SNIPPED>
>I recommended to my mother all of your ideas...larger car or RV...shorter
>trip...all to no avail. She's determined and says my father is growing to
>like the idea. I don't know if I believe that. I asked her to at least go
>visit the neurologist and discuss getting him on medications, as his symptoms
>are becoming more and more obvious. She says that they don't bother him, and
>I tried (TRIED) to explain that he may not be aware how much they bother him.
>Perhaps if he was on medication, he would see that he feels much better --
>and just wasn't aware at how bad he was feeling before the meds. Again, no
>real response. Probably a bad time to begin medications anyway, just three
>weeks before the trip.
I didn't realize he is apparently on NO meds??? Do they BOTH realize that
stress, which will surely be a factor in this expedition, will inevitably
make his symptoms WORSE? How recently has hebeen seen by a PD
specialist--for diagnosis or treatment? I wonder if she fears going to a
neuro because he might forbid the trip? Has she considered that he might
get a lot worse and be VERY far from home? If your brother has better
"access", tell him to go for it! I sense your frustration and feeling of
helplessness, and hope you do have some support in the family. This trip
doesn't make much sense to me! But beyond the issue of the trip, I would
be very concerned at her unwillingness to face the realities of his
diagnosis--she may be just a very strong-willed , uninformed woman, or she
may be scared to death and in denial----and she could find herself in a
very difficult situation far from his doc, and all the usual support
system. I would ASK the NEURO about starting meds before the trip, which
would be a way of opening up the whole topic.
If your mother still is adamant ( the nicest word I could find to use)
please don't blame yourself for problems that may arise--you have gone far
out on the limb and done everything you could to forestall a crisis. Your
dad should AT LEAST have with him info on contacting his neuro in an
emergency, and perhaps RXs to use if needed. Do you REALLY know how HE
feels? I really feel for you all....
>
>Your suggestions, as always, are welcome. I think I'll talk with my brother
>about it and see if he can get through to her.
>
>Thanks.
>
>Ali
Camilla Flintermann, CG for Peter 81/70/55
Oxford, Ohio
http://www.newcountry.nu/pd/members/camilla/one.htm
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