Re: parkinson's disease - part 2

The smiling and laughter - that happened with my Dad as well.  When I watched Muhammed Ali on Dancing With the Stars this season, he tried so hard to smile for his daughter, but the expression he was able to accomplish was so "Dad" and therefore, so "Parkinson's".   It is only when seeing someone else with that unique expression that I am reminded of the times Dad was trying to smile and even laugh and I was, instead, sad because I didn't recognize it as such at the time.  And I doubt he even knew his happy feelings were not communicated.  Parksinson's caregivers need to be mindreaders sometimes.

Where do you go in Florida?  Dad and Mom were is Bayonnet Pointe, which is north of Tampa by about 45 minutes.  I wonder if there are some common environmental similarites there too. 

Also, with the aluminum connection to Parkinsons, for what is worth, Dad spent 14 years in Arkansas.  Arkansas is one of only two states that has aluminum naturally to be mined.

I agree those test results are odd.  I would suggest a different doctor and testing again.

Wombie, as Sunnybuns said, Lake Macatawa is fed by the Black River, which does say it all.  But in Grand Haven, we have the Grand River.  Whenever we have a significant rain (which hasn't happened in a long time now), we have a river water warning.  These are to alert the public not to swim in the Grand River or the Lake Michigan beaches near the Grand River (which is Grand Haven State Park) because of e coli contamination.   This usually happens about every 10 days all summer long, but this summer is so dry.   And I am sure that river has much worse things than even e coli, that no one wants discussed.  Neverless, both Holland and Grand Haven are absolutely lovely towns and there is a wonderful culture here if one just stays away from the water!

Now Muskegon Lake...well it certainly isn't any better than the other two locations and is probably worse.  But it is lovely to look at and like Lake Macatawa, there are many very expensive homes on the lake with the inhabitants using the lake for their recreation.

I am sure if you have not been in this area in a while, you would be surprised at how much Muskegon / Grand Haven / Holland is all starting the blend together along US31.  It has become so built up it is almost one long "city".

I really wish I could have found some natural help for Dad, but he was "strictly by the doctor".  I went through the same with my mother with cancer.  She wanted no part of anything that didn't come from her doctor's mouth.  That attitude was more difficult for me to reconcile than their deaths.

I ramble.  Sorry.