Progression of the disease

June 28, 2002

After several years of treatment for high blood pressure, my

father (age 76) began to experience symptons of postural

hypotension. The symptons first exhibited themselves

four-and-a-half years ago, but he was not diagnosed with SDS

until recently. Since his diagnosis, his condition has deteriorated

rapidly. In less than a month he went from being relatively

normal to being bed-ridden. He has become very weak. He can

no longer sit up unasissted and he tends to list to one side. He

often experinces postural hypotension simply from sitting up. He

was recently catheterized for urinary retension, and his urine is

alternately milky and bloody. They are having difficulty keeping

his electrolytes balanced. He has also developed a mild

parkinsonian like tremor in his hands.

I have read that the prognosis for SDS patients is 7-10 years

from onset but I find it difficult to beleive that he will continue to

deterioate for that long a period. Can anyone offer any insite as

to where he might be in the timeline of the desease based on

his current state.

June 28, 2002

WARNING,

Your father most likely has some sort of infection which makes the disorder

progress faster. Ask the doctor immediately to check him for infection of

all types (UTI, blood, pneumonia and yeast).

Take care, Bill Werre

============================================

tggillott wrote:

> After several years of treatment for high blood pressure, my

> father (age 76) began to experience symptons of postural

> hypotension. The symptons first exhibited themselves

> four-and-a-half years ago, but he was not diagnosed with SDS

> until recently. Since his diagnosis, his condition has deteriorated

> rapidly. In less than a month he went from being relatively

> normal to being bed-ridden. He has become very weak. He can

> no longer sit up unasissted and he tends to list to one side. He

> often experinces postural hypotension simply from sitting up. He

> was recently catheterized for urinary retension, and his urine is

> alternately milky and bloody. They are having difficulty keeping

> his electrolytes balanced. He has also developed a mild

> parkinsonian like tremor in his hands.

>

> I have read that the prognosis for SDS patients is 7-10 years

> from onset but I find it difficult to beleive that he will continue to

> deterioate for that long a period. Can anyone offer any insite as

> to where he might be in the timeline of the desease based on

> his current state.

>

> If you do not wish to belong to shydrager, you may

> unsubscribe by sending a blank email to

>

> shydrager-unsubscribe

>

June 28, 2002

The combination of the rapid decline and the discolored urine STRONGLY

suggest that your father has a urinary tract infection. It is possible for

a MSA patient to have an infection without exhibiting the usual signs of

pain and fever.

Please get your father to a doctor or emergency room as quickly as possible.

Untreated urinary tract infections can lead to sepsis, a generalized blood

infection that can be fatal.

Carol & Rob

Lexington, MA