Simone Bartlett wrote:
>
> Hi there
>
> My name is Simone and I am a 2nd year medical student at the
> University of Newcastle, Australia. I am studying the particular
> needs of patients with Parkinson's disease and would like to be able
> to obtain the view point of people with the disease, care givers,
> health professionals, relatives etc etc. Below is a list of
> questions that I am interested in answering. I would appreciate if
> you could spare ten minutes of your time to answer then and discuss
> any other issues you feel would be relevant to myunderstanding.
>
> Thank you
>
> Simone
>
> Questions
> 1. What are the main problems as identified by the sufferers of
> Parkinson's disease? What do they most often ask for, complain of,
> or request help with?
>
Tremor, bradykinesia, akinesia, hesitancy of motion, drooling,
sexual disfunction, voice malfunction,
Most common complaints have to do with on periods and off periods
and balancing medications
In my case since I have an atypical parkinsonism, my principal problem
is balance and walking. I am now confined to a wheel chair unless I
have help walking. I also have some trouble with
weak muscles, micrgraphia, drooling, sexual disfunction, voice
effects, the usual effects of typical parkinsonism. Sinemet has no
effect.
> 2. In what areas does a person with Parkinson's have more of a
> problem than other people their age? What services are needed to
> deal with these problems? Are they adequate?
All of the problems mentioned above. My problems will only be solved
by more reseearch. There are NO TREATMENTS for my case
because we don't know the cause or the mechanism.
>
> 3. What health services do patients with Parkinson's disease utilise
> significantly?
Diagnostics only in my case. MRI and Dr. visits. More avialablilty of
PET scans would be helpful.
> 4. Identify the three health related problems for sufferers of
> Parkinson's Disease, which you feel are most in need of action.
Research on balance and walking probems.
More education for doctors regarding movement disorders
More doctors who are willing to explain to patients and work
with patients instead of the usual routine of giving them a pill
Milo V. Anderson, Ph.D. Knowledge is free at the library;
Box 417 bring your own contianer.
Angwin, CA
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voice 707 965 2508 ODE TO A METAPHOR
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