I will use this post to share information about my recent Dr Antonio Constantini 's visit.
I am a little bit busy at work and will not have the time to write it all up on in one session. so bear with me, please. in the meantime please ask questions and I will do my first answer.
sections of this post:
1. background : a brief summary of my condition
2. before the trip: this section talks about what I did before I went to viterbo.
3. how to get there: information on my flight and train journeys.
4. treatment: might be one dosage and adjustments.
5. did it work: description of how I felt immediately and changes to to my condition
6. what is next: changes to my health and recommended dosage adjustment
1. Background:-
I was diagnosed in 2013 but I think I had PD a lot longer. I am now on a cocktail of medication to get me through the day. I am also lined up for the DBS. I am 52 and lucky to have access to a good medical team.
I discovered the work of Dr Antonio by chance whilst searching for complementary and alternative treatments.
2. Before the trip
This what I did before the trip.
1. I shared with Dr C a full history of my case (I used google slides).
2. Sent 2 videos, one showing facial expressions and how I struggled walking before medication and another video that demonstrated the pull test.
3. Confirmed my appointment.
tip:
- make sure that DR C assistant/PA/ secretary knows about your appointment and it is in the Diary of DR C (cc your email to info@polispecialisticoviterbo.it to include Annie ). I thought that I had a Monday appointment confirmed to only be told - after I booked my flights and the hotel - that Dr C does not work on Mondays. I was humbled by the fact that he has changed his routine and came to the clinic on his no-work day. whether you believe his ways or not one thing that makes him standout is his level of care and genuine commitment and belief in helping people. he is extremely busy and I got the impression that he might be ahead of his office in terms of appointments. therefore to help him and to help yourself- make sure that his diary can accommodate your appointment. the advice here is just based on my trip and I must admit I'm not the most organised person so it may not be applicable to you. One thing that is certain is that if Dr C agreed to see you, he will.
3. How to get there
It will very much depend on where you travelling from but if you are travelling from the EU zone, you can travel to Rome on the cheap.
There are plenty of budget airline options including the likes of EasyJet, Ryanair and others.
We flew with Vueling Airlines.
we pre-purchased our ticket trains from ItaliaRail (italiarail.com/) website. The train from Fiumicino Aeroporto took us to Roma Trastevere where we caught the regional train to Viterbo. on the way back we again changed at Trastevere. A return journey for 2 cost us 28€. An Italian friend told us to avoid Sunday travel due to limited services. we travelled on a Saturday.
our train travel was slick, on time and super convenient.
tip: print all you train and flight tickets. do not rely on your mobile. avoid the stress of your mobile going flat when you really need it to function.
tip : take the wheelchair assistance even if you don't need it. i don't need it most of the time but on a couple of occasions i went through security checks whilst going through an off-period. i made life difficult for me and everybody around me.
4. Treatment
the treatment is as described in this forum. basically, B1 vitamin via injections or pills. in my case, I was given a booster shot equivalent to 12 g on my first visit. I then had to wait for two days before I started my course of 3 g per day. Dr. Constantini also recommended that i stop taking the assortment vitamins that I was consuming.
5. Did it work?
Yes But see the section [6]
Yes. here is an extract of an email I have sent to Dr. Constantini commenting on improvements that I have noticed in my first week following my poster shop injection and the subsequent daily dosage of 3g.
" i am feeling really good and here is a summary of the improvements i have noticed;
1. I have so much energy and for the first time I can subconsciously forget that I have PD
2. My body is relaxed and i can do more in the gym
3. I can function in the mornings before the medication
4. I am more cheerful and productive at work
5. family and work colleagues can see the difference
6. I feel that I have the upper hand on PD
7. [removed by the author :-)]
8. I am active in the evenings and can do more (in the past I did not and could not do much after work)
9. thigh muscles are relaxed and can do more stretches in the gym
10. I am recovering quicker from off-moments
11. I am sleeping well (deep solid sleep but still getting up at 4/5 am)
12. On the way back from Italy, I did not need assistance in the airport (i normally I use the wheelchair assistance service)
13. I can walk longer distances
14. I am having a long sustained 'good period'. this is now stretching into the 2nd week. in the past, a good day was normally followed by a bad day).
15. no negative reaction to B1 (taking 1500 mg at lunchtime and 1500 . mg in the evening)
16. got my creative mind back (i write short stories and almost all the time generate new concepts and ideas but lately I felt I did not have much of the creative juices left in my body)
17. i am taking less medication and vitamins
18. for the first time in my life I felt i can smell what i am eating (only once)
6. what is next
At the end of the second week, things changed. I am now feeling not as good as the first two weeks following my initial consultation treatment in Viterbo. Antonio thinks that this could be due to dosage. I also think that maybe my body reacts better to injections. so the plan is as following;
- stop taking B-1 pills for three days
- then 100 mg thiamine injection once a week for 5 weeks
- after 5 weeks hopefully, we will figure out the right dosage
Weight Loss, in a positive way
Important question: Reduction of B1 over time is inevitable, but how far does this go?
Newbie seeking B1 advice. 
Surgery but without general anesthesia due to PD
