Lauren Sue is finally back on medication!  Just taking baby steps, but taking them nonetheless.  I had my first appointment with my new neurologist since switching insurance companies.  I admit, I was very apprehensive about this appointment, finding it especially difficult to start over with a new neurologist.  This new neurologist has an office located in a medical building called THE SAJAK PAVALION.  Yes, as in Pat Sajak of The Wheel Of Fortune.  Apparently he donated enough money to the medical center they named the building in his honor.

I've told a few of you this before, but I was having trouble imagining that I could receive decent care for my PD in a building funded by the selling of VOWELS!  I had images of the nurse looking like Vanna, evening gowns and all.  I imaged Pat, himself, telling me that if I spun the wheel just right I could win myself either a life-time supply of Sinemet, a trip for two to YOPD convention or maybe even landing on "THE CURE" and walking away completely healed.  Oh, if only life were like a game show.

I wasn't thrilled when I showed up at the infamous SAJAK Pavilion at 11:15am to find that not only was there no Wheel of Fortune to spin or studio audience to be seen, but I wasn't SEEN either; atleast not until 12:30pm.  That's a HECK of a long wait for anyone, let alone a 2.5 year old who has the attention span of a fruit fly on a rotting banana.  When I was finally called back for my appointment, I found out that my long wait was a result of an emergency appointment with another patient. It's comforting to know that when someone is in true need, he will take the extra time.

Well, once it was finally my turn to be his patient, he told me his diagnosis:  I have Parkinson's.  Not only do I have Parkinson's, but he clarified himself and said you have YOUNG onset Parkinson's.  Wow.  Really?!?!? (Sigh).  You know, perhaps this is really silly (or maybe some of you do the very same thing) but I think a HUGE part of me was hoping what I ALWAYS hope when I go to see a new doctor: I'd go in, have my examination and then he'd take the glasses off the bridge of his nose and rest his hands on his chin, looking me square in the eyes and say:  "Lauren, you've been misdiagnosed.  You don't have Parkinson's. You have 'blah,blah,blah-virus' which I can cure with this simple pill".  At that point, he'd put his glasses on the table with one hand while reaching in to his white lab jacket with the other, pulling out his magic pill.  He'd point me in the direction of the water fountain and with one swallow the tremor, the stiffness, the fatigue and all the other symptoms of "parkinson's" would be gone.

But alas, he said no such thing.  He told me the same thing my other neurologist told me and all the other doctors I've seen since Fall of 2001, including the staff at NIH:  You Have Parkinson's.  Yes, I still have Parkinson's.  He told me that he felt STRONGLY about my returning to medication.  I know, you're all nodding your head in agreement.  He also said I need to educate myself about DBS, because I'll eventually be a perfect candidate, to which I said "now THAT scares the crap out of me".  Baby steps.  I agreed to medication and he said that there's no need to wait until my son is completely weaned; the time is now. 

I'll be taking a small dose, very small.  I'll be taking only one 25/100 sinemet 30 mins before Breakfast and 30 mins before Lunch for now.  Just a little, but atleast it's a start.  He also told me something I'd heard before, but good news is always worth repeating.  He said that tremor predominate PD is usually the better type of PD, slower to progress and less debilitating in the long run.  Another thing he said that I had heard before from other neurologists is that he's seen many Young Onsetters that had depression and dystonia appear years before the initial tremor. Interesting facts.

Well, if you read this far, thanks!  And thanks for the "good luck" wishes I received.  I really liked Sinemet when I was on it before, so I'll let you know if it's a repeat success.

 ÓLauren Sue