[jcitron]

This is quite frustrating. I have actually been feeling more human lately. My piano playing has come back quite nicely, and I even went to a Piano World piano party in NY this past weekend. In fact I just went on a spending spree and bought some new music. I've even started back to school (online) again.

Over the past few weeks however, I could feel myself getting more tired than normal with my off times becoming more frequent again, and just feeling lousy. Usually by Wednesday, I'm pretty tired, but now I'm so exhausted that my eyes burn, I have chest pains, and I feel barfy all the time.

These past two beautiful days have been the worst so far since I've increased my medication. It is now taking two Sinemet doses to get me to feel okay, so for the first part of the day, my arms are stiff and I shuffle along.

This really sucks because I thought things were going in the up direction instead of down.

What do you all do to conquer this aspect?

Do you think I may have pushed myself too hard too soon?

Thanks to all in advance for some feedback.


John
Whose a very frustrated camper right now.

[paula_w]

J,
What was your med increase? Sinemet? The more you need and take, the more 'off you get when you don't have optimal dose or absorption, enough sleep, calm emotions, and eventually the right foods in your gut. It's definitely a trade off for many of us more adv people. Balancing the pd is what your life revolves around. Attitude is of course, individually determined.
You are not alone; you will be told one thing by one person, and the opposite from the other. That's one thing everyone tries to do here, is help,

good luck,
paula

[libra]

I am not very good yet at determining what is a result of pd, meds, or just the human condition. Is it because I am getting older, coming down with a cold, worked too hard, haven't excercised enough, my meds are off, I am off or some other thing. I don't know. I too go thru spells where I am just dog tired. I feel for you, it is not fun to be so tired you can't do your favorite things - in your case it sounds like you love the piano, music, and going to school. I wish I could be more help, but did want to reply and let you know I can relate to what you are going thru. Just yesterday afternoon, at work, my eyes were watering, couldn't even stare at computer 1 min longer, so got up and laid down on couch in ladies room. I was out for 30 minutes. I never used to have to do that. I used to clean my house top to bottom every saturday. Now I am lucky if I make it thru 1 or 2 rooms. I have to limit my activities based on signs of fatigue. I now know I can not go all day long like I used too. My neuro assure me that I am properly medicated. The only thing he wants to do is botox shots in my neck and shoulders for dystonia.
Bye for now jcitron.

[imark3000]

Hello John,
My experience is that I must put a strict limit to work and normal daily activity even if enjoyable (as if to economise in using the Dopamine which is in short supply) .. I fnd this necessary to keep my well being. A tight act of balancing as Paula wisely said it.

[Chicory]

I find it best to stop and rest when I get tired. Then I can usually do more. When cleaning the house, when I get to where the computer is in the middle of the house, I stop and read e-mail. After a little while sitting and reading e-mail, I can get up and vacuum some more. Also, I lay down every afternoon and take a nap for an hour. It is hard when you want to do things away from home. Last Sunday I was at a guitar festival all day. I took Provigil to stay awake, but I was still exhausted by the end of the day and ached all over. Part of the problem was that I didn't use my cane as much as I should have- that has always made my good leg sore.

[jcitron]

Hi everyone,

Thank you very much for your response to my question, and angst. I am on an increase in Sinemet. I went from 6-1/2 regular 25/100 to 6 regular plus 1 CR at night. This is along with the Amantadine 3x per day as well. This has made a great difference in my feeling, but with the added good feeling, I pushed myself more because I felt "normal" if you can call it that.

Since I started the schedule, I've been really practicing the piano like crazy. Last week I attended the piano party, stayed up late doing homework, and then went for a job interview. Add on top of this a full-time job that doesn't look too good right now with the recession happening. So as everyone has said here, it's the added stress of doing all this, and then some that caught up with me.

Libra you hit the nail right on head here. This is exactly what I'm talking about. I guess I can't do my 10 projects at once anymore. I need to watch for the oomph streaming out of me and nap when I can. I'll have to talk to my boss about this. Perhaps I can get a note from my neurologist when I see her next month.

Take care and many thank you's again. This is what I love about this community. You're able to put things into perspective what I can't see when it's right under my nose.

John

[Parkie Patty]

I am a morning person. I like to get up early, get some chores done and get on with my day. Since the patch has been taken away and being put back on Mirapex, I need to talk a short nap around 1:30-2:00 p.m. I've been trying to fight through it. When the sleepiness hits, it's lay down or go down. I'm out like a light. Even if I sleep only 15 minutes, I wake up feeling refreshed. It's just embarassing if I'm out somewhere and this feeling hits.