: SEPJ: Re: My FIL Doctor's (Neurologist) Appointment Today

[Guest guest]

Dear :

Thank you, I meant I did not have the experiences with the different

medicines and long term care. My dad's symptoms were considerably

milder than I have seen here and he was able to have an occasional

serious conversation until July. He died from his weak heart, I feel

we " cheated " the beast of his worst wrath.

Yes, my mom and I have figured that his symptoms go back at least 9

years, we just didn't know. Thanks for your support, its always

appreciated, hugs,

Josie

> > It's been a month since my FIL was diagnosed with Lewy Body

> Disease.

> > Today was his follow-up appointment. Things have stabilized

for a

> > while and the Dr was pleased. My FIL is sleeping and eating

better

> > and the physical symptoms have maintained. The Seroquel

stopped the

> > hallucinations. He takes 25 mg twice a day.

> >

> > The Dr had recommended we get a live-in and we'd already

realized

> the

> > need. Barbara is working out wonderfully. She plays games

> (checkers,

> > dominoes, gin rummy) with him, cooks for him, walks him, does

light

> > housekeeping etc. Family is in and out constantly so he's

getting a

> > lot of stimulation vs sitting in his chair in the dark

sleeping. I

> > brought my two youngest grandchildren by the other day and they

> > delighted him.

> >

> > We met with the Dr privately after my FILs appointment. He

> confirmed

> > that the hallucinations may come back but that he felt he could

keep

> > those under control with meds. He also confirmed that the

> Parkinson's

> > symptoms could get worse at which time he will try Sinemet.

Also

> that

> > these two medications don't coexist well. We're glad that he

> doesn't

> > need to start the Sinemet yet. Every day we have at this stage

is a

> > good day, relatively speaking.

> >

> > We discussed life expectancy with the Dr. He confirmed that

the

> life

> > expectancy is 5-7 years and that the onset was when we noticed

the

> > Parkinson's symptoms. That was about 3 1/2-4 years ago. We

want to

> > keep him home as long as possible/indefinitely and the Dr said

with

> a

> > 24 hr live-in that was feasible. One of the concerns as he

worsens

> is

> > falling but with one-on-one care he will be safer. When

> incontinence

> > comes, he felt he could manage that with meds. (I'm wary of the

meds

> > solutions and till keep a close eye on them).

> >

> > We asked how my FIL heart condition figures in and he said it

> doesn't.

> > They are two separate issues. We think there is a

relationship but

> > possibly more from the Cardiologist's point of view. My FIL

isn't

> > able to do the exercises he was once doing and is not very

active

> > which isn't good for the heart condition. We'll ask these

questions

> > next visit with the cardiologist.

> >

> > He prescribed a walker as the one we are using used to belong

to my

> > MIL and is too small. We have a follow-up appointment in 3

months

> > with strict instructions to call if anything changes.

> >

> > Notice I've used the word confirm a lot. The Dr wasn't that

> > forthcoming but given all the research we've done and

information

> I've

> > gleaned from this site, we knew what questions to ask. Thanks!

> >

> > I'll keep you posted on his progress and continue to

participate on

> > the site. I'm a newcomer too but haven't felt ignored. A

couple of

> > things I noticed initially as I perused the past postings is

that

> > given the prognosis for this disease the players change

regularly.

> > We're all relatively new here and a year from now many of us

will be

> > replaced with others. Sad but true. Also, I think what I'm

> supposed

> > to do as a member of the group -primarily- is " give " as much

> > information as I have. The getting comes back tenfold. That's

been

> > true for me in life. You'll continue to get what ever

information I

> > have. I'll continue to get loads back from you all and the

> archives.

> >

> > SEPJ

>

>

>