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Larry, my mother was diagnosed just a few months ago, but has had symptoms for over two years, we were just in denial. She has no tremors, but has other symptoms, like balance problems, excess saliva, frozen features. she is taking 1 1/2 pills three times a day (carbidota/ledopa) and he wanted her to go higher, but we have stayed the same because of all the stuff weve read about how the meds eventually "max" out and bad side effects. we have another appt end of april. her symptoms have definitely improved but still not really "normal" but we are thankful for the improvement. we are still going to have an MRI done end of month just to be sure there is nothing else going on. she is 75. We are also in the Dallas area, we are going to the Southwestern Medical School doctors at the Neurology Center. anyway, i am sorry for what your brother and you are going through, it is very kind of you to be so concerned, there are a lot of brothers who wouldnt worry so much. paula ----- Original Message ----- From: "Larry Wilson" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Monday, April 08, 2002 10:04 PM Subject: searching for Answers > This is the brother to the PD patient speaking: > > I appreciate all the material I have been reading....a little knowledge > makes a person "dangerous". But I am still searching for information...to > become better informed. Thanks again. > > Again, my brother has PD in Dallas, Tex. I am in Georgia. I have developed > some good ideas on what to do within the next several weeks, again, thanks > to several comments sent to me. Thank you. > > But, I would like to re-visit the medications again. > > Brother: Developed PD symptoms some 8 years ago. Diagnosed PD about 5 > years ago. Had the shuffle (fell many times before being diagnosed). > Speech gradually decreased to none at all. Had the tremors begin gradually > (8 years ago)....finally could not drink without spilling it....before he > was put on medication. Had swallowing problems some 6 years ago.....could > not seem to swallow and the food would accumulate in his mouth until he > looked like he was "gorging" his food. He would cough violently at times > after getting choked. Finally, recently, he got pneumonia (aspiration) and > did a barium swallow and it was determined he was swallowing into his > lungs...and could not detect it was going down the wrong way. Doctors put > in a stomach tube for his feeding and medications. He can not walk without > assistance. He uses the wheelchair to some degree. He can read some and > comprehend...to some degree (I don't know how much), but from what I have > seen he understands what one is saying. His vision needs to be checked > (wears glasses) but cannot put them (glasses) on by himself. > > That is the picture of John. > He takes 25/100 3 times a day of Simnemet. > He takes Parlodel 5 mg 3 times a day (this was upgraded in December, 2001). > I would guess he takes the parlodel, the Simnemet, and his blood pressure > pills at the same time....he is in a nursing home. > > Question: From the symptoms as described above would it "appear" that the > medications are sufficient? > > I have already had some good responses that gave me some insight into > medications...I already know that medications are prescribed by the Doctor > upon observation and treatment of the patient. I already know that taking > PD medications is timely. I already know the patient reacts differently to > different medications and different amounts. I have learned a lot from your > comments. I wish I had been this informed some 8 years ago. > > But, in general, would it appear the medications John is receiving is > adequate? > > To show you how much I knew (and ignorant) I was asking John's wife to take > him off the medication entirely to see what would happen....(thinking it > could not be worst than where he already is). My reasoning was that his > mother had PD and his aunt and his grandmother. They never took medications > for PD. But then, they never progressed to the degree he has progressed. > (They were never medically diagnosed - they just said they had PD....and it > appeared they did, however it did not disable them). Now, I am of the > opinion he needs more medication, now less. > > Your opinion on the medications? > > 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