Rick,

A big hug to you for being fearless enough to post these kinds of personal details; most shy away from that. I know that since there are a few of us sharing here, there are many others out there who go through this too. I am beginning to think we do all need to start reporting the weird stuff to our doctors anyway...maybe when we figure out what is really going on, they'll think back and say "maybe we should have listened a bit more."

A few more potentially significant things to add...

- Thinking back, I believe this was slightly more gradual. I remember reading your experiences before and about the potassium levels. I was having milder, not as lengthy attacks earlier, so there was a more gradual change, and it only seemed to hit at night when I was winding down for the evening. As my stress at work has heightened, so have the attacks.

-Prior to this troubling loss of muscle tone...it is the opposite of "fight or flight" Wikipedia describes it as "rest and digest", at night, I would have an off period, not very long, marked by more noticeable rigidity and stiffness- this was unusual for me as I usually just have a tremor, a little slowness, and a lean.

-Now it seems these episodes might happen more unpredictably which really concerns me. I had it start to happen toward the end of my day...I will say that adrenaline kicked in and nipped it in the bud as I was determined not to freak out my students.

-I note it can happen in the AM in a milder way in that meds resist kicking in and muscles don't come to life. Usually my mornings were noted for too much muscle tone in form of dystonic foot. I am also vulnerable in late morning and late afternoon.

So we have Colonel Mustard with the lead pipe in the Conservatory...

really, it is only potassium? I just tested with normal levels, so I wouldn't think I needed a supplement...

does it correlate with diurnal Cortisol levels?

You presented with a tremor as well? Is it the right side? I am still mainly hemispheric, or right side impact only? I wonder if this experience correlates with a subtype?

Do we all share a common med like use of an anti-depressant?

Do you think this a special type of PD?

Oh, and I totally relate to the squirmies as our muscle reconnect; it is oddly a feeling of release or relief and lasts for seconds. At times it doesn't happen at all.

I can sometime avoid an attack if I keep active...clean the house be

Food can actually break the attack; especially if protein-centric!

Well, I just finished teaching for the school year, and I daresay in adding these articles I have the most unique summer reading list around I will put all this together and discuss with my neuro next week. Has your doctor chimed in on this at all?

-Laura