Hi Tammy---sorry to hear of your grandmother's condition and treatment.
Several questions come to mind, in addition to the replies you've had
already---
1. Her age, how long diagnosed (2 months???) any medication she is taking?
2. How was she diagnosed? By a general practitioner, a neurologist, a
movement dosorder specialist?
3. Has she taken Sinemet, the "gold standard" med for PD? If so, what was
her response? This is good to know, because there are a number of "PD Plus"
syndromes that are often confused with PD by doctors who aren't PD
specialists--those usually do not respond (for long) to Sinemet, and
progress much faster than "regular" PD.
4. Tremor in itself is not a sign of PD-- not all PWPs have tremor, and
there are several other conditions that do. There should be other clinical
signs besides tremor to make a diagnosis. NOR do all PWPs have cognitive
problems---only about 1/3 develop dementia and it comes on slowly.
Maybe thinking about these questions will give you some ideas of what to
ask her doctor ?
Also, if you want to join the special list for caregivers of PWPs, CARE,
let me know.
>My New Friends,
> My Grandmother has recently been diagnosed as suffering from
>Parkinson's. Until about two months ago she was living independently, with
>a bit of tremor, but not enough to cause too many problems. Over the past
>two months she has taken a dramatic turn for the worse. She can no longer
>communicate, care for herself, nor does she seem to recognize even close
>relatives. The doctors have ruled out stroke, and currently she is in a
>nursing hospital which seems to be geared more toward waiting for her to
>die than to rehabilitate. We are really new to this, and don't really know
>what to expect. Can anyone give us a heads up as to what may be ahead? I
>know there aren't "medico's" on the list, but often you can get a more
>direct response from someone who has suffered >from the disorder than you
>can from someone who treats it. Thank you in advance!
>
>
>Tammy
>
>
>
>[log in to unmask]
Camilla Flintermann, CG for Peter 81/70/55
Oxford, Ohio
http://www.newcountry.nu/pd/members/camilla/one.htm
<[log in to unmask]>
"Ask me about the CARE list for
Caregivers of Parkinsonians ! "
