new and frustrated cont.

[Debra Sutton <nhisimage@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I apologize to all of you that recieved my incomplete, half-written message 
earlier.  Not only am I new to this Parkinson stuff, I am not very computer 
savvy.  Sorry!  Let me try this again:
Hi!  am 46 years old. I have been symptomatic for 3 years or so and was 
diagnosed with PD a year ago. I can't believe how much my life has, and still 
is changing. I see a good local neurologist, and I also see a specialist at 
Duke University Medical Center. I started on Selegiline, 5mg 1xday when I was 
diagnosed. I also started on Requip and the dose was slowly titrated up over 
several months. At 3mg 3xday I was still battling the tremors, stiffness and 
slowness. I wasn't functioning at a very high level, but I was also so 
overwhelmed by the wretched side effects of the Requip (nausea, fatigue and 
drowsiness) that I just couldn't handle any more. I made the decision with my 
doctor at Duke to start on Sinemet CR 25/100. That has been titrated up to 1 
tablet 3xday and we are holding there. I still walk somewhat like a turtle, I 
am still stiff, my legs especially seem to ache all the time.  The tremors are 
much better ,except when I get stressed or under pressure.  To sum it all up, 
between the symptoms of the PD and the side effects of the medicine I feel 
sorta 'yucky' all the time.  I just can't seem to keep up with things; I don't 
think my brain is quite processing things at it's normal rate; it seems to take 
a lot of energy just to think through things, and having more than 1 or 2 
things on my plate at a time can just really stress me out.  Now please 
understand.  I am not trying to whine here. I have accepted this disease.  I am 
blessed to have a great husband who is very supportive,  my kids ( 3 boys, 10, 
13 and 17) are handling things great, and I have a great supportive group of 
other family and friends.  I think laughter is the best medicine and I use it a 
lot to deal with all this.  I am frustrated though because I don't know anyone 
else around my age who is dealing with this and sometimes I just feel like I am 
going crazy.  I tell myself I need to just "buckle up" and get on with life as 
normal, but by the time I get up, get the kids off to school, get dressed and 
get ready to tackle the day, I am worn out!  So I give it the "old college 
try", and go on, but with my brain and my body rmoving in slow gear, I never 
seem to accomplish the things on my "to do" list by the end of the day. I can't 
keep up with anything and hence the frustration  So, to make this long story 
somewhat shorter, before you all get tired of reading this, let me ask you.  
Does this sound familiar to any of you?  Do I sound crazy?  Do any of you feel 
as if your whole life is changing?  Is this fatigue normal?  Do you feel like 
your brain operates in slow motion, or is it just mine?  And the medicines!  
Sometimes I feel like the side effects of the medicine are as 'yucky' as the 
symptoms of the PD.  But then I go without my medicine for a while (I tried 
that once) and I think, maybe not.  So if anyone out there has any words of 
wisdom to share, I'm listening!  
Debra      

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