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Parkinson's - Do you know anyone who has it?

May 25, 2012 02:57PM
I'm just curious.

My dad is 73, and he was diagnosed with Parkinson's about 7 years ago. His is accelerated and he probably only has about 5 years.

Anyway - dad has always been terrified of hospitals. I'm talking, he has to be sedated just to see a doctor. The idea of surgery would just send his blood pressure soaring.

My brother told me last night that dad has an appointment at Hershey Medical Center in PA to visit with a neurologist for a consultation to see if he would be accepted for that Brain Surgery available for Parkinson's patients.

I'm just.. shocked.

They put this little transmitter in your brain and wires to various limbs. You are actually AWAKE during the surgery. My brother said if Dad passes the consultation he would have the surgery within 30 days, so sometime in July.

I don't know how I feel about it.

I'm glad for him if it would help with the tremors; but on the other hand... Brain surgery?

Just wondering if anyone on the forums knows anyone with Parkinson's and if by chance they may have had this implant surgery...

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Proud To Be A Soldier's Mom
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May 25, 2012 05:51PM
I know nothing about Parkinson's, but brain surgery yes. A friend of mine's son has to have brain surgery all the time for seizures. He is awake, but that is because they can identify different parts of the brain they are touching by having you respond to the questions. The person having surgery is strapped down and the head is imobilized for safety. Without the patient responding to the questions as in move your right foot/arm/eye/speak so on they wouldn't be able to tell if they are in the correct area or stimulating the correct location. The brain has no nerves, therefore no feeling. Although it sounds tremendously scary to have BRAIN surgery, I don't think it is such a huge deal anymore. I know my friend talks about her son having his surgeries as if he was going to a regular doctor appointment.

Still scary if it were me and my dad btw. smiling smiley
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May 25, 2012 07:47PM
rainy,
I suggest that you or your brother ask the doctor to guide you to a reliable Internet source to read up on this. OR, you might just try the Mayo or Cleveland Clinic sites and search for Parkinson's surgery and read up on it. I have heard that they are doing great stuff with this sort of thing.

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May 25, 2012 08:41PM
Thanks all, and thanks for the PM's.

I knew about the surgery for a few years now. The last time I talked to Dad about it, probably 1.5 years ago, he was adamant he was not going to do anything like that. He also said he had a fear of being under anesthesia, not waking up. It's quite possible that actually being awake for the surgery may have been what tipped him in favor of it.

Wales - I checked websites before I asked this morning. Every one I had read was technical - and, showed photos.

I gagged, got really queasy and felt awful.

I'm all for viewing photos and reading about any surgery - except Eyes, Heart, and Brain. Give me those three, and I turn into a whimpering, sniveling yellow-bellied basket case! I figured and hoped that possibly someone here would know someone who may have had this type of neuro-surgery and could let me know how the person was afterwards.

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Proud To Be A Soldier's Mom
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May 25, 2012 09:30PM
I think that Michael J. Fox had it and was fine afterwards.

Based in MD, near DC
Shopping from the Carolinas to New York
Have video cam; will travel

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May 25, 2012 11:18PM
I'm so happy to see someone mention Michel J. Fox. He's a hero of mine because of how he has handled his Parkinson's. MJF did have and still does have Parkinson's Disease. He was diagnosed in the early 90's and he announced his condition publicly in 1998, the year he had a thalamotomy. He has started a wonderful foundation, The Michael J. Fox Foundation, to research cures for Parkinson's. He continues to suffer the symptoms of Parkinson's and manages them with a drug called Sinemet. A few years ago he wrote his memoir, "Lucky Man." It's an inspiring read.

r@iny, I'm thinking of you and your Dad. Let me know if there is any way I can help you.

