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Had my appointment with Dr. Iacono yesterday. He's a wonderful man--so caring and passionate about helping those of us with PD. He has a wonderful man working with him who has had PD for 11 years. He had pallidotomy surgery and is doing very well. It was quite inspirational. Dr. Iacono agreed that my whole array of medicines was necessary, in fact he upped the dose of paxil by one more pill. He told me it is imperative that I take a six month leave from work to try to regroup and replenish the chemicals that the disease and stress have depleted from my brain. He says it will prolong and could save my life. That was pretty convincing to me. He has a website, www.pallidotomy.com if anyone is interested in checking it out. I left his office feeling a bit more hopeful. He also put me in touch with a local support group. My first meeting will be ll/18. I feel like I'm starting to face this challenge squarely and at least give it a run for it's money. I understand that my type of PD is more aggressive than some and progresses more rapidly, but I won't be marking any particular date on the calendar for me to become an invalid. I'll keep working to push that date back as far as possible. Thanks for all the support and encouragement from all the list members. You are all rapidly becoming very dear to me! Claudia MPShee wrote: > In a message dated 97-11-04 04:21:18 EST, you write:> > > >>I'm taking so many pills I fear I will begin to rattle as I walk. > I'm > taking Amantadine, Parlodel, Ergyloid Mesylate, Zoloft, Paxil, > B-Complex, Evening Primrose Oil, Caffeine tablets, and Klonipin.>> > > Claudia, > I agree with Jeremy. That's an awfully big array of drugs. I was > diagnosed > almost 2 years ago at the age of 57 (but am pretty positive I had PD > symptoms > for 9 years prior to diagnosis). My neurologist started me on 5 mg of > > Eldepryl and Vitamins C and E for their neuroprotective effects and a > small > amount of Paxil for depression. In the two years since DX, I have had > almost > no progression of PD. At my request, I have recently added Mirapex to > my meds > with positive effects. Each neuro, I think, has his own favorite > meds, but > I'm glad you're seeing Dr. Iacono for a second opinion. > > <<My biggest fears are the unknown. I don't know how this will end > up and > what my life will be like. My dr. says I have a more aggressive form > of > PD and that my disease will peak in 5-8 years. That seems very soon > to > me. Does that coincide with what the rest of you have experienced?>> > > I don't know how any doctor can predict the progression of this really > > unpredictable disease. I'd check the info you were given with Dr. > Iacono. My > biggest fears are also the unknown. I feel blessed to have found this > very > informative list. Learn all you can about PD. It will help you cope > and > fight this disease. Stretch and exercise all you can, laugh a lot, > keep > active, and believe in your heart that there will be a cure in the not > so > distant future. > > <<I am able to work part of most days. I haven't yet made a decision > as > to whether or not to retire early. Any comments from those of you > more > experienced. Do you think it might slow the progression of PD? >> > > if your job is stressful and you can afford to retire, do so. If you > love > your job, keep working. > > <<I'm a realist and really want to know what to expect down the > road. Any > info anyone who has experienced it would be very much appreciated. >> > > PD is so different for everyone (symptoms, progression, etc) that I > don't > think anyone could venture to say how it will be for you, but if you > have a > possitive attitude and keep fighting, you'll surely be better off. > Please let > us know what Dr. Iacono has to say. > > Mary