Diary Entries for LeslieBaker

Update on Neurology appointment yesterday.

LeslieBaker

I saw my Neurologist yesterday. He upped my Requip XL to 6 mg. and I will have another appointment in February. He was happy to hear that I'm driving a little now,and is eager to hearabout my appointment with Dr. Jankovic in Houston in January.
He said there is marked rigidity on my left side and is hoping that the increase of the Requip will help with that. I'm supposed to keep a diary noting when I have the throat closing sensations and what I'm ea [...]

Twas the weekend after Thanksgiving.....

LeslieBaker

Twas the weekend after Thanksgiving and all through our house, not a creature was stirring, except for our cats. They're Thing One and Thing Two from the Cat in the Hat.

My house stood bareof any Christmas decor. All the neighbor's had theirs up and my home looked like a bore.

The decorations were still up in the attic, and I sat biting my lip. I must get them all up soon or I'll be in a fit.

With a new quandry in mind and I still in my bed clothes, I planned out [...]

Long overdue update

LeslieBaker

Well, it seems that I haven't been here in a while..

I was referred to a surgeon back in October after a fissure was found in my butt (to put it bluntly). Seemsmy muscles are hyperspastic and because they were not relaxing properly and when they were supposed to, I developed a tear which caused immense pain and bleeding. I'm finally feeling better over the last 5 days and have one follow up with the surgeon left for that.

In the meantime, I had an MRI on my lef [...]

Am off to see the wizard

LeslieBaker

Well, actually my doctor. We were able to get my appointment moved up to today from the 3rd of September.

Praying that whatever new medication I'm startedon today helps more with the symptoms and effects me less on the side effects.

Well, time to go.... will report back in later.

The Tortoise Won The Race...or Did He?

LeslieBaker

Do you remember the story about the Hare and the Tortoise? And how the Tortoise won the race?

Then there is the old cartoon of Bugs Bunny depicting the story with the Tortoise....and Bugssoups up a mock turtle shell to win, and the Tortoise just slowly goes - da dum da dum da dum dum, dum dum dum.... as the cartoon proceeds but in the end he still wins while Bugs freaks out?

In all essence of the word, I feel like a blend between the Rabbit and the Tortoise. My bo [...]

August 16, 2009 Update

LeslieBaker

Well, this is my first day without medication. I'm doing my best here to have words spelled correctly and trust me when I say that the backspace button is your best friend as well as the spell checker!

Since ending the Mirapex, the nausea/vomiting has reduced to almost nothing now. This excites me, but what frustrates me is the slowness of my thoughts to my mouth to relay them or carry a conversation at times. I'm back to big spoons for eating and the lau [...]

Tapering off Mirapex

LeslieBaker

I reported as directed to the doctor this morning with how I was tolerating the Tigan 3 times a day along with the Mirapex.

The overall consensus was that I am not tolerating the medicationwell and that the side effects are more detrimental to me than the medication is helpful. That's the frustrating part - when the medicine helps and you can see improvement but the side effects are worse.

So, for the next two days I've got to taper down to 0.50 mg - 1 tab [...]

Update on Med Review at Doc's Office

LeslieBaker

These last couple days have been rough. The increase of 3 mg. a day on the Mirapex has had me in the bathroom sporadically getting sick. Unfortunately, the Tigan hasn't helped much to date because there was not enough time for it to work before I got sick. Due to this, I've not been able to keep the meds down long enough to do anything for the PD.

I saw the nurse practitioner at my neuro's office today for the medication review. Fully symptomat [...]

This is NOT cool!!!!

LeslieBaker

I took a Tigan this morning around 7:30 am because I could feel the nausea beginning and I knew it would only be a matter of time before I was in the bathroom.

Well... it definitelyworks! But I had to lay down shortly after 10 am on the bed when I accidentally head butted my desk. I was warned about "drowsiness" but good grief!!!! I just woke up at 2:16 this afternoon. It's 2:36 pm now!!!

THIS IS NOT A LIFE!!!!

Tigan update for nausea/vomiting due to Mirapex side effects

LeslieBaker

Tigan 300 mg. capsule - brand name
Trimethobenz 300 mg. capsule - generic

My Rx is to take 1 capsule by mouth up to 3 times daily as needed for nausea.

I took the first one this morning. And, it's working. The cost is that my eyes are trying to close because it causes drowsiness. The nurse at my specialist's office warned me about this and said that it was usually a prominent side effect.. no kidding, she wasn't kidding!

Re [...]

