POSTSCRIPT
My mother returned to the Mayo Clinic the following week. A local family friend, Charles Carpenter, drove her up and back (thank you, Charles!). My sister Marilyn was also able to take a little more time off work and drove back from Peoria. She took mom to her MRI exam and attended the final two consultations--one with the Neurologist and one with the Cardiologist.
Outcome: My mother has been diagnosed as being in the early stages of Parkinson's Disease. The initial treatment consists of taking Sinemet medicine (levodopa). We are looking for signs of improvement in her motor skills. The cause of her recurring chest-discomfort is not as clear. Although she has a small amount of heart disease (not unusual for her age), it is not the likely cause. We are hoping that the chest pains and my mother's elevated anxiety are both consquences of her Parkinson's Disease and that these symptoms will also be relieved with treatment.
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