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Dear Larry, I will not be of much help. I just wanted to tell you that you personally touched me, with your involvement in your brother's PD and your love for him. Such support is incredible and I wish to applaud you. I believe there is more hope. My spirit got high today when I talked to a caregiver that we will meet for the first time at the next support group meeting in our local area. She told me that her husband has had PD for 19 years. They were times that he could not cut his stake with the knife in the past but with the improvements in medication and he has been over the years on clinical trials for new drugs, his condition remarkably improved. He is still able to drive a car and look after himself. She said that his positive attitude had a lot to do with his feeling of well-being. Larry, it was inspirational to hear from you. Greetings, Emily for Julian(PD) ----- Original Message ----- From: "Larry Wilson" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Thursday, April 04, 2002 8:33 AM Subject: Symptoms > Hello all, > > Just looking for information. (Don't know what I am looking for...just > frustrated) I have been a member of the ListServ for about a week. I have > been getting informed from all your comments. I am in Georgia but my > brother is in Dallas, Texas. I have informed his wife and sons of the > Fogleson PD at Presbyterian Hospital recently thanks to several who > responded. We are now aware of Dr. Stewart but John's wife has not had the > time to act on that information yet. She is in the process of putting him > on Medicaid and either putting him in a nursing home or getting home health > care through Medicaid. He is on Medicare for up to 100 days in a nursing > home while he is being "treated" with physical therapy and speech therapy. > He is due to get out April 17th. > > Brother has PD. > Age 68. (April 19th). Contracted PD some 8 years ago (symptoms > observed). Started with walk (shuffling of feet). (When he badly fell they > took him to the doctor and he was diagnoised.) Speech affected 8 years ago > to a minor degree. Gradually lost his voice. Gradually began falling. > Cannot walk by himself now. Contracted Pneumonia (aspiration). Did a > barium swallow found he was swallowing into his lungs. Put a tube into his > stomach so he is fed directly into his stomach. He was incontinent (sp?) at > least 3 years ago....and a year before that. > He was put into a nursing home recently. He has a TV and appears to > read magazines (with his glasses). He cannot put his glasses on. He is > bedridden unless someone gets him up and walks him...and puts him in a wheel > chair. So he just lays there during the day. His wife works (has to work) > She is 62. He shows emotion when he sees his brother and sister and > probably his grandchildren. > He did talking some when he recently went into the hospital for > pneumonia. I would guess he was taken off his medications, put on oxygen > and, of course, had a little shock probably when they put tubes down him. > After several days he did not talk. He tries to talk now...lips the words, > but does not make a sound. At times he does talk ...some- seems to be in > the morning after his pill is wearing off.....maybe.... He shakes his head > when you ask him a question...and seems to understand. I am convinced he > understands what goes on around him. He writes some...at times....but you > can't read it because it "tails off" into very small print. > > Three years ago he was taking the following medications: > > He takes Simnemet .25 mg 4 times a day. > Also Parlodel 2.5 mg twice a day. > > All of this was 3 years ago when it was suspected he had had a stroke > and went into FLOW Rehab for about 2 weeks. He recovered and went home and > had to have a sitter come in 10 hours a day during the week. He stayed home > until recently when he was put into a nursing home. I do not know if he has > changed medications but I would suspect he has not from the comments I get > from his wife. I am trying to check on that now. Someone on the LISTSERVE > suggested he be checked for his medications and possibly change the dosage. > I suggested to his wife she take him to Dr. Stewart and let him observe > John. > > I am sure I missed a lot here...but if anyone has suggestions other than > what I have seen for the last week or so let me know. I have become better > informed on PD...wish that I had gotten involved 8 years ago---had I known. > > Thank you, > > Larry > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] > In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn