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Another lurker on the list! I've subscribed to the Parkinson's list since November 93, but have never introduced myself! My name is Kathy Sowa, and have been reading the list in the interest of my mother, Margaret, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 1991. Since her initial diagnosis, several incidents occurred, the latest being that today her diagnosis was changed to Progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), one of the Parkinsonism Plus syndromes being discussed on the list. The diagnosis was made by a neurologist in the Motion Disorder Clinic at a large research hospital in Chicago. Earlier in the day, Mom was seen by another doctor in the same hospital who did not discuss the PSP at all, so it seems the two neurologists have not talked together yet. The neurologist in the Motion Disorder Clinic was adamant that Mom has PSP. She did a very thorough examination of Mom and diagnosed PSP from these observations: 1. Eyes fixed in one position--trouble following Doctor's finger with her eyes. 2. Mom hasn't responded to medication as well as she should. 3. Mom repeats what she hears in a conversation(mimicing) 4. Couldn't put her elbow to her knee. 5. Ataxia-she knows what to do but can't. Marge's medication has now been changed. She previously took Eldepryl, 5 mg twice daily, 8 am and 12 noon. Apparently PSP is treated with anti- depressants, and Eldepryl does not mix well with antidepressants, so she has been taken off Eldepryl, and Prozac was added in, 20 mg once every morning. Marge also takes Symadine, 100 mg once a day, Sinemet 25/100, two tablets at 7 am, 11 am, and 4 p.m. She also takes Glipizide for diabetes-5 mg once a day at 8am. There is a Society for PSP at 2904-B Marnat Rd, Baltimore MD 21209. I live in New Mexico, Marge lives with her husband in Chicago. Dad does a pretty good job of taking care of Mom but it gets more and more difficult; Mom is 69, Dad is 75. My sister Lisa is the primary caregiver in terms of taking Mom to the Doctor, getting Mom out for social events, and TONS of stuff around the house. Last November, Mom had a Parkinson's crisis, where she was stuck in her chair and couldn't move. Dad panicked and called 911; they took her to the nearest hospital, and then transferred her to another research hospital, where she kept getting worse. One day she was completely frozen, and told my brother "I'm dead". Apparently she wasn't taking her medication, the hospital was not encouraging her to take it, and she couldn't walk for 2 weeks. She was then transferred to a special Rehabilitation Unit at another hospital, where she recovered wonderfully with intensive physical therapy and an adjustment in her medication (more Sinemet was added, Sinemet CR was removed). So, I'm interested in hearing more experiences with PSP or other Parkinson syndromes, or other experiences with "crisis" episodes. It was very scary to watch Mom in a frozen state. She had gotten so bad that when she was transferred to the Rehab hospital the neurologist thought she was a candidate for a nursing home. But within a few days she was better! They made her take her medication by mixing it with applesauce. Sorry I've rambled on for so long. But I've shared so much with so many people from this list, I thought it was my turn! Kathy Sowa ([log in to unmask])