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Hello, I have made a video about this very subject. It was shown and well received at the EPDA Conference in Vienna last year. It is called "Lost Voices" and is available by contacting the Parkinson's Association of Western Australia. It is used in teaching situations for health professionals throughout Australia, and overseas, I believe. You should ask for it in the overseas format - not the Australian video format. You could email them on [log in to unmask] Sincerely Joy Graham Perth WA >I am a new subscriber the this network. I would like to briefly share my >story----- >My dear sister was diagnosed with young onset Parkinson's about 12 years ago. >She has had excellent care-including a pallidotomy AND Deep Brain Stimulation >over the years- but each operation was minimally successful, at best. She >currently receives Botox injections for severe dystonia about once evry 3 >months. >While degenerative, things appeared "handlable" till about 3 years ago--at >this time my sister began experinecing classic symptoms of >psychoses-including paranoid delusions. Believe me when I say that these >HORRIFIC psychological manifestations are worse than her physical symptoms. I >want to share this: We have been told in no uncertain temrs that the >psychoses is a side effect of the YEARsof Sinamet and related agonists over >the years. This side effect does not afflict ALL Parkinson's sufferers, but >it DOES happen. The problem is that the patient certainly cannot stop the >Sinamet. While an antipsychotic drug helps somewhat. the psychoticsymtoms are >OVERWHLEMING AND HORRIFIC-you would not believe what her mind thinks os real >and of course the actions she makes based on these ddelusions. In addition, >since the Parkinson's continues to progress,my sister is also showing signs >of "Parkinson's dementia"-again, this does not happen to ALL PD patients, but >it sdoes to some. This includes poor judgement and reasoning capabilities, >dofficulty with ligical thinkging, etc. So, as you can see, the Parkinson's >has not only attacked my sister physically, but psychologically as well. Our >lives have been FOREVER changed, adn there appears to be no solution. > My plea--Have ANY OF YOU had experience with not only the physical aspect >but also the impact-as the disease has progressed- of the HORRIFIC Psychoses >wrought by medication and the advancement of the disease???? MY sister, while >not an immenent danger to self or others, cannot be helped in a supportive >envoronment (such as assisted living, etc) without her concent and of course >she refuses this help (this is part of the mental side of the illness). >Guardianship CANNOT happen until she is deemed incompetent by the state-but >because she is not a "danger" to self or others, she cannot be committed for >help. > Our family's faith, binds. and emotional stamina is almost completely >broken--DOES ANYONE HAVE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH THIS??????? Thank you all >for listening, .........and I am eagerly awaiting your responses > >---------------------------------------------------------------------- >To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] >In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn Bob & Joy Graham 37 D Fremantle Village Lot 1, Cockburn Rd South Fremantle WA 6162 Australia Ph & Fax (08) 9430 4730 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn