Yes, I have two neurologists. One is an acquaintance from an earlier life and he was the first one I went to see for treatment. He is a good caring man but unfortunately, he is near my age and retirement can't be too far away. He referred me to my second neurologist, a specialist in movement disorders. Also a good guy and about half my age, so he will be around when I die. I asked the first neuro if it was OK if I was seeing another one. His response was, "You don't need to but if you want to that's fine." I didn't know the two doctors were already communicating about me. I am sticking with both.
Of course that is not the whole reason this is going to be a good day. When I walked into his office, the doctor remarked that I was looking pretty good. We settled into the doctor/patient positions. You know those positions, doctor sits at his desk reading from files on a computer, patient sits beside his desk wondering what the files say.
"Have you had any serious tremors?"
"Only when the drugs are wearing off?
"Is your walking affected? Shortened gait? Shuffle?"
"No, nothing like that"
"Trouble when you rise from a chair?"
"Not really. Not at the moment. I had some minor problems awhile back."
"Any repeat of that incident where you couldn't walk properly and had to crawl onto your lower deck?"
"Not at all."
"Really, that's interesting" I can see he is going to be thinking about this when I leave, trying to find an answer.
"Any trouble rolling over in bed?"
"No."
"You mentioned last time that your hands and feet get extremely cold to the point of being painful. Do you still have that?
"Yes. It is worse than ever." He holds my hands and gives them a quick massage asking a few questions. Finally....
"Hmmm....." Another puzzle to keep him awake at night.
"Do you need anything from me?"
"Amantadine"
"I will give you a prescription for a year's worth," He writes out the script and hands it to me. "I don't need to see you for another 6 months.
I leave his office feeling very positive about my future. He is the second neurologist not to exhibit any concerns about my present condition.
I know that when PD first presents itself as an intermittent tremor, the likelihood is that the condition will be slow to progress.
It has been almost two years since my diagnosis and although I have suffered bouts of strange symptoms that I self diagnosed being PD related (the internet is a dangerous thing), my cramping, my myoclonic spasms and my tremor have only progressed slowly, if at all.
Maybe I will be one of the lucky ones (touch wood). Maybe I will be dead before the disease puts me into a wheel chair.
No promises to keep.
I'm dappled and drowsy and ready to sleep.
Let the morning time drop all its petals on me.
Life, I love you,
All is groovy.
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