An Accidental Experiment

[Marvin Giles <mgiles@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Kristen forgot to get Eldepryl/Sinemet refill on March third.
I therefore, got to find out if I can make it without Eldepryl.
I usually take 1/2 of a 25/100 sinemet every 2 1/2 hours.
and 5 mg eldepryl at 8am and 12 noon.

On March fourth I had no Eldepryl left and enough sinemet
to last the work day. I thought I had an extra dose in my box
and because I did not place the meds in the box myself
I had problems later in the day.

I took the first sinemet dose at 7am and would normally take the
second at 9:30am.
By 9am the first slide to "off" began and was off by 9:30am
For the rest of the day I took a dose every two hours by the clock to
avoid "off" time.
I had problems with movement all day and a intermittant headache that
asprin did not help. I lost track of dose count and combined with
misunderstanding that morning I did not take last two doses. This
resulted in a major slide to near immobility that evening and a
resulting panic attack.  Kristen talked me into taking sinemet and
then going to bed.

march fifth:
At around 3am Kristen woke me from a screaming nightmare.
Something about closets and spiders (I have no memory of the dream).
Woke up with the alarm at seven am. Tremor worse than usual, movement
also more difficult due to "unwillingness" to move. Headache gone.
Jello of the prior day still evident thought not as thick.
I made it till noon then began a major battle with the
"falling sleepies".  My head actually hit desk twice.
My right arm felt like lead all day.

march sixth:
Woke up again at 3am. I had an idea for a listserv post
but tremor was so bad I did not attempt to type.
Benedryl helps my tremor, but my sinuses were already
so dry I did not take any. The 30 minute round trip to the bathroom
was enough to make me sleepy again.
The alarm woke me at seven and getting out of bed was more
difficult than the day before. My right arm was still full of lead.
Kristen glared at me so I took the eldepryl along with the sinemet at
7:30am. By 8:15am tremor and jello gone. Also, the lead weight in my
right arm was gone. At 9:30 computer alarm warned me to take next
sinemet dose. No slide evident at  this time. Last sinemet of the day
was taken at 6pm. Slide to "off" was gradual begining   ataround9pm.
(I did not take eldepryl at noon.)
I will remain on one dose of eldepryl for a few days and see
how it goes.


Marvin (Puppy)
mgiles@xxxxxxxxxx