Dad's Parkinson's Dr. Appt.

Dad had an appointment with the Parkinson's Doctor in Willmar yesterday. After Mom and Dad explained to the doctor that Dad was has trouble with his feet "freezing up", the doctor helped Mom better understand the timing of the Parkinson's medicine, SINEMET®.

First, I try to explaining feet "freezing up": When Dad is walking, he is stopped in his tracks, regardless of the fact that he intended to go from point a to point b and hasn't yet reached point b. I asked Mom if he's ever fallen when this has happened. She said he hasn't yet.

Now, the attempt at explaining the timing of the Parkinson's med, Sinemet: When it is taken, the effects peek after about a half hour or so. So, since Dad has trouble with his feet freezing up, the Doctor told Mom to give Dad a half pill more often throughout the day. The Doctor said Dad could receive up to five pills a day. Another aspect of the pill is that it wears off and doesn't have any benefit after a couple hours or so. So, it does not last throughout the night. Thus, when Dad has been getting up in the morning, Dad is pretty stiff, another symptom of Parkinson's. So, the Doctor suggested that Dad take the pill about an hour before he gets up in the morning. Hopefully this advice from the Doctor helps Mom and Dad cope more readily with the disease.

Side note: the Sinemet has a side effect. If Dad receives too big of a dosage, he sticks his tongue out uncontrollably. Thus, Mom and Dad have had to work with the Doctor to tweek how much to give Dad. That is why a half pill per time taken is currently being prescribed.

Another website to help understand the disease: http://www.parkinsons.org/