome. Certainly, it keeps her awake for many hours. > I have searched through many books on respiration as well as Parkinsons >and I am amazed how there is barely any attention to respiratory problems. >In the Parkinson literature there is attention paid to the soft voice, but >very little to breathing dysfunctions. > Have others found a better resolution or is better drug management our >only path? > I believe, only supported by intuition, that the respiratory problems are >a developmental sequel to her "internal tremors." We were first told that >the internal tremors were not parkinsons related, but later neuros told us >they were. However no neuro has shown much interest in internal tremors and >how these may create a different package of problems Doris does not have >external tremors. Do those of you with breathing problems also have >internal tremors? > Jules, cg for Doris 76/6.