Barbara Ford
Forum Replies Created
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The last couple of years- since I have been on Rytary, I have hit the donut hole in the Medicare medication plan.
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I love them!
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My neurologist said it causes brain fog in women over 70. I didn’t realize I had brain fog until it was gone.
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Extraordinary Attorney Woo
Extremely well done, especially the actress who plays the autistic Attorney Woo. Here is an opportunity for an up close look into Korean law, culture and family values.
Missed it terribly when there were no more episodes to watch ????.
interesting side note – some one was eating in nearly every episode. I think I now know where the term “stuff your face “ originates!
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My daughter and I share ownership of a highly intelligent Siamese named CoKitty. CoMom, CoBoo and CoBob are the names of his staff. He expects to be fed anytime some one is in the kitchen, demands a clean cat box, and will sneak out the back door if he catches it open.
He loves it when I stay in bed later than usual or take an afternoon nap. A pillow cave is his favorite place to sleep. We love our CoKitty.
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In April 2022, I underwent DBS at UT Southwestern. Age is 75. Year diagnosed, 2013. To qualify for the surgery, a number of tests are given by UT psychiatrists. They were testing my cognitive, logic, and problem solving abilities. They were looking for signs of dementia as well. Thankfully, these tests I passed in flying colors.
The results of my DBS surgery were immediate, but I admit to causing some recovery difficulties by not acknowledging (to myself) that I had just undergone delicate brain surgery, as well as a general anesthesia to connect the electrodes to the battery pack. There was no pain associated with the surgeries. When I overdid my body’s ability to continue, extreme fatigue would require immediate deep sleep. Generally, sleep would revive me.
This is an example of how easy it is to sabotage your self!
Although I have some breakthrough dyskinesia and tremors, I am beginning to understand why this happens and having fewer and shorter breakthroughs.
My Rytary has been adjusted once, and l hope that as I progress, we will be able to adjust it again.
Yes, I am glad I had DBS. Yes, I would do it again if necessary.
IT Southwestern neurosurgeon is Dr Pouratian -
On April 19 & 29,2022, I had DBS surgery at UT Southwestern in Dallas. The first surgery was to insert the electrodes into my brain, the second surgery was to surgically implant the power source, just under my right collarbone. Both surgeries went well and I was expected to recover without difficulty.
(My age is 75, and the UT psychiatrists remarked that I had passed the absence of dementia and cognitive abilities tests, with a higher score than any one they had previously tested).
The only flaw to my recovery, was a constant nausea & vomiting, and feeling “bad “. I was reminded that I was 75 years old and I would need a longer recovery time for my body to heal.
It is almost 2 months since my first surgery. The nausea and vomiting are still in full force. My weight has dropped from 120 pounds to 105 pounds, and I am physically weak. It is not known if this is related to the DBS surgery, but my guess is it is not. Am I glad I had the surgery? Without reservation, yes! My dyskinesia and tremor are better controlled, and this continues to improve.
Has anyone else had a similar experience? -
It was not PD, but Covid that changed my husband and my TV habits. We became hooked on the mini series on Netflix & Prime, and we will pick an additional channel for something special. Recently that was Paramount for 1883. Our grandson did costumes for the show!
Some of the mini series we have enjoyed are Goliath, The Maid, Call the Midwives, The Heist, Dr Foster and Pose. We swap show recommendations with friends for lively conversations later.
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Fort Worth Texas
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Although the reason for the stress may have changed, there is little doubt that my stress level has increased. But then I ask myself, has my stress actually increased, or is it my ability to deal with it decreased? Certainly the unknown causes much more pressure and anxiety now. There is a greater sense of having a lack of control. My MDS has recommended seeing a psychologist to learn how to deal with my new reality. Perhaps after the first of the year there will be time to that in!
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Annie, You are correct – it is difficult to name just one thing that bothers me, but instead it depends on what I am doing and how my body is responding to that action.
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Mary Beth, I am fascinated with your dad gaining 20 pounds after DBS! After I had it, I lost 20 pounds- and I didn’t have it to lose.
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Dear Michael,
Medtronic is the unit.The tremor on my left side is controlled and now I am figuring out how to stop the dyskinesia that was much worse since the DBS surgery.
I also have developed a major tremor in my right foot but that seems likely to be caused by anxiety, or stress.
Now if I can figure out how to control the dyskinesia. Any suggestions? It seems to stem from my right side also.
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Jo, I was diagnosed at the age 65. At that time, I felt exactly as you do : I appear perfectly “normal” (aka not disabled) to most people”. Even my doctors would forget that I was a PWP.
In April of this year I had DBS, and now I am disabled. Not from tremors, but from dyskinesia. Driving is out of the question since the surgery. Being with friends is uncomfortable. It feels like my life, as I knew it, has stopped.
It is my hope that we can find a way to control this difficult symptom and that once again, I will “appear perfectly “normal” (aka not disabled) to most people.
Any words of wisdom, anyone?
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Rick, my sleep timing is exactly the same as yours. I wake up between 4 & 5 most mornings and feel alert and full of energy. I feel better about my 4:00 in the afternoon bedtime now!
Acting out, and intense dreams are a difficult PD symptom for me. After one night when I threw myself out of bed, hit my cheek bone on the bedside table, cutting it to the bone and barely missing my eye, Trazodone was prescribed. That has stopped the intense dreams, but hasn’t changed my sleep schedule.
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Ally, yes, our kitty is very talkative, especially when I am preparing something special for him to eat. It is so funny to have a conversation with him and to see him so happy.
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Douglas, that is an interesting sleep pattern. I have almost exactly the same one. I can usually fall asleep at a normal bedtime. At about 2:00 l wake up and stay awake until about 5, when I fall asleep again. Usually the 8:00 medication alarm will wake me. I take my pills and go back to sleep, until about 10:45am. Hard to believe, but I am fairly rested on this schedule .
Just as you have a full night sleep occasionally, so do I.
Active dreams are still very much a part of my nighttime sleep, but are no longer violent since my neurologist prescribed Trazodone.
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John, leaf fart, really??!
I laughed my head off at that?
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Ron
I had DBS April 19 &29. I am just not getting well and I’m very scared about it. Could you please send me the support group information I believe you shared with me previously? My phone/ text is 817-980-1430. Thank you. Barbara. Fort Worth -
Candleridge, Southwest Fort Worth
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Kim, could this be what my neurologist calls “brain fog”? It was being caused by taking Clonazapam after the age of 70.
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Hi Fred. I am in Fort Worth – NOT a suburb of Dallas ?
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Shirley, we lived in Shoshone for a few years when I was a child. So many fond memories from that time and place
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Lou, Barcelona is my favorite city in the World.
I live in Texas, USA