Thank you,

Larry

----- Original Message -----
From: "patandpaula" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, May 17, 2002 7:37 PM
Subject: Re: Parkinson Symptoms......treatment


> debra, i second that nomination       paula
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Debra Sutton" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Friday, May 17, 2002 2:49 PM
> Subject: Re: Parkinson Symptoms......treatment
>
>
> > Larry,
> > Does your brother see a Movement Disorder Specialist?  That would be the
> > only thing I know to suggest.
> > I would like to say that my hat is off to you for your concern, love and
> > advocacy for your brother.  If there were a "Brother of the Year Award"
I
> > would nominate you.  God Bless you for being "your brother's keeper"!
> > Debra
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Larry Wilson" <[log in to unmask]>
> > To: <[log in to unmask]>
> > Sent: Friday, May 17, 2002 12:39 AM
> > Subject: Parkinson Symptoms......treatment
> >
> >
> > > Note:  If you have answers to this message send your message to
> > > [log in to unmask]  I am having trouble receiving from the
> ListServe.
> > >
> > > PD is very frustrating......and I appear to be the one frustrated.  I
> have
> > > learned a lot from you but I need some more help. I understand better
> now
> > > about PD + and the "look alike" diseases.  Thanks.
> > >
> > > My brother is in the 8th year (or more) of PD.  He is 68 years old.
He
> > has
> > > all the classic symptoms of PD (see below).  His symptoms have
> progressed
> > to
> > > a state where he needs total care.  PD Dr. just increased his 100/25
> > Senemet
> > > to two pills every 4 hours beginning 7:00 am ending 7:00 PM.  He also
> > takes
> > > Parolodol 3 times a day.
> > >
> > > My question is this:  With the symptoms below that my brother is
> > exhibiting
> > > is it practical to think that his quality of life can be improved?
Can
> > his
> > > speech be improved with medication?  Can his swallowing be improved
with
> > > medication?  Can his walking?  Is it practical to believe that
> medication
> > > can make a difference in his quality of life?  Does anyone out there
> know
> > of
> > > any experience similar to my brother's and was there any improvement
in
> > the
> > > quality of life?
> > >
> > > Thank you for your candid remarks.  My brother and I have had some
very
> > > amusing times...we have had quiet a few laughs...sometimes I cried I
> > laughed
> > > so hard.  I did not "baby" him when I was there...but I was careful to
> > > understand his limitations.  We often walked together and I wheeled
him
> > > outside to enjoy the open air.  I took him to church in the nursing
home
> > and
> > > he followed the words in the hymn book (from what I surmised).  We had
> > some
> > > great times.
> > >
> > > Larry
> > >
> > > Symptoms are characterized below:
> > >
> > > Brother is in Texas with PD in nursing home.
> > > I am in Georgia.  I have been to Dallas twice within the last 2-3
months
> > for
> > > about 7 or 9 days each time.
> > >
> > > A.  He is aware of what we are saying and understands.  He cried when
my
> > > sister and I went out to see him recently...when we walked up to him.
> He
> > > understands enough to shake his head "no" or "yes" (yes is hard for
him
> to
> > > do).  He responded to the PD DR and gave the right responses to his
> > > questions...or did the correct things.
> > >
> > > B.  He uses his arms and hands and easily catches a ball and throws it
> > back.
> > > Two years ago you could assist him outside, give him a ball and glove,
> > hold
> > > him until he began pitching with someone, let him go and he would
stand
> by
> > > himself, throw and catch the ball and throw the ball back harder than
> you
> > > could.  Quick pitching and he would fall down.
> > >
> > > 1.  Brother began PD symptoms some 8 years ago.  When he came to
Georgia
> > on
> > > business I noticed he walked funny.  I tried to get him to take long
> > > strides....but he told me he had "gout".  He was shuffling (now that I
> can
> > > look back).
> > >
> > > 2.  His voice gradually began to get quieter....until almost a
whisper.
> 5
> > > years ago he was officially diagnosed with PD.  He had fallen for the
> > final
> > > time before he agreed to go to the DR.  Three years ago he had a
stroke
> > but
> > > did not do anything to his legs nor his arms nor his face permanently.
> I
> > > question whether he had a stroke but his wife says he had a MRI to
> confirm
> > > that.  Gradually within the 3 years he quietly lost his voice.  When I
> > > called over the telephone from GA I could hear a whisper at times
until
> > > recently (last 6 months) I could hear nothing.  Six-8 months ago he
said
> > > very loudly "Twister, my dog!"  (meaning to leave his dog alone when
his
> > son
> > > was teasing the dog).  When the PD doctor saw him recently he ask him
to
> > > speak his name.  John could only "lip" the words, but you could tell
> what
> > > was being attempted.
> > >
> > > 3.  Four years ago he began having bowel/bladder accidents.  Putting
him
> > on
> > > the "stool" helped if the right time was selected.  Now he is totally
> > > "incontinent".
> > >
> > > 4.  Four years ago when he came to GA he could not hold a glass in his
> > right
> > > hand without spilling the drink from shaking.  We would put it in his
> left
> > > hand and it would be better.  (The shaking was not as severe).  When
he
> > was
> > > put on PD medication his shaking reduced considerable until he could
eat
> > ok
> > > and drink ok.
> > >
> > > 5.  We tried to get him to use the typewriter to "speak" but he could
> not
> > > hit the keys properly.  We tried to get him to write but he would
start
> > > normally but trail off into very tiny script that one could not read.
> > >
> > > 6.  I cannot get him to use his wheel chair properly because he
> "forgets"
> > > how to wheel it.  He cannot use a walker...he falls over it.
> > >
> > > 7.  He walks only with assistance now....this has been going on since
> > about
> > > 3-4 years ago.  He freezes when he walks with assistance.  I noticed
> when
> > he
> > > goes through the door or gets in close places he stops....freezes and
> > cannot
> > > go without prompting and assisting him.
> > >
> > > 8.  He drools now...has been doing this for a year or two.
> > >
> > > 9.  His mouth forms an "O" when he is having bad days.  On good
> days...or
> > > good hours he holds his mouth normally- I thought he had good times
when
> > he
> > > was "ON" with his medication and bad times when he was "OFF".
> > >
> > > 10.  When he is eating he would stuff his mouth and would not (could
> not)
> > > swallow.  Finally he got aspirated and got pneumonia and had to go to
> the
> > > emergency room.....they did a barium swallow on him and found he was
> > > swallowing into his lungs - this was 3 months ago.
> > >
> > > 11.  They put a feeding tube into his stomach....they use a syringe
type
> > > feeding method.
> > >
> > > 12.  When he feels bad or is hurting or is emotional he make a loud
yell
> > or
> > > noise.
> > >
> > > 13.  He appears to have some type of dementia.  However, when he went
to
> > the
> > > PD DR he understood all his commands and almost stood up by himself.
He
> > is
> > > quiet playful....don't know if this is dementia or just himself.
> > >
> > > 14.  He does not dress himself.  He did feed himself before the
feeding
> > > tube.
> > >
> > > 15.  He has lost considerable weight  - did weigh 175 lbs but lost
over
> 3
> > > year period down to 117.  He is 6 feet 3 inches. (This is probably
> because
> > > he did not swallow enough nourishment.)
> > >
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