Yes, I don't want to mention the doctor's name here, but he advertises himself as the Parkisnon's Dr. He is supposed to be a movement disorder specialist. We also met with Andrew Fagin at LIJ-North Shore Hospital on Long Island and he is also supposed to be an excellent neuro and Parkinson's expert. At that time, his practice was involved in a clinical study for depression and wanted Rich to participate. However, they called back to say he would not be eligible because he had already been on antidepressants, etc. From there I took him to a noted psychiatrist to help treat the paranoia and that did seem to improve. But he had me fooled a bit and he still believes some things that are totally ridiculous. We were recommended to another neuorolgist on Long Island and it appears to be a very large practice. Several people who have Parkinson's recommended this doctor. So we went on May 16th. He said Rich was undermedicated for his Parkinson's and increased the Sinemet to twice daily and at the third week, 3X. He ordered blood work for thyroid, B12 and testosterone. The neurologist did say that his executive function is affected and that's pretty obvious. He also wants a sleep study done because Rich's airway is so small. Rich had that test done years ago and we already know he has that problem. He was supposed to wear this crazy looking thing at night, of course, he said he couldn't do it and that was that. I'm sure, too, that his heart attack in '03 also monkeyed things up a bit. It was a significant heart attack and they were going to airlift him to a hospital that could treat him as the hospital we were at lacked that capacity. Who knows.

I have also taken him to a doctor who practices western medicine as well as Ayurvedic. She teaches at Columbia Presbyterian and she is lovely. She recommended a doctor better trained in Ayurvedic medicine to Rich but he is tired of so many doctors and would not go.

He returned to work April 27 and it has been awful. He is going to have to finally retire because he doesn't make it there most days and they are understandably annoyed with him. He sleeps all day and cannot function at all. I now have to start looking for another psychiatrist for him again because the dr. we did go to was practically in NYC and that is a long trip all the time. I'm exhausted from the whole thing to be honest.

I have to go to work myself and I am a mess there as well, because it's difficult to focus while this continues. My mother is in a nursing home and I try to get there every week and I have my soon to be 95 year old aunt who stays with me most of the time. She is no bother, acutally, a pleasure to have around. But she is going down too and it's just that one more thing.

The reason I have been writing about this is in the hope that someone might know or recognize some of these symptoms and give me some guidance or suggestions. I don't want to bring everyone else down and I look like I'm having my own little pity party. I like being happy and having a good time. This is not stuff I'm good at. I'm only hoping to restore some sense of normalcy back into our lives and I am not getting anywhere near that goal.

Carolyn, thanks for everything you bring to this community. Without you and everyone else here I would be in a padded room right now.

Take care, Maureen