Parkinson's question. UPDATE #12 - Relief!

[Karen]

Does she yet have a peak-flow meter? It's a way to measure who well - or poorly - she's breathing, and so maybe she should take a reading before the meds, an hour after taking the meds, etc., just to document how much it changes.

[dab_20]

Does she yet have a peak-flow meter? It's a way to measure who well - or poorly - she's breathing, and so maybe she should take a reading before the meds, an hour after taking the meds, etc., just to document how much it changes.

This is a good suggestion. These are only about 10 bucks online, if you could get one for her and document the readings before and after each pill is given for a few days.

[Catty1]

We'll wait for the neurologist to talk with her before we make any decisions on equipment. It may be something unrelated to the Parkinson's.

This is a 78-year-old woman who is still doing her 1 hour walks about 4 times a week. After we spoke to the pharmacist, we went to a sports store where she bought a $90 paid of new running/walking shoes!

Will update when I have any news at all. Thanks so much everyone!

[Karen]

We'll wait for the neurologist to talk with her before we make any decisions on equipment. It may be something unrelated to the Parkinson's.

I was given my peak-flow meter for free, we have two because Paul was also given one at one point, it's just a plastic doohickey, but accurate for measuring how much "puff" she's got and when.

[Catty1]

Well, we'll see if she is given one.

I was out this evening and had a phone message from her when I got home. She said she had a lie-down on the couch and is feeling relaxed (breathing is normal when she lies on the couch), that she is feeling better and for me not to worry. (Like THAT'S easy!).

It doesn't seem to be a 911 call situation...if her neuro office doesn't call tomorrow she is calling them back first thing Monday morning.

Just praying and waiting.

[Catty1]

WHEW!

My mom heard back from the clinic. She thought she was supposed to take ONE pill three times a day for one day, then build up so she was on TWO pills three times a day by day 3.

NOPE. She was to do the 1 x 3 for THREE days, then up it for another THREE days, and to PULL BACK the dosage if she started having any bad side effects. So Mom basically jumped to a full dose very quickly!

So now she will go back to 1 x 3, and build up the way she is supposed to. And she can drop back when it gets to be too much!

Thanks everyone for your feedback and help. I am so relieved that it was this simple!