Dear Bob Fink--- please check with Chuck Tames for another opinion!
Here's his latest report from the CARE list:
>Its now 2 weeks after Joyce underwent 3 ECT
(electroconvulsivetherapy)
sessions.
>To make a not so short story shorter, she is enjoying
mental/emotional
freedom in her words " I cant believe how clear I can think " "I feel
great
about myself" ,
"its good to be free again" "I really did a number on you and our
family
didnt I?"
>As for her Parkinsons, she is still on her full dose of Sinemet but
was able
to reduce the Permax by 50% and Symetril by 30%. Most days she now
manages
WITHOUT her cane....all by herself... During her three week
encounter, she
managed to loose about 15pounds and she is now encouraged to excercise
twice
a day and cut out all KNOSHING...(eating small tidbits between
meals..even if
your not hungry ha ha )
>She still takes a combination of Clozoril/Seroquil/Celexa and Ativan.
>This most radical therapy was done to hopefully overcome the servere
depression, parnoia and hallucinations all of which Joyce suffered. It
has at
least in this short term, proven itself. With these such positive
results ,
ECT is another tool that many PWP's can use to improve their life
quality.
This is not a landmark case...only the fact that Joyce had a
Pallidotomy 41/2
years ago...was most interesting to her neurologist and neurosurgeon.
>Joyce asks me to tell you that she is so happy to have enjoyed these
results
and to pass the info on to this list and more.
>Disclaimer: The result of ECT therapy that Joyce is experiencing may
not be
right for your PWP.
>Chuck CG Joyce 56/15
******
Bill-- I sent Derek--offlist-- the info about Chuck Tames' wife Joyce
who is doing well after ECT. I hope Derek will contact Chuck, who
researched this VERY thououghly ! Glad it worked for your wike too.
> Dear Derek -- My first wife was able to hold on and raise
5 children with me, and I feel that the ECT she received was very
helpful towards that end. She had a moderate amount of short term
memory loss at the time, but I am convinced that this worked in her
favor; she had deep feelings of inadequacy that faded away
also. There is evidence that schizophrenia and Parkinson's are
somewhat related because they both result in abnormal amounts of
dopamine in the brain. I hope others will E-mail
the list on this subject. It is a rather scary topic;but that is one
reason, I made the effort to respond. It might convince someone more
reticent than me to share their experience also. Best wishes, Bill
Olson, Now 70, diagnosed in 1983
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: Derek Pocock
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Thursday, November 23, 2000 2:05 AM
Subject: Electroconvulsive Therapy
> URGENT If anyone with PD has any observations on the
use of ECT in the treatment of Parkinson's Disease would you please
contact me as soon as possible as this treatment is being
recommended for my wife and will probably be arrangd in the next 10
days. Thanks Derek Pocock p.s. at present my wife is bedridden,
fed thru a stomach tube and has spent most of the last 6 months in
hospital and/or convalescent care.
Camilla Flintermann, CG for Peter 82/70/55
Oxford, Ohio
<<[log in to unmask]>
on the web at
http://members.tripod.lycos.nl/genugten/flinterm.htm
and also at http://www.geocities.com/camillahf/index.html
>
"Ask me about the CARE list for
Caregivers of Parkinsonians ! "
And visit the CARE webring at
http://www.crosswinds.net/~caregivers/index.html
