I had an appt with a neuro in PA where I am staying this morning. I'm glad I did. He surprised me with several statements, starting with 'you aren't the typical PD patient.'

After seeing where I am in the PD journey, he did not recommend any med additions. He agreed that the drug companies are just putting out the same things reformulated and that basically my only other option was surgical. I appreciated it when he didn't push it; understanding that DBS is very scary.

The biggest surprise, and it shouldn't have been, was my weight loss and muscle atrophy. It's so easy to blame PD and my doctors in Florida did not suggest anything new. But this doctor wonders if I have Pernicious Anemia. This can be treated with B-12 shots. So I'm wondering if I have a shot at having more energy again. And an appetite. Fingers crossed.

He also said coffee and a cigarette would probably make me feel better once in awhile. Caffeine was the first treatment for Pd before l-dopa, he thought.

NO attitude; there are great doctors out there. I'm not recommending that anyone smoke. I just liked his honesty. A couple cigarettes and cups of coffee a day just might be less harmful than the fistful of chemicals we take daily.

paula