messages

[Helene Marcy <Hmarcy39@xxxxxxx>]

Thanks to everyone that sent me messages today, after I described my father's
condition (59, diagnosed with PD 14 years, in wheelchair after drug holiday
and difficult year, undergoing physical therapy). I am responding to your
questions via the group since so many of you were nice enough to write. (Talk
about a fast response!)

In terms of the neurologist who recommended the drug holiday: after the
holiday failed to show him anything re the medication, and after my father
became physically worse, we (the family) became very frustrated with the
neuroligist because he seemed all out of ideas, and seemed to be perfectly at
ease with the fact that my father was now pretty immobile, and still having
the paranoia (accusing my mother of trying to kill him, etc.).
We finally got a referral for another neurologist--which took a while because
the family doctor was associated with the former neurologist (politics are
everywhere). The new neurologist has been very satisfactory. He is not a PD
specialist--there are none near us--but is knowledgeable, and has also been
working with a psycho-neurologist re the hallucinations and paranoia. --which
brings me to my father's meds that some of you asked about:

Before the drug holiday and switching of neurologists, my father was taking
Sinemet, Permax, Eldepryl and Parlodel. He is now taking Sinemet (25/250) and
Permax. He is also taking Zoloft and Risperdal for the psycological benefits.
The new neuro didn't want to try the Clozaril (one of you asked about that)
because of the hassle that goes with it i.e. blood tests, etc. In addition to
the Parkinson's meds, he takes Lactulose, Zantac, Propulsid, and Coumadin
(for the blood clots).

Thanks again to everyone who wrote--it was much appreciated.

Helene Marcy
hmarcy39@xxxxxxx