I just wanted to let everybody know that due to our winter storm today there were cancellations at the neurologist's office and I was able to go in and get my EMG test done. It was very interesting. I got shocked and then poked with needles and then the stimulator thing was turned on. It was all very odd! The good news is that I don't have Stiff Person Syndrome or ALS. I still think that I have Parkinson's Disease or one of the PD Plus Diseases. The fact that I feel so poorly being off of my meds gives me an even more solid belief in that. One of the things that happened during the test even confirmed it more to me. Before the neurologist began the test I told him that I had a little bit of a resting tremor in my left hand/arm. It usually only happens when I am cold, stressed out, or holding my hand in a certain position. When the Neurologist entered the needle into my left bicep muscle and then stimulated it, he was able to hear a tremor. He would move my hand and the tremor would stop only to pick up again later. This is pretty classic for PD. Also, he reaffirmed that I do have cogwheel rigidity and that it is most commonly associated with PD. Are you ready for this one? Here we go again...He said that some of my symptoms are very different and he told me that if any local doctor was going to be able to figure it out, it would be the MDS that I am seeing. He went on to say that if my MDS is not able to figure it out he might send me to the Mayo Clinic to get checked out. I guess he has done that before with puzzling patient's. The neurologist today also said that there is not a cure for many of the neurological things that occur in people. He said that it is a matter of treating the symptoms. He also said that a diagnosis might not come quickly. Well...I already knew that one. He did mention some new brain scan that is in trials right now that is helpful in identifying PD. That peaked my interest.

I called my MDS's office today but he wasn't in. He was snowed in at home! Anyways, I asked his receptionist to see if she might be able to put me on a cancellation list for next week. She is going to do that. My MDS hasn't seen me since I have been off my PD meds. I think that he might have a more clear picture of what is going on with me when he sees me in the unmedicated state. I am also going to ask him how he feels about trying me on a trial of Sinemet. We all know that it is the gold standard for treatment of PD and if it makes a huge difference in how I feel then it might be able to provide an answer.

Well, that is all of the news that I have for today. I will keep you posted as I hear more!