Sharon....

-  I've had sets of collagen injections.

- I believe you can have them for years, if not indefinitely, but
would    hafta check with the doctor to make sure.

NOTE:  Each time you have the collagen injections, as the collagen is
reabsorbed by your body, a tiny residue of collagen remains.  This
residue slowly builds up over time (I have no idea how MUCH time )
and eventually, enough residue is there permanently to no longer need
the injections to do the job.

- No... they're not really painful.  However,  a coupla hours after
you have the initial injections, you'll have a sore throat <not
particularly a bad one> for maybe 3 or 4 hours.  In my case, there
was never any sore throats after that first set of injections.

-You hafta sit still for around 5 or 6 minutes,  I found it to be an
intersting experience watching the whole procedure on the viseo
screen as it was performed.  In fact, it was  fascinating  to watch.

- Yes... months.  Three to five months.  My first injections lasted
nearly five months, and the subsequent lasted for about 3 1/2 months
(they were done by a different MD than the original, and I don't
think he was anywhere NEAR as skilled as Dr. Burke, who did the
initial injections on me.

- Medicare paid at the time I had the injections, however, the
Medicare laws HAVE changed since 5/97, and I haven't followd up to
see if the changes affect the collagen injections.

-  Trouble swollowing and drinking without a straw.?  I believe
neither of those functions are related to the vocal cords, so my
guess is that the collagen injections wouldn't affect swollowing or
use of a straw (just  an educated guess tho)

NOTE:  The collagen injections DID help me to breath easier as aiwas
no longer leaking out  thru the vocal cords..  A benefit I had been
unaware of till the procedure was over.

Hang in there, m'dear.....

Barb Mallut
[log in to unmask]

-----Original Message-----


From: Sharon Starr <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Saturday, February 13, 1999 8:35 PM
Subject: Re: Implants (and help for Mom)


>Brab, thanks for the answer.  Just for that, :o), here are a whole
bunch
>more questions:  How many times have you had collagen injections?
Can you
>continue having them, indefinitely?  Are they painful?  How long do
you have
>to sit still? Is it only months that they last?  Does Medicare pay?
Barb,
>Mom is having more and more problems swallowing her pills and
drinking
>without a straw.  Would the collagen help that, too?
>Thanks again,
>Sharon Starr, Daughter and CG for Rae  75/50/45  (age now/age dx/age
first
>symptoms)
>Florence,  AZ           [log in to unmask]
>
>
>********************************************************************
***
>
>>Sharon 'n All.....
>>
>>I've had extensive discussion with Dr. Gerald Burke of the UCLA
Neck
>>and Throat Clinic about the inserts into the vocal cords 'cause I'd
>>love to get something that didn't  need redoing every few months as
>>I've had to do with the collagen injections.
>>
>>Dr. Burke prefers NOT to do the implants on Parkies because our
>>disease is unstable - no matter how slowly, our condition DOES
>>degenerate and that would mean we'd have to have another set of
>>implants (implanted surgically each time).
>>
>>FYI>.... Each implant, by the way, is custom hand carved for each
>>individual patient by Dr. Burke prior to the surgery.
>>
>>I'm aiming (or maybe I should say "nagging AND praying!) to have
Dr.
>>Burke (thru his RN, who is my contact person in his office) to do
the
>>implants in my vocal cords, ANYWAY... despite m yy having had PD
for
>>24 years).
>>
>>I've also challenged Dr. Burke to come up with some of device that
>>can be implanted AND be adjusted periodically to accomodate vocal
>>cord degeneration such as is typlical with Parkinson's.
>>
>>I don't think he's taking me seriously - yet - but I'm tenacious,
and
>>I REALLY, REALLY want that type of permanent device.
>>
>>I'll keep posting updates on this issue every so often as things
>>happen, but don't expect an answer to the problem tomorrow, huh?
>>This isn't  a top priority number in the medical field, I gather.
>>
>>Barb Mallut
>>[log in to unmask]
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: Sharon Starr <[log in to unmask]>
>>To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
>>Date: Thursday, February 11, 1999 5:38 AM
>>Subject: Implants (and help for Mom)
>>
>>
>>>Hi, guys,
>>>Remember the discussion some time ago about collagen injections
and
>>the new
>>>"little hammer" throat implants?
>>>Well, Mom really needs something and I'm especially interested in
>>the
>>>implants.  Do any of you have more information on them?  Perhaps
>>some first
>>>hand knowledge?  Our neurologist here in Tucson does not believe
>>they are
>>>meant for PWP's?
>>>Thanks, as always,
>>>Sharon Starr, Daughter and CG for Rae  75/50/45  (age now/age
dx/age
>>first
>>>symptoms)
>>>Florence,  AZ           [log in to unmask]
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>