My favorite MJF quote: "Life is great. Sometimes, though, you just have to put up with a little more crap."
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May 26, 2012 05:41AM
YEAH find Michaeil J Fox website.
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May 31, 2012 06:20PM
Rainy - When is your Dad's appt. w/Hershey Med. Ctr? Or has he already had it?
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May 31, 2012 10:31PM
Hey Plums.. *laugh*

It's on June 14th!

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Proud To Be A Soldier's Mom
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June 01, 2012 04:12AM
It occurs to me that with all the work that the MJF foundation is doing, your Dad may have more years than they are telling you. In any case, if some of his symptoms can be alleviated, what a great thing. I understand that this procedure usually has a high rate of good outcomes. And a quick recovery. Let us know.
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June 01, 2012 11:36PM
Rainy - What's the temp where you are? It's 100 deg. here and I'm just now having plumber change over the furnace/swamp cooler. I've been dying every afternoon all week!!
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June 02, 2012 12:18AM
It's 107 out on the front porch - in the shade!

No swamp cooler here at this place! I've had my air running during the days from about 11AM til 8PM since early May. But fortunately I've been able to open up all of the windows (and I leave my front & back screen doors open all night) during the nights.

DH starts work in Phoenix on the 11th, he finally got a FT job; so he gets to enjoy the pool at our house up there. It will be August - October until we have all of our things moved back to that house so I won't be swimming this year!

I'm tempted to get one of those baby pools.. LOL!

I didn't realize you had to swap out the swamp cooler. On our house in Phx., we just flip a switch and then put covers in the vents. What did you need a plumber to do??



plmccut Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Rainy - What's the temp where you are? It's 100
> deg. here and I'm just now having plumber change
> over the furnace/swamp cooler. I've been dying
> every afternoon all week!!

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Proud To Be A Soldier's Mom
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June 02, 2012 11:24PM
Rainy - Swap out the swamp/furnace is the plumber is the one who climbs on the roof, checks out the swamp, starts the water and makes sure all is running correctly. He also turns off the furnace which allows for extinguishing the pilot light somehow.

At any rate, swamp coolers are pretty simple and many people take care of their own but I'm not about to go climbing around on the roof!
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June 04, 2012 08:35PM
hI

i HAVE IDIOPATHIC PARKINSONS, THERE ARE OVER 30 VARIATIONS OF PARKINSONS. WHAT KID OF MEDS IS HE TAKING? eMAIL ME PRIVATELY AND ILL DISCUSS IT MORE WITH YOU IF YOU WOULD LIKE

AS WITH ANY DISEASE YOUR DADS BODY IS NOT AT EASE THAT IS WHY THEY CALL IT A
DIS EASE.

SMH
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June 06, 2012 12:37PM
My husband's bio dad has it and it's gotten pretty bad. I think it's been not quite a decade since he was diagnosed. We hear about different diseases and see celebrities like Michael J. Fox talking abou their struggles. It's sad but feels disconnected like it's something that happens to other people. However, it's scary to think my husband or my sons could have it one day. You don't always know what's lurking in the gene pool you'll pass on to your children until it's too late.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/06/2012 12:37PM by AlwaysAngie.
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June 07, 2012 01:21AM
Okay so would y'all please just say some prayers that my dad will be able to have this surgery?

His consultation is on the 14th of June at Hershey Medical Center. He is very excited too about the consultation and placing a lot of hope that he will be okay'd for the surgery.

The problem? Dad is severely obese. He's only 5'8" and close to 350. Family is concerned that due to this he is not going to be approved for the surgery. I know that if he is denied it will really throw him into a depression. He hasn't mentioned it, because he is in denial about his weight. (Personally, I have a hard time believing that the Doctor hasn't told him flat out he needs to lose it - but on the other hand, I would bet the Doctor has told dad and he just doesn't say that).

Will keep y'all posted. I hope that he can get the surgery. I don't know if he will just completely give up if he can't get it.

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June 09, 2012 11:27PM
Here is the Michael J Fox Parkinson's FB page
[www.facebook.com]
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