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The walking difficulty .... falling or balance problem...... A wheelchair is needed if someone is falling and getting stitches repeatedly. A 4 wheeled walker maybe? Look in a baby department or baby store for the cushion clear plastic corners. Also, some use egg carton foam and tie it on corners of tables . Another solution is to remove coffee tables or low tables because they are too hard to see when u can't look downward. Another source u may try for vision problems is a low vision or vision impaired/blind catalogue site. There is a PSP group on the internet . Anyone have the site ?? Maybe they can help out. nancy m Joy Graham wrote: >Hello all, > > Nice to be remembered - thanks Ivan! Don Diswinka asked how we are >doing... so here goes: > >For those who don't remember us from down under, here's a snap shot about, >Bob (63) who is now into his 13 year with PD. > He has some unusual symptoms which now, the docs are saying is most >probably PSP. He has gaze palsy and can't look down (so can't see to eat, >pour coffee, etc) and also has convergence problems and sees double. He >can't use the computer anymore or read much, so he spends a lot of time >listening to book tapes. His eyelids close involuntarily and his eyelids >are weak so he can't open his eyes often, and when he does, he normally has >to pull them open with his fingers. He has had a series of Botox >injections but feels that makes his eyelids weaker, so at the moment he is >cleared of Botox. >His eyes used to be very red and sore, but the fact that they are closed so >much and with daily cortisone, and regular drops/ gel/ointment they are >much better. > >He falls backwards & has just recently had his third set of (6) stitches >after cutting his head to the bone. He does not freeze as such but rather >does what I call are "statues" leaving his hand, arm, body in awkward >positions (for instance, he will hold a cup up in the air after having had >a drink, rather than put it down on a side table, or he will leave his >hands locked together tightly, so they go all blue.) > >He can't write, talk (except for the odd word or small sentence and with >great difficulty). He has the usual slowness, contstipation but he can: > >walk well (as long as he doesn't stop otherwise he falls backwards) >use his fingers quite well, so can dress himself >he can turn over in bed, and get up by himself (although usually needs >prompting) >Sing a bit. >remember things I can't (nothing wrong cognitively) >play crib (thanks to Manitoban winters) >Enjoy watching and relating to our 12 month old grandson (our first) >walk the dog, about a three km trip, but this tires him out for the day. >swim a bit - with help and encouragement (but can't use arms and legs >together very well) > >Treatment - he takes Madopar * x 8 doses equalling 1600 mgms, Sinemet CR = >600 mgm; Cabaser 6mgm. ( * He takes Madopar rapid which dissolves in >water, before lunch and dinner to get a quick action. This helps with his >swallowing, since he tends to choke sometimes) He NEVER gets dyskinesias >or hallucinations, so this is why he can take so much levodopa. > >I continue to care for Bob but we do get 4 hours of respite a week which >has enabled me to continue my work with the local Parkinson's Western >Australia (I am on the Board). I plan on doing a First aid course soon and >to learn how to suture!! (In case I am stuck somewhere and need to do this >for Bob). Pebbles (our dog) and I both run to him when we hear a thump - >which happens a few times a day. I try not to panic! > >We built a special home, but he still falls against areas such as door >frames which just slice his head open! >I am looking for a spray on foam sort of substance which I can coat over >all sharp corners to soften them..Does anyone have any ideas?? > >Well, if you have read this far, you will have gotten as good picture of >how Bob is in early 2003. > >Nice to be chatting to you all again. > >Joy Graham > >Don commented: > Haven't seen much of anyone from > >>Au posting?? >> >This is probably because we are all parched - having had the worst drought >for many years and now - in Perth a heatwave (38C today) so lassitude has >set in for the season! > > > >Bob & Joy Graham >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 > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn