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Diane, I believe Parcopa will definitely help you. It's a fairly new med-- identical to sinemet, except it dissolves in your mouth. It works for me; I have real problems swallowing in the morning. I was between a rock and a hard place, being unable to function without meds, and being unable to swallow to get the firrst pill into my system in the morning. I take Parcopa 25/100, but believe it is available in different strengths.. Good luck. George L. Bousliman ----- Original Message ----- From: "Susan Fine" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Sunday, May 08, 2005 7:59 AM Subject: Re: Suggestions Needed > Diane: First, good luck with your surgery. Some of us would have a > dreadful time trying keep our mouths shut for 3 minutes - least of all for > 3 > weeks! I am sure your computer will come in handy once you are home. As > for sinemet, there is a "recipe" for liquifying it as per National > Parkinson > Foundation booklet on medications. If you don't already have this, call > NPF > (1-800-327-4545) and ask for their free booklets, including the one on > medications. Don't know about your other meds. NPF "formula" is below, > but > BE SURE to discuss this with your PD doctor because dosage needs may > vary - > and this involves regular sinemet, not CR. He may want to give your a > morning "jump start" dose and change the amount for hourly doses > throughout > the day. Bring your doctor(s) the information in the NPF booklet. (And > see > if NPF can send it to you quickly). > > Mix the following ingredients in a one quart PLASTIC (do not use > metal)container with lid: > > * 10 tablets sinemet 10/100 or 25/100 tablets (=1000mg > levodopa) > * 1/2 tsp Ascorbic acid crystals (=approx 2 gms) > * 1 quart tap or distilled water (1,000 ml) > > Rotate container or shake gently until tablets dissolve (don't need to > crush > the pills) Formula will maintain full-strength and purity for 24-48 hours > in refrigerator. > > My husband had abdominal surgery several years ago and would have been > without sinemet for a week (Yikes)! if I had not given this info to his > urologist and the hospital pharmacy. They administered the liquid sinemet > via naso-gastric tube until he was able to take it the normal way. You > should not abruptly stop the sinemet, it can lead to complications. Make > sure your Neuro and the MD doing your surgery confer on this and orders > are > written and rewritten when you move from IC to regular hospital floor. > Bring > copies of your medication schedule to hospital with you and distribute to > nursing staff more than once. Our situation went very smoothly once I got > everyone on board - although nursing medication schedules are not > necessarily in keeping with the needs of PWPs. If you can have family > and/or friends there with you as much as possible they can run > interference > and communicate with the staff. > > Bring one of those "slates" (where you lift up a film to erase what you > have > written) - if they still make them. Or a clip board and lots of paper > with > a pencil attached so it is readily available. That should help you > communicate your needs. > Again, best of luck. Hope this is helpful. Let us know how you are > doing. > Best, > Sue > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Diane Nicolaou" <[log in to unmask]> > To: <[log in to unmask]> > Sent: Sunday, May 08, 2005 5:19 AM > Subject: Suggestions Needed > > >>I am having jaw surgery later this month and will not be able to open my >> mouth or jaws for 3 weeks after. I am not so concerned about being in >> intensive >> care on a respirator immediately afterwards or being on a liquid diet >> for >> 3 >> weeks but how am I to take my Sinemet CR and mirapex? I really rely on >> them >> every 3 1/2 to 4 hours. >> The Doctors say I will have to crush all meds and my Neuro says I can do >> that it just won't last as long. The pharmacy tells me there is no liquid >> sinemet. This has me worried. Any advice? and how do I make sure they >> give me my >> meds while I am hospitalized? I'm thinking this is going to be a >> struggle. >> >> ---------------------------------------------------------------------- >> 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 > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn