 |
 |
Hello, I just joined the listserv because my dad who is 73 years old has had Parkinson's Disease for 15+ years. I am a school nurse at a Catholic school in Honolulu. My dad was an Air Force pilot who got out in '54 and joined my grandfather in his oilfield tank painting business. For years he was exposed to paints, solvents, weed killers, etc. My mom is convinced it caused his PD. I don't know. He was in college studying nursing when his physical problems caused him to drop out. His family physician told him it was just OLD AGE. Finally he was diagnosed, but his first neurologist was not good with his meds. Now he has a great neurologist in Clear Lake,TX (near Houston) He is on Sinemet & SinemetCR, Permax, Eldepryl, and Clozaril (for the hallucinations he has with the PD meds). My mom regulates the meds very well working with the dr. I was grateful that he started the Clozaril because despite my urging, my mom refused to use home health care until it was necessary for weekly blood tests for the med. So now she has an aide two times a week for help with personal care and vital signs, etc and an RN once a week, as well as a physical therapist prn. My dad has a paradoxic response to tranquilizers, sedatives etc. which the dr says is related to the PD. He gets very agitated and paranoid and sometimes becomes physically combative. After an experience when he had a pacemaker implanted and they tried to sedate him, I requested that the neurologist write to the cardiologist. Other doctors and surgeons, etc listen to my mother when she relates this, but the cardiologist did not. Two years ago his pacemaker malfunctioned and when they went in to replace it, the anesthesiologist and cardiologist gave him massive doses of IV Valium against my mom's loud protest. They continued it after the procedure and my dad ended up in a drug induced coma for 2 months. He was in the hospital for 1 more month for rehab for the damage done by the coma. Our tax dollars in the form of Medicare paid for 3 months of care because two MD's ignored written warnings and verbal ones as well. It is truly frightening, but because my parents have many medical problems, we could not risk being unable to find doctors if we sued them. It seems from what I have read that my dad is doing well to have suffered with Parkinson's for so long. However, he also has atherosclerosis and the combination has taken its toll mentally. He requires constant supervision and care by my mom who is not well either. I have tried to get her to look at nursing care facilities for the time when she can no longer care for him. However she resists this or any planning for the future. I know that someday I will be responsible for finding someplace, because despite a failing mind, his body is incredible tough even with PD. I have an acquaintance here who is 48 and he went to Sweden for surgery for PD. He is doing very well and estimates his recovery at 85%. He is able to work again which is great. I hope that the medical advances continue. My mother insists that it is not hereditary, but studies differ with that. I look forward to all I can learn from you all! I am also on a school nurse listserv and really enjoy the interaction since school nurses are rare in Hawaii Gail Post Honolulu,HI [log in to unmask]