Re: (fwd)

[Barbara Patterson <patterso@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 25 Jan 96 03:04:53 UT
From: Barbara Mallut <Barb_MSN@xxxxxxx>
To: Barbara Patterson <patterso@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: RE:

To: Steven

I thought I'd share the following with ya, and hope ya take it as funny.. it
sure tickled me.

Periodically a friend's 16 year old daughter comes over to do some heavy-duty
typing for me.  She was here when your message about hallucinating was
received.   She asked me about PD as she was in total ignorance of the
disease.  I read her your comment about your hallucinations and she said, "
Well, maybe everybody's wrong.  Maybe he ISN'T having hallucinations... He
could just be seeing space ALIENS!  MAYBE when someone has Parkinson's that
lets aliens suddenly be visible.  They should TALK to them and see if they
answer!" <grinning>

So... the NEXT time ya have a hallucination, just give 'em a great big
"howdy!"  And consider yourself amongst the fortunate few. <smile>

Barb Mallut
barb_msn@xxxxxxx

----------
Sent:  Wednesday, January 24, 1996 6:28 PM
To:  Multiple recipients of list PARKINSN

Date: Wed, 24 Jan 1996 05:34:07 -0600 (CST)
From: Mayers@VUCTRVAX (Steven E. Mayer)
Subject: Re: Hallucinations

          I am a few months on the list and have had PD about 6 years (4
years diagnosed).I am a 67-year old neuropharmacologist, retired from
Vanderbilt University Medical School Pharmacology Department (My reasons for
retirement are the intolerable musculoskeletal symptoms of the disease). My
wife is a neuro-pharmacologist. My experiences with hallucinations began
about 2 years ago with transparent "floaters" in both eyes, later changing
to more dense floating and less-regularly shaped projections. I was
occasionally startled but not frightened. My neurologist and psychiatrist
ignored them, but supported my decision to stop driving. There were no other
visual symptoms. The presence or absence of my medications (Sinemet, 25-100,
9xpd), fluodocortisone(to raise blood pressure) and pergolide (Permax, 0.75
mg/d.). may have some action. If so, they are subtle. I do have some
insomnia and infrequent nightmares.
        My most striking hallucinations occur in daylight and consist of
anthropromorphic figures that appear at my side from behind me. They may be
briefly startling and disappear silently. I avoid thinking what I would do
if they did vocalize. [From here on my letter and Ms Khauser's bear great
similarity].
Will they go away? I have found nothing in  the literature that
suggests one or the other. The thalamus is not so far from the optic tract.
Best wishes     STEVEN
Steven E. Mayer, Ph.D.


Steven E. Mayer, Ph.D.