Hello There,

The book above was mentioned as a must read on this site about a month ago or so. I beleive some of her ideas on stress and the effect on the body, however; the attitude of superiority towards doctors and researchers is dispicable. Also, she claims to have found the cure, but still is in pretty bad shape for the shape she is in and has notfound the cure for whatever her illness is, she has just renamed it as she claims the doctors do.

I will be one of the first to say that all doctors make mistakes at some time in their practice of medicine. Part of the reason is the doctors of neurology don't know the cascading effects as the disease advances, refuse to treat or acknowledge and stifle the possibility of better defining illnesses. I recently saw my neurologist and complained of chronic diarhea. She quite emphatically stated that it was not a symptom of Parkinson's but was concerned at how rigid I was and suggested I up my dose of Sinemet by a extra 1/2 tab with each dose. It was the only change that was made. That was a week ago and my 1 year of chronic diarhea has not occured since.

My doctor is aware of the shortcomings in her awareness of PD but she doesn't let that stop her from trying to help the best she knows how to continue to treat her patients with respect and empathy. While I respect Ms. Whalen's research into the neurological and psychological world of illness, I cannot respect anyone who would state, "I do not dislike medical doctors. Many of them are nice people. I just don't want them treating me."

Levodopa may be toxic over the long term, but the quality of life I would lead without it and the much shorter life span I might have makes it the best available drug today. I agree that treating the symptoms with a toxic drug is not the answer, I am grateful for the time it has given me and continues to give me until a cure is found.

The author concludes, "Overall, I am okay. To stimulated persons, I may seem flat, and that's fine with me. Not an outgoing person, I suppose I seemed flat when I was a little girl, too, until after my father stressed me and adults introduced me to sugar and caffeine. Caelitus miji vires." Well, Ms. Whalen, I too could come to the same conclusion, however, rather than wallowing in the past and looking for who to blame, I kept on with my life; being a mother to my three boys, loving my husband, getting my college degree, and returning to the church. My glass is full and I am, in general, a happy woman. And I am also Irish and play music. I chose to let go of the past and live in the present with high hopes for the future.

May the sound of happy music and the lilt of Irish laughter fill your heart with gladness that stays forever after.

Vicky