The Mirapex Blues

LeslieBaker

August 6, 2009

I'm not sure I can say that things are slowly improving on the symptoms of the PD since I restarted the Mirapex yesterday. However, what I can state as a fact are thatthe side effects of the Mirapex have stayed bothersome. I'll go to the specialists office on September 3rd for a medication review. My blood pressure is still causing me grief and this morning I went to get out of bed and forgot myself; which resulted in falling down and feeling ver [...]

Are You Sure This Is Wednesday Because It Feels Like Monday!

LeslieBaker

Just got off the phone with the dr.'s office. I spoke with a different nurse this time because the doctor's regular nurse was not in today and this nurse was covering for her.

Gosh I'm just so frustrated at this point!

After she identified herself, she started off with asking me why I was slurring? I explained to her that the nurse told me yesterday that I should stop taking the Mirapex until the doctor decided what he wanted to do. Her respon [...]

Happy Hump Day to Me!

LeslieBaker

Aug. 5, 2009

Heard from the doctor's nurse last night to say don't take any more Mirapex until the doctor had decided what to do. She ended the call saying she'd call tomorrow.

So...here I am now 16 hours + without medication and I am feeling worthless. I squirted toothpaste everywhere while I was trying to brush my teeth this morning. This is over and above my body doing its own jig.

I have got to say that this absolutely sucks! Yup, I wa [...]

Update on Call to Social Worker

LeslieBaker

I received a call back from the social worker at the specialists office. As it seems, the decision is up to me whom I return to - the original neurologist or the specialist.

Then, I got the call back from the specialist's nurse. I had called because I was to follow up after a week to report how the increase to 3 mg. of Mirapex was working out. I guess we talked for at least a half hour. She said she was going to get with the doctor, and then, [...]

Call Me Ishmael!

LeslieBaker

It's been a few days since I logged in last; but, I'm beginning to feel a bit slighted with my treatment. This is not to say I am not getting good care from my doctors; I'm just confusedas to whom is treating me now and I'm still new to this whole life change (just started the 4th month). The original neurologist referred me to the specialist telling me that he wanted to make sure that he was doing everything possible to treat me. But the specialist has sched [...]

Preparing For Appointment with PD Specialist

LeslieBaker

July 22, 2009

Later this morning I go to see a neurologist in Fayetteville, AR, that specializes in Parkinson's Disease. My neurologist who is closer made the referral to this doctor toensure that I am getting everything that can possibly help me included into my treatment of YOPD.

The Mirapex that I am currently taking is at a 2.25 mg dosage per day. The actual pills are in .25 mg dosages, and it was prescribed for me to take .75 mg, 3 times a day.

What I fo [...]

FRUSTRATED!!!!!

LeslieBaker

2:37 am
July 28, 2009

How pathetic is this - I am in bed by 9:45 pm, and was up at 2 am...WIDE AWAKE! Gratefully, I do know why this is happening but am unable to stop it.

Between the issues I have sleeping already and then the side effects from the Mirapex, I guess I'm finally starting to hit a breaking point where something is going to have to give!

With PD and YOPD, there are obviously different symptoms that can occur. I suppose if its coupled with [...]

Update On Visit To PD Specialist

LeslieBaker

July 23, 2009 - 2:28 am - follow up from dr. appointment of the 22nd.

Let me say first, that for a person just turning 40, with a diagnosis of Y.O.P.D., to walking into a building that saysits the Senior Center; you suddenly feel very out of place and self-conscious.

The appointment started at 9:15, in which my husband and I met with the social worker. She was very nice and it was her job to assess my needs, if any; and, she provided me with a lot of information on Y.O.P.D. [...]

Just Another "Manic" Monday

LeslieBaker

July 6, 2009

In retrospect, looking back on the day in a whole; it has been a long drawn out process for which I am glad that it is over. Thank you Lord!

As of 9 am this morning, it was already 84 degrees and climbing. The boys and I started our day with a trip to the doctor office to look at Jack's elbow and to address the edema in my feet and legs. Gratefully, Jackson's arm was not broken and we came home until it was time for physical therapy.

Joe, Jac [...]

New Power Chair

LeslieBaker

July 2, 2009

I've got my Jazzy! It's a bit awkward but I'm sure I'll get used to it! I feel like I've been given back some freedom now that I can actually go somewhere(to the grocery store and my PCP down the street) without being pushed or driven!

A step forward in the right direction!

My feet and legs are still swelling though. This is frustrating at the very least! I'm sleeping in the recliner now on a nightly basis just [...]