You may have a point but I was diagnosed at age 45 and now 53 I have doctors around my age and younger and my son is a doctor and he has learned from me to listen first and work with the patients...its their life he has in his hands and he does a pretty good job listening to mama...but most doctors react to me with a combination of sorrow that i it has hit someone their age and a bit of cockiness at first and then when they realize I know my body, the disease or disorder and what works and doesn't work for me, they soon do my bidding or I walk away and find someone who will...you are right though they only know how to treat the symptoms to a point and then they throw their hands up and we all fall down...that is why talking to each other like this is so beneficial...you go in to your neurologist and say when they want you to try Mirapex that you were told it can cause severe withdrawal reaction that you consider an alternative. I told my neurologist day one that DBS would not work for me because when i researched it people with depression just get worse depression and she admitted a year later that a lot of DBS patients were struggling and some were taking their lives...so yes, we are stuck on the front lines with our specialists but together we can at least find a way to thrive.

You are so welcome...ill be honest with sometimes living with this pain and discomfort is overwhelming and I dread living the next 40 years like this and worse...but if i can help others in my situation ...in other words teach again (this time lifes lesson) than it may just be worth it.

I agree and i just reread the comments ... Mind you I have been through 6 neurologists women, men, young, older and a very diverse group at that....I even recently. Went to another neurologist, movement specialist. And she knows my neurologist. To get a brain scan. To make sure that I don't have dementia. My Neurologist had told me that brain scans don't tell you anything. I told my neurologist That I went to her because they have a. An MRI machine in their office. Which is the truth. Two days after meeting with her. My neurologist was impressed. She said to me..." She's good. But I'm better. And I hope you feel comfortable staying staying with me." So. Considering that. My neurologist. Will sign off on aid and attendance paperwork. She signed off on the paperwork allowing me to get all my cruise money back. It is possible. To train your doctor. But it takes knowing you and your body and your reactions, and considering your background Maryland., You can have them trained in no time.

I have changed doctors once because he was a bit flipped with me when I asked about dementia and PD. His remarks were dismissive so that is when I got another doctor unless I want to make my husband drive in heavy traffic that is farther away from where we live now I am preverbally stuck with what I have now. I am glad you have instilled the importance of developing the skill of listening in your son to what his patients are telling him. Good job Mom and thank you for this information.

Dear PM thank you for honest and detailed answer, though our reactions to these meds has been different, to me the common thread is that the Doctors more often than not do not "listen" to their patients. I truly believe that being "72" as I am, most doctors have 'throw-up their hands" and decided why bother to listen to what the patients are telling them, because we are old. I did not mention earlier that I am a retired LVN/LPN and worked with the elderly/dementia population the last 20 yrs of my work history and to many times heard the "younger physicians" remark 'well what more can we do they are old any ways"!!
I feel like we are the 'throw away population. I hope you continue to do some what better with your medications and treatments and again thank you for help.