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I hear you Jann I recently joined this list and have enjoyed the many posts. Dad also gets his meds from the Veterans Adminstration and is taking carbidopa/levidopa and citolopram hydrobromide (celexa) 40MG a day. I became Dad's primary caregiver in July when Mom died. The celexa has helped his depression alot. Does anyone have any info on glutathione treatments for Parkinsons? My uncle found the brainrecovery.com website and alerted us to its postive messages. Cindy caregiver to Dad age 80 with Parkinsons since 91 --- Jann Bell <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Any coping mechanisms in this household come from > me. My Dad's primarily attitude is one of denial. I > know that the listserv for caregivers is the > preferable venue for venting and I am a member. I > was just trying to get some feedback on the > anti-depressant recently prescribled for Dad from > people who are PD people, not caregivers. After > reading the listserv I truly believe in and trust > the input from people, who, like yourself, are > actually living the PD life and who are not in > denial and who are trying to make the best of a > terrible situation. Thanks for your input. Jann, > caregiver to Dad, Jack, 78 yo > > rayilynlee <[log in to unmask]> wrote:Jann, > > I tried to explain to the psychologist at the > Support Group I attended that > you just get accustomed to your situation when it > changes for the worse. > His Rx was for me to count my blessings, have a > positive attitude and > compare myself with people worse off. This was not > helpful to me. I need > strategies for coping alone. I probably do feel > sorry for myself from time > to time, but my big concern is getting from point A > to point B(literally > without falling) Example, getting my groceries > online has been a great > strategy. > > The hardest thing (I think) about PD is like M.J. > Fox described it as being > in the middle of the street, knowing a truck is > coming, but you don't know > just when. Although it is true we all face the > unknown, we Parkies do have > special challenges. It would be nice to be > understood. > Ray > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Jann Bell" > To: > > Sent: Wednesday, May 04, 2005 5:02 PM > Subject: Re: Citalopram > > > > Thank you for your thoughts. Dad has been taking > Sinemet a long time. His > > predominant symptoms are mostly an overall > rigidity, especially in his > > legs and although he does not jerk, his hand and > arm movements are very > > exaggerated, very wide in their scope almost as if > he is making sure to > > grasp or touch something by making a really > hard-to-fail go at it. We have > > all learned to live with his physical condition, > have a fairly workable > > routine, but I am really starting to miss his > involvement in our > > conversations. I just wish I knew what was > inevitable and what I should be > > working (researching, inquiring) to slow down or > improve. While our family > > has learned to "go with the flow" there is always > this little nagging > > voice urging us to try something more or > different. I suppose this is a > > common way of reacting and dealing with a chronic > condition that affects > > everyone in a Parkinson's sufferer's family. When > to just manage and when > > to attempt to have an impact. Thanks again for yo! > > ur > > attention. > > > > Rick McGirr wrote:Hi, Jann, > > > > You can never know enough about the stuff you put > in your body. > > > > On side effects of PD meds, I understand that the > drug that causes the > > most problems in the long run is > Carbidopa/Levidopa itself. Over > > time, 5 to 10 years, it can cause wild, jerky > motions and contractions > > of muscles. It also loses its effectiveness, and > dosages are > > increased over time. > > > > I was on the stuff for a couple of years, but > being in the early > > stages of the disease, and in an effort to > maximize my useful years, I > > went off C/L. It's been 2 or 3 months, and it is a > bit more difficult > > for me, but the small increase in symptoms is > tolerable for now. > > > > You should search the web for info on what > particular purpose your > > father's medication is supposed to serve. > Different drugs do diff. > > things. Carb/Levidopa helps reduce actual symptoms > of PD. I still > > take Selegiline, a neuro-protector, and Requip, > which stimulates the > > neuro-receptors in the brain. These two give me no > problem at all, > > but I have had significant difficulty with other > meds causing > > sleepiness. > > > > Your dad's reactions may be totally opposite mine, > and any changes > > should be made in consultation with his doctors. > Good luck, and > > thanks for being there for your dad. > > > > Enjoy Spring! > > Rick McGirr > > Email: [log in to unmask] > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Jann Bell" > > To: > > > > Sent: Monday, May 02, 2005 8:42 PM > > Subject: Citalopram > > > > > >> I could sure use some advice on this drug. My > Dad, 78 years old, who > > has been diagnosed with PD since 1998 has only > taken > > Carbidopa/Levidopa for all these many years. He > currently takes 2 - > > 100 mg tablets three times a day, plus 1/2 tablet > of Simvastanin > > (spelling?) for cholesterol. The latter drug was > only introduced a few > > months ago. Other than those two meds and an > aspirin a day, we've kept > > things pretty simple. I have been reading this > listserv for several > > years off and on and remember, especially, the > drastic side effects > > drugs can have on the PD patient that ordinarily > might not affect a > > person without PD. He sees a nurse practitioner at > the Veterans > > Adminstration here in Arkansas, and she, along, > with most of the > > doctors in this area know little to nothing about > PD and have no > > interest in changing that. So, the listserv is > invaluable when it > > comes to real life suggestions and observations. > >> > >> His nurse practitioner suggested Citalopram > Hydrobromide, 200 mg > > daily. I really am hesitant to introduce any new > drug that cause bad > > side effects IF MY DAD MIGHT AVOID THEM. However, > I also notice, that > > since PD affects everyone differently it might be > an unavoidable > > condition of having PD - namely, having to at > least try everything > > suggested and hope that not too much harm is done > in the process. > >> > >> Any thoughts about Citalopram would really be > appreciated. I also > > mentioned to the Nurse Practitioner that Dad was > starting to kind of > > lose his ability to string words and thoughts > together more frequently > > but at other times had a pretty good command of > his thought process > > (possible Lewy Body Disease), She had no comment. > >> > >> Thanks for your time and consideration. > >> > >> Jann, caregiver to Dad, Jack, 78 yo > >> > >> > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > > -- > >> To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: > > mailto:[log in to unmask] > >> In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn > >> > > > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > === message truncated === __________________________________ Yahoo! Mail Mobile Take Yahoo! Mail with you! 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