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At 09:26 AM 3/30/97 -0500, you wrote: >Naomi Meyer wrote: >> >> Hello, all. I've been reading all the communications on the list, but I >> haven't written anything for a long time because I've been trying to deal >> with the Nursing Home admission of my husband, Dave, since January. After >> he was hospitalized for 2 weeks from a psychotic reaction to zyprexa, I came >> to the conclusion that I could no longer manage at home without help around >> the clock. If he fell, I was unable to pick him up by myself. I could not >> leave him alone at all. Since I have a job and for various other reasons, my >> only solution was the nursing home. We had more or less expected this -- >> Dave has had Parkinsons since 1972 -- and knew this might ultimately be where >> he would find himself. >> >> I can only tell you it is one of the most painful decisions I have ever made. >> (As Bob Howard will attest). I had the complete support of my 3 children >> and their spouses -- in fact of all my friends and acquaintances, also -- >> all of whom told me they don't know how I managed with him as long as I did. >> But as all of YOU know, you just DO! >> >> It's been very painful for both of us; we're BOTH lonely and sad. But Dave >> has improved. His mobility is better, the hallucinations are benign, his >> paranoia is lessened and there is someone around to meet his needs. I can't >> say he's happy, but I feel he is getting good care. My children and friends >> visit him whenever they can and we try to take him out for rides and to >> restaurants on occasion. I know that it was time. >> >> I, too, was confused by someone who referred to "the final stages" of >> Parkinsons. I would like to know what they are. Since this is a "designer" >> disease, as someone said, each patient seems to have different symptoms and >> reactions to the medications and deteriorates at a different rate. Dave >> really only began to get worse about five years ago -- after 20 years. >> >> Naomi Meyer, CG Dave 69 /25 >Naomi- > >I am curious as to what symptoms your husband had prior to the Zyprexa >and what problems he had afterward. Zyprexa (olanzepine) is marketed as >an anti psychotic and it has been at least speculated that it might have >special use in psychosis in PWP. It "should" not increase psychosis but >might possibly worsen the symptoms of PD. I would like to understand >what symptoms occurred in what order? Has he ever been tried on >clozaril? What symptoms of psychosis occurred and when? Did his PD >symptoms (outside of the mental status) get worse or better after the >Zyprexa was begun. > >My sympathy to you, your family and your husband in reaching this point >in his disease progression. It is a point we PWP all fear and is a >choice our caregivers have to make for their own benefit as well as ours >as painful as it may be. You are fortunate that you have such complete >support. Often there is somebody who says How could you do such a >thing- have you tried...? There is always one more thing that hasn't >been tried and so many people get caught up in the guilt of feeling that >they have not tried hard enough. Your decision took a great deal of >courage. > >Charlie > >-- >********************************************************** >CHARLES T. MEYER, M.D. >MADISON, WISCONSIN >[log in to unmask] >********************************************************** > naomai i to am in adfanced pd for 25yrs. you done right. omly thing about having it so long i forget alot things and what i am going to say, and how to spell, i fall alot now. get lost only few blocks from home,get depresset a lot easyer now cry from time to ttime but it is not so bad when you got some to love you. you must have lot of love for your man. good for you. so don,t feel badly at all. i have 2 girls to help my wife. 50 and 49 so it helps. stay in there. every thing will work out for the best. I.Y.Q. DON MCKINLEY LIMA OHIO EMAIL [log in to unmask] hope to hear from you. I.Y.Q. say it fast.