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I definitely agree.  Been there, done that.  Stand your ground, folks, by
all means.  You do have the right to a second opinion, if necessary.

Carole Menser, M.A.
Ted (55/46/40)

----- Original Message -----
From: "Mary Ann Ryan" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, March 10, 2003 7:45 AM
Subject: Re: Hospital Time


> When my husband was hospitalized for a coronary (and eventual bypass
> surgery) last October, I was shocked when an intern told me that the
> hospital would be substituting Requip for Mirapex because the latter drug
> was not in their formulary of meds.  I insisted that my husband be given
his
> Mirapex instead  - she argued that the meds were the same and that it
wasn't
> necessary for me to be worried about switching the two.  She was adamant -
> but so was I.  Since my husband was admitted the hospital I work for and I
> understand med policy, I won the day.  Another spouse might have been
> intimidated into accepting the intern's position.  Although the difference
> between the two meds might be minor, changing medications in the midst of
a
> medical crisis in a finely tuned PD patient is always a bad idea.
>
>     The moral of this story is that PD folks (and caregivers) must be
> advocates for themselves.  All hospitals have a 'self-med' policy which
> allows for people to take their own meds.  The nursing staff may need to
be
> educated about the particular needs of Parkinson's patients - it has been
my
> experience that no other neurological disease requires the attention to
> on-time med administration that PD does.  In fact, most PD patients that I
> come across have the same med schedules as all other patients on my floor.
> It is unique to come across a Parkinson's Disease patient that has an
every
> two hour schedule of meds.   It is important for members of the list to
> remember that they and their doctors are probably far more sophisticated
> about Parkinson's Disease than most run-of-the-mill neurologists and
> internist.  Don't be shocked when the medical staff doesn't take your med
> needs seriously - it is our job to educate them.  For instance,  I'm
forever
> having to remind the Pharmacy in our hospital that Eldepryl shouldn't be
> administered after 12 noon - they usually schedule the med to be given at
9
> a.m. and 5 p.m.
>
>     As other members of this list have suggested, it is vitally important
> that every list member carry an up-to-date list of medications complete
with
> dose and the time it is taken, in their wallet or purse.  A copy should
also
> be kept on the refrigerator in case of an emergency.    Also included in
> that information, especially for folks on Eldepryl, should be a list of
meds
> that are contraindicated in PD.  Located in the PD archives are a list of
> those meds.  I keep a icon of that list on my home page so that I can
print
> it quickly.
> --------
> God bless
> Mary Ann Ryan (CG Jamie 63/23)
>
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