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This introduction is a revision of an earlier 'message' -on 6/2 to be exact, which had a blank "Subject" space. I later learned that this turns off some people. I received only one response, but by filling in the "Subject" this time I hope for more comments. I feel that I have had an 'interesting' background................ I have been somewhat surprised at the number of hospitals these days that offer the pallidotomy procedure. I consider myself very fortunate in that I got into the program at Emory early on. I had my first pallidotomy on the right brain in July 1994, and a second one on the left brain in August 1995. The results have been 'spectacular'! My wild, disabling dyskinesias are past history [so far!], and I no longer freeze for hours at a time. I thank my lucky stars, and count my blessings, every day... I must add I got some negatives after the second pallidotomy - my speech and my handwriting are a little worse that before, and I seem to have muscle problems - my body is all distorted. But I'll trade those problems for the dyskinesias on my right side that are gone now, any time! As to medication, I am on plain levodopa and permax - 3,050 mg of levodopa daily - a 700 mg dose at 8 am, then 3 doses of 750 mg 4 hours apart. I finish the day with 100 mg at bedtime. My permax is 4 doses of 1.125 mg for a daily total of 4.5 mg. During the past 25 years I have run the gamut of treatment for Parkinsons, even had a tube in my gut for 2 years pumping in liquid Sinemet. I tried Sinemet, Sinemet CR, and plain levodopa. But nothing prevented wild dyskinesias, and freezing for hours on end. Then came the pallidotomies and blessed relief! And, that's my story. I do hope that I can contribute to the list in some way in the future. Mort [log in to unmask],Internet -->