Hi !
Just an up date - we took my dad to the neuro on Mon - Doc wasn't happy that
he couldn't tolerate 3 whole Sinemets (mom got him to 2 (0.5 -4 times a day)
but beyond that he got miserable ! Doc also wasn't happy that he wasn't walking
well (no arm swing etc) ... but decided to try the Mirapex ... and changing the
Sinemet to 0.5 three time a day (1.5 total)
so day 1 (one 0.125 pill) - no problem
day 2 (three 0.125mg + 3 half Sinemet tabs) - felt OK -
actually ASKED for a dougnut ! (Dad has gone from 6' 210 lbs
to a stooped 6' 178 lbs since Jan)
so far so good !
he's to maintain this for one week - then move to 0.25 three times a day.
No other reduction in Sinemet yet - wants to see how he walks first.
Doc gave him one sheet of instructions. Has anyone called UpJohn - do they
have anything else - any patient info booklets ?
Doc also said exercise and walking VERY important ! Walk - walk and when your done
walk some more ! He said none of his PD patients are in wheel-chairs (except one
who has arthritis and had a stroke) ... so that was encouraging.
Doc also recommends Phystherapy - my dad went last spring and it really helped him-
he tried to do the exercises at home - but its not the same ... but he doesn't
want to go again becuase he doesn't want to drive anymore. We're thinking about
getting some in-home equipment - like tred mill or some little weights.
So yesterday - he did a lot of walking and exercise ... but then last night his
legs felt a little stiff (attributing to exercise he took Nuprin and it seems to
help) - but I was wondering could it be from still too much SInemet ? Should
he cut that back more - this soon ?
Please tell that guy "john" to see a new neuro - ours is very optimistic and thats
good - if your Dr isn't optimistic how can they expect YOU to push yourself ?
I tend to believe nothing is ever hopeless and no doctor has the right to tell you
that.
But i was wondering about support groups - I was thinking about getting my dad to
go - but if he sees people worse than him will that upset him - or will he
be encouraged by their fortitude and optimism ? Do you guys go to support meetings ?
Just to get them out of the HOUSE !
IYQ
Donna (daughter of PD dad 74/ dg Jan 97)
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- Donna Bassolino-Klimas, Ph.D.
Bristol Myers Squibb Pharma. Res. Inst.
Department of Macromolecular Structure
P.O. Box 4000 Room H3812
Princeton, N.J. 08543 4000
(609) 252 4413
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