Update on Ray

[Guest guest]

Ray has been in an almost constant state of agitation (panic attacks or

whatever one might term them) for 3 days. When he first got placed in the

hospital, for 3 nights he slept about 10-12 hours for no apparent reason.

Right off the bat, the hospital neurologist dropped his 12.5 mg dose of

afternoon Seroquel and then shortly after that, decided that he might only

need 1/2 of his regular dose of Sinemet 3 X a day. He was getting 25/250

each time to begin with. I pointed out to everyone who would listen that I

thought the Seroquel was needed in the afternoon to help keep him from a

panic attack before dark--to no avail of course. I even had Ray's meds list

posted on the wall along with the LBD Warning sheet. Anyway--these last

three days have been terrible for him and for my daughters and I. He has

gotten very little sleep and consequently neither has whomever stays with

him. The nursing staff asked us to continue helping if we could after Ray's

episode on Sunday which ended with security guards subduing him. Finally,

his regular neurologist (whom I had emailed) came in and looked over all the

charts and made the recommendation that the home doses of the medicines be

reinstituted. When I left the hospital this afternoon, Ray was sleeping. I

just called to check and he was back at sleep after eating a bit, taking his

pills and using the bathroom. My son was there to care for him this evening

and my sister is staying with him tonight. Hopefully, we can get him back

to a fairly steady pattern and keep him there. I am sure he knows enough to

know that this is a change and he doesn't like it. Who knows maybe he would

just like to go outdoors for a walk. I am posting another message as a

response to the " Here's a new one " thread about genetalia itching or

burning. Thanks all for listening. I know I would not be as much as an

advocate for Ray as I am if I never had found this list.

Leona: Caregiver for husband Ray, age 67, diagnosed 2/04 with Parkinson's

Disease. Changed doctors, diagnosed 6/06 with LBD. Almost continual downhill

slide no matter what drugs we try.

There's a magical tie to the land of our home, which the heart cannot

break, though the footsteps may roam. Eliza Cook