Oh, my. Two new problems. One - I forgot to delete the last blog entry from D's email. Two - I don't like what I just saw when I reread my last entry. Please let me attempt to explain and beg forgiveness.
I love Dennis completely and fully. Nothing that happens to his body or his mind will ever change that fact. I would love to spend all of my life with my Dennis. However, I know the chances of me dying before Dennis are very slim. Maybe, because I have been surrounded by death this past year, I am more cynical, but, perhaps, I am just realistic. But, no matter the psychology behind the way I am living my life, I still do adore this man.
I like my life, over-all, and intend on continuing to enjoy my life. I do believe enjoying anything is all about perspective taking. I also believe that almost any problem can be solved and a compromise reached.
Anyhoo, when ever you hear me complain about life in general, please remember that I love this man and always will.
Until later,
Ann and Dennis
Showing posts with label MSA - P. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MSA - P. Show all posts
Friday, January 8, 2010
Friday, September 18, 2009
Shit, I am Old
Just how old are you when you find yourself the official closer on your mother and father's 30 year home? Or, maybe better asked, when your partner falls down three times in one week?
There are significant events in your life that make you realize that you have aged. For some people, the 30th, 40th, 50th 0r 60th birthdays are milestones (I don't yet know beyond the 6th decade). For me, the years haven't meant as much as the events that have happened along the way.
In the past few years I have lost my waist line. This has been a huge reminder of my own age. OLD. Mary, of Peter, Paul and Mary, died two days ago at the age of 72. I thought about how young 72 is - another indication that I am rather old. I am OLD.
I need some time to accept this new thought in my head. What is the routine? Anger, denial then acceptance?
Okay, I am angry! I am old! Grrrrrr!!
Until later
Ann and Dennis
There are significant events in your life that make you realize that you have aged. For some people, the 30th, 40th, 50th 0r 60th birthdays are milestones (I don't yet know beyond the 6th decade). For me, the years haven't meant as much as the events that have happened along the way.
In the past few years I have lost my waist line. This has been a huge reminder of my own age. OLD. Mary, of Peter, Paul and Mary, died two days ago at the age of 72. I thought about how young 72 is - another indication that I am rather old. I am OLD.
I need some time to accept this new thought in my head. What is the routine? Anger, denial then acceptance?
Okay, I am angry! I am old! Grrrrrr!!
Until later
Ann and Dennis
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
It's Not Been a Good Weekend
This has not been a great Labor Day weekend. First, Dennis had a bed, bad case of the shits all weekend. Most of the weekend he sat on the pot, while I cleaned the bed, the carpet, the floor and his butt. We did manage to squeeze in a trip to the Minnesota Zoo with Mother and JoAnne. That was fun.
Last night he started screeching, hollering and screaming in his sleep. I tried covering his mouth, sitting him up, and giving him a second sleeping pill. No luck. I am sure the neighbors were not very thrilled, either.
I went off to work this morning, and had the usual crap at work. When I came home, I found Dennis lying on the floor, surrounded by a broken glass. I don't see it as often as I did a year or two ago; yet I could assess the situation quickly and calmly and act swiftly. I swept, moved him to his knees, got him in a chair and vacuumed the rest of the mess up. Within an hour, I had made him dinner (mashed potatoes and mechanical soft meat - we are off the feeding tube until the shits are gone) and into bed.
Me , I am worried about Dennis. Dennis is worried about both of us. We are trying to find money to help get him more PCA time, but in these economic times, it is difficult. As long as we have any money at all, we are so low on the priority list.
Dennis is going, once again, to his doctor - one that we both like. He is thinking about a colostomy bag. This is way beyond what I am ready to comprehend right now, but I am proud that Dennis is ready to discuss this next possible step.
Last night he started screeching, hollering and screaming in his sleep. I tried covering his mouth, sitting him up, and giving him a second sleeping pill. No luck. I am sure the neighbors were not very thrilled, either.
I went off to work this morning, and had the usual crap at work. When I came home, I found Dennis lying on the floor, surrounded by a broken glass. I don't see it as often as I did a year or two ago; yet I could assess the situation quickly and calmly and act swiftly. I swept, moved him to his knees, got him in a chair and vacuumed the rest of the mess up. Within an hour, I had made him dinner (mashed potatoes and mechanical soft meat - we are off the feeding tube until the shits are gone) and into bed.
Me , I am worried about Dennis. Dennis is worried about both of us. We are trying to find money to help get him more PCA time, but in these economic times, it is difficult. As long as we have any money at all, we are so low on the priority list.
Dennis is going, once again, to his doctor - one that we both like. He is thinking about a colostomy bag. This is way beyond what I am ready to comprehend right now, but I am proud that Dennis is ready to discuss this next possible step.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Doctors
Yesterday, I took Dennis to see his Parkinson's doctor. I don't particularly like her. She seems to have forgotten to develop people skills as part of her practice. I think she tries, but being a doctor of some prominence seems to be more important that being there for her patients. In reality, I am sure that this is not true, but this is how she comes off, to me.
