New problem for Peter

[Camilla Flintermann <flintepc@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Friends-- this letter to Peter's MDS will fill you in on our latest
problems--any suggestions from your experience will be welcome !

*********
>Date: Sat, 10 Mar 2001 19:08:31 -0500
>To:  dalviai@xxxxxxxxxxxx
>From: Camilla Flintermann <flintepc@xxxxxxxxxx>
>Subject: New problem for Peter
>Cc:
>Bcc:
>X-Attachments:
>
>Dr. Dalvi-- I'm writing you about this new development, as we don't have
>an appt. till April.  It is of very immediate concern, and difficult to
>handle, and I need your suggestions.
>
>Not only is he weaker and more OFF (except in the early morning on most
>days) but also he has developed  a sudden instability---severe shaking
>(not like dyskinesia I've seen, which he never has had)  at times almost
>jumping in place, very out of control even when hanging onto his heavy
>duty walker.  If he can't quiet the bouncing quickly, he is at risk of
>falling.  It gets worse if someone tries to grab and support him.   I
>remind him that you told him to use the walker, but his dementia causes
>him to forget.
>
>The only recent changes in meds are taking colace daily (a stool
>softener), and since late January when the compression fracture of a
>vertebra was found, 2 Vioxx tabs daily and Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen at
>times for pain.   I have been giving him the 5th Seroquel you suggested,
>but dropped the 6th one as it seemed to cause great weakness and
>shakiness, apparently interfering with his Sinemet.  I wonder if the
>present problems are in any way related to Seroquel?  The mild
>hallucinations are present frequently, but his mobility is also much
>compromised at times.
>
> While he fell 3 times in Jan., there were NO falls last month.  BUT in
>the past 2 days he has fallen 3 times---once when festinating down a hall
>without his walker (which he often forgets to use) , once trying to get
>out of a chair, and tipping it over sidewise,  once just going a few feet
>from bed to bathroom, without walker again.  I 'm pretty sure that these
>repeated falls--a fairly new stage for him---have severely shaken his
>confidence and depressed him more.  He wants to be independent, so hates
>to call me every time he wants to move around.  And it is getting harder
>to help him, for even though he has lost weight---down now to about 126
>lbs. from 145---he is so weak he is nearly a dead weight.
>The sudden bouncing out of control is very scary for him---and of course
>for me too.  I anticipate from things he has said  that he is on the verge
>of asking to go to a NH, as he fears it is too much for me to handle.  He
>now needs pretty constant supervision , though in the morning he may get
>up ahead of me and move well for several hours.
>
>Please let me know any suggestions you have for us to try.  Your
>availability is much appreciated as always.
>
>
>

Camilla Flintermann, CG for Peter 82/70/55
Oxford, Ohio
            <flintepc@xxxxxxxxxx>

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