Doctor visit

This past Thursday was my visit at Dr Jog's office. I mentioned that the Sinemet isn't lasting long enough or kicking in fast enough. We're adding Pramipexole (aka Mirapex). I haven't started it yet. Probably the most concerning side effect is drowsiness - especially while driving.

My Sinemet schedule is; 1.5 at 4:30, 6:35, 9:10, 11:45, 14:20, and 16:55.

I hope to participate in a study that will try to more objectively evaluate symptom levels using motion capture. There is an article on the hospital website.

We went on a Caribbean cruise, which was very nice, and I did 'try' to do some exercise. When we got back winter and that constant feeling of having a cold coming on was my excuse. I need to get back on the exercise bike. If I can force myself to get up in the morning, maybe I can delay adding the Mirapex to the medication mix.

Movement Disorders clinic - first visit

First off, I had a friend from church along for the ride. It was great to have someone to talk with on the way there, and especially to "debrief with" on the way back.

Dr. Jog is the head of the clinic, and he did my evaluation. There's a wide range of tests that he took me through some simple physical tasks;

• follow his finger with just my eyes
• point at his finger and then my nose, back and forth while he moves his finger
• a number of activities with first one hand and then the other, some resistance testing, and some "looseness" testing where he would move my arms while I (attempted to) relaxed
• He observed me walking, recover from being pushed off balance, and demonstrate an activity (blowing up a balloon) that he told me later was to evaluate cognitive ability.
  

Although he said that many of my symptoms were atypical for Parkinsons' (PD), he felt still that a diagnosis of PD was accurate for me. He has evaluated 15,000 patients, and there's no consistent set of symptoms in all people with PD.

He gave me two options;

1. Start taking medication to give me symptom relief. It's my choice, and for me to decide if the symptoms are severe enough that they keep me from having the quality of life I need or prevent me from working.
2. Participate in a study for a drug that may slow down the progression of PD. The subjects are in three groups; patients getting a high dose, a medium dose, and a placebo.
   

There would be no point in being in the study if I felt I would need to exercise option 1 within the next 12 to 18 months. Subjects in the study are patients not taking drugs for symptom relief.

I'll see the doctor in about 3 months (when some of the current stressful situations are over) and let him know whether I feel I can be a part of the study.

Finally went to the doctor

Can't remember exactly when, but I decided to go to the doctor. He actually took it more seriously than I had, and sent me to see a neurologist as soon as possible.