Most of the doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals that we have met over the past 5 years have had a very positive impact on me. During our hospital and emergency room visits we have met many caring, selfless, interesting and dedicated staff. At the Mayo, we were impressed with how much time was spent listening to and talking with us by research doctors. The Courage Center welcomes the disabled with so much comfort, no one feels out of place. I could, and probably should, go on and on, but I believe that I have made my point.
There definitely people at the Struther's Clinic that we both do like. Joan, the social worker, and Jean, the Physicians Assistant are both easy to talk to and provide the information that we need. There are others, too, that we both like. Happily, we deal with the "others" much more often than his doctor.
I believe that it is fairly apparent that I value social intelligence more than other types of intelligence. Perhaps I should get over this prejudice of mine and accept her for her expertise. I will think about this.
Most of the doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals that we have met over the past 5 years have had a very positive impact on me. During our hospital and emergency room visits we have met many caring, selfless, interesting and dedicated staff. At the Mayo, we were impressed with how much time was spent listening to and talking with us by research doctors. The Courage Center welcomes the disabled with so much comfort, no one feels out of place. I could, and probably should, go on and on, but I believe that I have made my point.
There definitely people at the Struther's Clinic that we both do like. Joan, the social worker, and Jean, the Physicians Assistant are both easy to talk to and provide the information that we need. There are others, too, that we both like. Happily, we deal with the "others" much more often than his doctor.
I believe that it is fairly apparent that I value social intelligence more than other types of intelligence. Perhaps I should get over this prejudice of mine and accept her for her expertise. I will think about this.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
MSA - A Lesson
I haven't done any information sharing in my blog lately. So today will be a lesson in MSA/Shy-Drager.
When Dennis was first diagnosed with Shy-Drager, he was recruited by Mayo Clinic, in Rochester for a study. After the tests were completed, the doctors concluded that Dennis did not have MSA/Shy-Drager and encouraged us to see another neurologist, a movement disorder specialist. This neurologist said that Dennis did indeed have MSA, but instead MSA - P. Here is a brief description of the differences between the two as well as a 3rd type of MSA.
When autonomic failure predominates, MSA is sometimes termed Shy-Drager syndrome. When extrapyramidal features predominate, the term striatonigral degeneration, parkinsonian variant, or MSA-P is sometimes used. When cerebellar features predominate, MSA is sometimes termed sporadic olivopontocerebellar atrophy or MSA-C.
In plain English, this means that MSA has 3 different forms, each with a different group of symptoms predominating. Dennis has the type that looks like Parkinson's. Most MSA patients have the type where the autonomic systems deteriorate first. (Autonomic systems are those that your brain automatically controls - blood pressure changes, sweating, etc). The last type is identified by a gross lack of coordination.
The diagnosis of MSA, MSA - P, or MSA - C is given when the main symptom plus at least one other symptom is apparent in a patient. In MSA - P, Dennis' type, the main symptom is gait disorder. He has that plus 4 out of 5 of the other symptoms. The only symptom he does not display on a regular basis is tremors. In addition, he has one or two symptoms of each of the other types of MSA.
If you, or someone you give care to, has MSA, I would be curious what type of MSA you believe is the correct diagnosis.
Until later,
Ann and Dennis
When Dennis was first diagnosed with Shy-Drager, he was recruited by Mayo Clinic, in Rochester for a study. After the tests were completed, the doctors concluded that Dennis did not have MSA/Shy-Drager and encouraged us to see another neurologist, a movement disorder specialist. This neurologist said that Dennis did indeed have MSA, but instead MSA - P. Here is a brief description of the differences between the two as well as a 3rd type of MSA.
When autonomic failure predominates, MSA is sometimes termed Shy-Drager syndrome. When extrapyramidal features predominate, the term striatonigral degeneration, parkinsonian variant, or MSA-P is sometimes used. When cerebellar features predominate, MSA is sometimes termed sporadic olivopontocerebellar atrophy or MSA-C.
In plain English, this means that MSA has 3 different forms, each with a different group of symptoms predominating. Dennis has the type that looks like Parkinson's. Most MSA patients have the type where the autonomic systems deteriorate first. (Autonomic systems are those that your brain automatically controls - blood pressure changes, sweating, etc). The last type is identified by a gross lack of coordination.
The diagnosis of MSA, MSA - P, or MSA - C is given when the main symptom plus at least one other symptom is apparent in a patient. In MSA - P, Dennis' type, the main symptom is gait disorder. He has that plus 4 out of 5 of the other symptoms. The only symptom he does not display on a regular basis is tremors. In addition, he has one or two symptoms of each of the other types of MSA.
If you, or someone you give care to, has MSA, I would be curious what type of MSA you believe is the correct diagnosis.
Until later,
Ann and Dennis
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