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Heather, you've asked some very good questions. It's good that you're concerned about your dad. As a nursing student, you'll be in a position to help him as the years go by. >Maybe it's just me clinging at straws or my own naivete', but is >Paliodotomy everything they say it is . . . relief of "90% of signs in 90% >of patients"? Of course, I WANT to believe this . . . Pallidotomy seems to offer the best relief of the most obvious symptoms of PD. But your dad is a LO-O-ONG way from needing surgery at this point. There are lots of medications that will offer relief of symptoms for a number of years. >He's got two small children and a wife. They say surgery is not covered by >insurance because it's still experimental? How much does it cost . . . >anyone know? As far as I know, pallidotomy is covered by most insurance carriers. You may be thinking of the stimulation surgeries, which are still experimental. >I want to think that he SHOULD get the surgery now while he is still >relatively healthy, cognitive and semi-ambulatory? Again, maybe it's just >me looking for a quick resolution - fat chance. I'd like to see him live >another 35 productive years. To me, it seems like an inevitable step if he >wants to actually make it that long? He has only slight tremors, he is >obviously bradykinesic. Am I off base? Should he really wait until it's all >he has left? I don't think your dad would find a doctor who would perform the surgery at this early stage of the disease. It's usually reserved for when the medications have nothing else to offer. My husband had pallidal stimulations after 13 years of PD. (He was diagnosed at 37). The main point to consider is that there are so many exciting new advances in PD that pallidotomy will one day be the *old* treatment, and something new and better will be available. That's another reason to put off surgery until quality of life is diminished by uncontrolled PD symptoms. Then he can take advantage of the newest advances at that time. You don't say what meds your dad is taking, or how he feels about the efficacy of the meds. If he feels the meds aren't doing what he'd like for them to, there may be other options. With bradykinesia, he might be undermedicated. Is he taking dopamine or a dopamine agonist? In addition, is your dad seeing a movement disorder specialist or PD specialist? Most of us, from long experience, would highly recommend it, even if he has to drive some distance for his appointments. Good luck to you and your dad. Margie Swindler [log in to unmask] >