Re: Back from Houston-Botox...Elaine

March 12, 2001

A couple of years ago when we suspected something was not right and the MRI and

CtScan showed nothing, a neurologist prescribed Aricept thinking Bob might have

slight dimentia. Since then, we are seeing a different neurologist who

diagnosed Bob with MSA, NO dimentia, but we have kept him on Aricept as a

" safety net " , since there are no bad side affects.

Bob is on Trazadone to assist with sleeping, and began Zyproxen about three

months ago for agitation, hoping it would keep him from not wanting to get up so

much. Who wouldn't want to get up after sitting so much?? Anyway, that's it

for the meds - plus a multiple vitamin and a B vitamin. Bob also is not

incontinent, but is trying to use a hand urinal at night and often spills it, so

we still have wet sheets! We do have to begin using a condom catheter - if I

got up with him each time he felt the urge (which I used to) I couldn't make it

through the next day!

We were told by the neurologist last week that we shouldn't be expecting ALL the

symptoms that so many others on this list have because the disease affects

various parts of the brain - that's why it's named Multiple System Atrophy. I

think we're very lucky, Jerrie, that if God chose to give us this awful illness

that he gave us the balance-speech type. Oh, yes, he cannnot read much at all

anymore - does your Bob have that problem, too? Eyes don't track properly - but

distance is fine.

Take good care of yourself -

Elaine

>>> 03/09/01 05:26PM >>>

Hi Elaine: yes, you are right.Bob has terrible balance problems also.

He uses the walker at home & the wheelchair when we go out. He doesn't

have the OH or the incontinence problems (yet). Hopefully they won't

appear. Which med is Bob on? My Bob is on selegiline (5mg.) for

balance, but it is not helping. This disease is so frustrating and

difficult to understand! Take care. jerrie

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