{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{Gwen}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}

Wow-that is a lot of stuff to handle in one day.  You are, as always,
my heroine, and I sure hope I can do this as gracefully as I've seen
you do it, kid.

m

Hang in there, Sweetheart! We will be praying for you.

DeeTee

Ah, geez, Gwen, picking up another diagnosis and another pill is never a fun
thing.  I can't decide whether to be glad that the doc is checking you out so
thoroughly or sad that you need this.  i suppose I'll settle for some of
each.  Keeping you in my prayers and may the Sinemet help without side
effects.

(((((((((((((Gwen)))))))))))))

Prayers coming that way. Boy you are having it as hard as Donna. Remember
you have to return some of those disorders. So get in line.

Gwen, what are you taking for the tremors?  I have to take Xanax four times
a day, or my hands shake so badly, I can't even carry some plates to the
table.  I don't know if I tremble any place else because if I decrease the
medication, my hands get so bad, I don't care if it is anywhere else, unless
it shows up when my hands are behaving - then we have another problem.

I hope these tests work out for you and give you some answers.  Our prayers
are out for you.

Hi Gwen,
My father in law has parkinsons Disease and he takes Sinemet.  The
sleepiness was more pronounced when he first took it and his evening dose he
takes at dinner but he gets drowsy by then (but then several ounces of booze
taken with sinemet, an antidepressant and gabapentin will do that!  Idiot!).

People with Parkinson have a tendency to shuffle their feet instead of
picking them up and that is one of the concerns with the area rugs (although
really none of us should have them and especially not seniors or people with
bifocals).  This is especially concerning with the periphral neuroprathy as
you lose sensation in most cases in your feet and can't tell where your
bearings are.  I have that in my leg from the enbrel reaction and that is
one of the problems with my gait and my balance.  Ask your doctor if their
is rehab or physio that you can do that  will continue to work on core
stabilization, balance (especially practice getting in and out of chairs
without your hands if possible - over and over again to strengthen your
legs.  Hold onto the arms after you get up to make sure your bp isn't too
low and you don't get dizzy.  Ensure your feet are firmly planted at the
same level across - don't trust sensation of your feet to tell you this).
Best to get a physio to help you to get the right positioning of your body
for this.  Everyone actually should be practicing this for balance and to
prevent falls.  It will also ensure that you can maintain your independence.

Also make sure you get some physio and ot help for parkinson related
problems now so you are strong in the areas you need when time comes.  Then
you can head this off quickly!  Get the pt to work on your gait and balance
so that your body gets the messages from the brain properly.  The periphral
neuroprathy as you have noticed stops that from happening - it can be
retrained as I have seen in the last few weeks - not all the way but every
bit helps.  If the gait gets bad the hips and knees get bad - not a
combination you want  with arthritis - trust me.  Wish I could have had the
help before now.  As it is the last few weeks have helped the hips a tiny
bit.

You can handle this -A lot of stuff but the skills you have learnt with
arthritis all apply here.  Opening jars, aids at the table, light weight
cups, getting stabilized before walking, using walking aids, taking meds
with meals and religiously (preferably without large amounts of booze -
goodness knows I know the results of that with my fil the social drinker!
Of course he will outlive me and what he heck he is 88 now so....)

Sorry to see you with one more diagnosis but great to know what the problem
is.  Now you can avoid those falls with help.  Of course with 3 different
disease you have to get into the return line - which one do you want to
return???

Hugs,
Kelly