Thank you all for sharing your thoughts and experiences. I honestly don't know what I'll do at this point.

I am concerned, as Pam cautioned, of having another akinetic crisis upon abruptly stopping meds- this happened to me when I had to come off all meds during pregnancy. Mind you, I was never even warned this might happen; I was scared out of my wits when I went from being mildly affected to not being able to move in bed at night. What is really bothersome is that over one year later, I discovered what this phenomenon was on my own- I still don't think my present neurologist knows this even exists.

I'm also concerned that my neurologist, despite his Ivy league education and years of research/publication on tremor never ordered a test for Wilson's Disease- especially since this is standard. Can WD be detected through an MRI? I did have that and perhaps he used that as a measure?

In the end, I'm not sure what to do. I'm not convinced that I need to be off meds for 12 hours; especially given how abruptly stopping them most likely will worsen my symptoms. It would invalidate any staging that might be done. Of course, then again, maybe he wants exaggerated symptoms to get a firm reading?

I'm torn between wanting what I want- what Carey has and knowing that this young doctor is the best I have available locally at this point.
Is it feasible to travel for a second opinion on course of treatment (I'm thinking of making an appointment somewhere like UMaryland) and then following up with a local neuro to oversee what has been decided upon? I thought this may work, but from what I am hearing, most neurologists won't simply oversee or manage a course of treatment set forth by a different doctor. Has anyone had any success in doing something like this?

Laura

Three years ago I began a journey through the local ortho dept and had to give up my MDS in St Louis (eight hours away). In the mean time my PCP handled my care very well. I tried to get a new local neuro simply because of the incovinence of having to travel so far but finally gave up on finding anyone half as qualified. I am going back for the first time on Wednesday.
I am hoping for a new course of medication since the one I have ordered myself is not working out all that well, not bad, just not great. I have found a neuro does not take direction well from another neuro but a PCP may.

i moved 6 years ago and in the process of looking for a new neurologist met one who said he didn't think i had parkinsons and wanted to see me off of all meds. (i had had pd 9 or 10 yrs at that point and was taking sinemet and mirapex) i began tapering off meds and became extremely rigid, to the extent that i could only lie of the floor. the dr meanwhile went to europe for 3 weeks. we tried and tried to get hold of him and finally emailed him. he said i should go to the hospital and that i should start taking my meds again. as soon as i took my sinemet things got better. fortunately for him, this doc decided to concentrate on research.
the moving of the tongue side to side is a way to measure tremor.

daffodil,

good grief and people wonder why we are critical! thanks for posting.

paula