Dear Michel, Thanks so much for the update, I've been quite concerned; but your Barbara pulled through like the champ she is. Keep that ice cream coming!! Best, Kathrynne Michel Margosis wrote: > > Hello: > > This is a summary update on Barbara's medical trials. She's home now > and recuperating fairly well. > > Last Tuesday drove her to the hospital before 7:00AM for various tests. > She was first given an MRI than an X-ray, and then she was admitted to > a semi private room in the neuro-surgical floor. I met the nurse who > was to care for her and discussed in detail the drug menu that I had > printed and emphasized the importance of adhering to it. The nurse > maintained that if the medications were not in a labelled container she > could not dispense it, but I still gave Sinemet and Permax to Barbara. > I went home for dinner and went back to the hospital shortly after > 6:00PM, but Barbara had been taken to the operating room. I was > directed to wait downstairs in the surgery waiting room and then in the > ward's waiting room. I was told then that Barbara was in the recovery > room and needed the evening Parkinson medication, but there would still > be a long wait and I should go home. I never got to talk to the > neuro-surgeon. > > Barbara was given morphine post-op for the pain as was previously after > the colon operation three years before. But this time, she reacted > differently; she apparently past the moon in her escape from reality. > It took many hours for the morphine to clear the system and she was then > given Percoset Wednesday evening and at night. The following morning, > she had to be taken for a scan, but she had to be sedated because of > severe dyskinesia and uncooperation, and she was given Haldol in a > combination with at least a half a dozen other substances. And off, she > went again into another orbit. > Our neurologist claimed that Barbara was reacting like a typical > Parkinsonians who undergo surgery. She suggested that Barbara would be > far better in a home environment with family attending. The surgery > went very well and Barbara will be wearing a neck brace for perhaps > three months. Friday morning she was discharged by the neuro-surgeon's > assistant. She got dressed and returned her home where Leah attended > her most of the day. Aaron, our son, came on Saturday and Sunday to > assist, and Eddy, our son in law, also came on Sunday. She is almost > back to normal with her diet of pills and food. A companion that we > hired, took gentle care of her, and then took her shopping today. After > a refreshing bath, she finally came down to eat in the dining room to > the warm greeting of many residents. The freezer is well stocked with > many containers of ice cream. > > Barbara is particularly grateful to the many friends who wished her > well, and those who prayed for her as well. We believe this has helped > her. What we need now is a cure for Parkinson! > Love > Michel > 'Carpe Diem' more than ever. -- Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD Medical nutrition therapy http://www.nutritionucanlivewith.com/ "We are living in a world today where lemonade is made from artificial flavors and furniture polish is made from real lemons." --Alfred E. Newman