I`ve been prescribed some patches by the specialist called Neupro (Rotigotine) and quite frankly I am having a hard time adjusting to them. At the outset I thought great another drug to try and one I wont have to swallow for once, but they seem to cause more problems than they solve.
My wife has told me that when I have the patch on I am very irritable and as she puts it “constantly looking for an argument” and I have to admit I didnt notice this at first but when wearing the patch I have no patience with anything or anyone, often cutting people off mid sentence and walking away at best or telling them I`m not interested. Now this isnt me, I can listen to anyone, speaking about anything (no matter how boring) and not get worked up by anything, but not anymore.
Its not something I know that I`m doing it kinda dawns on me after I`ve cut someone off mid sentence and told them I`m not interested or I dont care that I have been rude or uncaring.
Also whilst wearing these patches I have noticed that I get incredibly hot, feeling like I`m burning up all the time. I have had loads of episodes before when I have a “hot flush” as my cousin likes to call it but nothing to this extent! My specialist informed me that quite often people with Parkinsons have a faulty body temperature, often feeling hot even when everyone else is freezing but its different with these patches, its almost constant!
So for the time being I have stopped wearing the Neupro patches and consigned them to the fridge, yes you`ve read that correctly these patches are to be kept chilled in the fridge at all times, maybe the patches themselves are hot and not me.
Technorati Tags: patches, specialist, Neupro, Rotigotine, hot, hot flush
Written by ripley on August 26th, 2008 with 1 comment.
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I was asked the other day if I had one wish what would I wish for? My reply was, just a days rest from the tremor would be lovely! This answer prompted the question why a rest from the tremor its not hurting… I then had to explain that it may not hurt but to me its very tiring… I may not have control of the tremor but the effort my body seems to put into this uncontrollable movement just wears me out.
I said imagine rotating your wrist one way and then the other way and just keep repeating it, tiring isnt it? and you can stop this anytime…..I have no say in the matter LOL.
Then I was asked so why not wish for a cure…… and my answer to this was rather easy, I can live with the PD, it makes me realise everything I have to be grateful for. It took me a long time to accept my PD but it has made me realise I have so much that I should be grateful for and that we often take life way too seriously, my PD has grounded me with a bump and made me look around and take stock of things and I`m glad its happened.
Written by ripley on August 22nd, 2008 with no comments.
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The European Parkinsons Disease Association supply a flexicard (free) that states in I think its now 12 languages “I have Parkinsons Disease, Please allow me time. In case of emergency please contact….” The same size as a credit card, it could be placed in either a wallet or handbag, and if a time came when they needed assistance, they could hand the card to someone who could contact a family member or friend for assistance.
Cards available here
Written by ripley on June 4th, 2008 with no comments.
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Just sat here reading a letter from the specialist I saw a couple of weeks ago, its going to take me a week to work out what he`s saying in laymans terms LOL.
Ok heres a short run down of what he says in the letter…
Patient feels a little better from the last time I reviewed him, his tremor is a little less troublesome and his mobility is a little better since commencing Rasagiline. However he is still troubled by left hand rest and postural tremor, and prominent left arm rigidty and bradykinesia. On a few occasions whilst turning he has lost balance and stumbled but has not fallen.
He still has moderate rigidity in his left arm and left leg with moderate bradykinsea in the left arm and mild on the right which resulted in him taking two steps backwards before correcting. Arm strength was reduced on the left and he walked with a slightly stooped posture. Rest tremor grade 2-3 on the left arm, grade 0-1 on the right and there was postural tremor of grade 0-1 on the right and grade 2 on the left. There was a left leg rest tremor grade 2, however there was no incoordination.
Patient still troubled by difficulty getting off to sleep and his wife reports symptoms suggestive of REM sleep behaviour disorder. I think he would benefit from a small dose of Clonazepam, daily at night or Amitriptyline.
He is still relatively undertreated and i think that further trial of a Dopamine agonist is probably reasonable. Obviously we will need to be careful as in the past Pramipexole resulted in hallucinations (oh boy did they). I have recommended the introduction of Rotigotine patch beginning at 2mg daily with a patch applied to dry skin on the dorsal thigh or arm for 24hrs. The site of placement should be rotated, after two weeks the dose could be increased to 4mg per day if tolerated and thereafter to 6mg per day and I plan to review him in four months.
Well there you have it, my first visit to see the same specialist ever…and finally were getting somewhere. It was so nice not to have to go through my whole history as I always see someone different and finally were starting to get somewhere. Now all we have to hope is our local practice will prescribe the new drugs he has listed for me.
Technorati Tags: Rasagiline, postural tremor, rigidty, bradykinesia, REM sleep behaviour disorder, Clonazepam, Amitriptyline, Dopamine agonist, Pramipexole, hallucinations, Rotigotine patch
Written by ripley on June 4th, 2008 with 3 comments.
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Sorry with the lack of posts but I`ve been a bit busy as of late, I`m off to rainy Spain tomorrow but will update you with my latest trip to the specialist upon my return.
Written by ripley on May 17th, 2008 with no comments.
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