I would be so grateful for some practical advice.

[Guest guest]

I am in bad of need of some advice. My father, age 76, has been diagnosed with

Pure Autonomic Failure, but, as of August of this year, has declined rapidly.

He went from walking on his own, although swaying at times, to not being able to

walk even assisted for more than 5 feet without sitting down. His legs are numb

and his inability to walk and his confusion has been heartbreaking. He is

getting visibily worse every day and is totally confused. (For example, last

night, I told him that I had placed a chair behind him to sit, when it loked

like his legs weren't holding him any longer, and he asked, " What does 'behind

me' mean? " )

My most pressing question is this: At night, he has to get up to urinate about

8 to 10 times. My mother, who is his caretaker (and unfortunately a fastidious

housekeeper), is totally frazzled and stressed and the sleep deprivation is

making her very tense and depressed. My father is wetting the bed several times

a night (requiring a change of sheets) and is so confused that he can't even use

a urinal or a bedside commode. Even with my mother helping him to walk, he does

not always make it to the bathroom. Depends do not seem to work either. I have

heard of self-catheterization, but don't know much about it.

He takes detrol long-acting in the evening but it does not seem to do much. He

also takes prozac and proamatine during the day at 4-hour intervals. He is not

given much to drink before bed and the head of the bed is elevated about 5

inches.

What do MSA patients (more and more, it looks like my father has MSA) do at

night for urinary incontinence, urgency, and frequency?

This support group is a wonderfully special group made up of warm, caring, and

altogether outstanding people. I have learned a lot since I joined a few weeks

ago and appreciate everyone's support and strength of spirit when it sometimes

feels like we can barely make it to the next hour.

Colette (from D.C.)

[Guest guest]

I am in bad of need of some advice. My father, age 76, has been diagnosed with

Pure Autonomic Failure, but, as of August of this year, has declined rapidly.

He went from walking on his own, although swaying at times, to not being able to

walk even assisted for more than 5 feet without sitting down. His legs are numb

and his inability to walk and his confusion has been heartbreaking. He is

getting visibily worse every day and is totally confused. (For example, last

night, I told him that I had placed a chair behind him to sit, when it loked

like his legs weren't holding him any longer, and he asked, " What does 'behind

me' mean? " )

My most pressing question is this: At night, he has to get up to urinate about

8 to 10 times. My mother, who is his caretaker (and unfortunately a fastidious

housekeeper), is totally frazzled and stressed and the sleep deprivation is

making her very tense and depressed. My father is wetting the bed several times

a night (requiring a change of sheets) and is so confused that he can't even use

a urinal or a bedside commode. Even with my mother helping him to walk, he does

not always make it to the bathroom. Depends do not seem to work either. I have

heard of self-catheterization, but don't know much about it.

He takes detrol long-acting in the evening but it does not seem to do much. He

also takes prozac and proamatine during the day at 4-hour intervals. He is not

given much to drink before bed and the head of the bed is elevated about 5

inches.

What do MSA patients (more and more, it looks like my father has MSA) do at

night for urinary incontinence, urgency, and frequency?

This support group is a wonderfully special group made up of warm, caring, and

altogether outstanding people. I have learned a lot since I joined a few weeks

ago and appreciate everyone's support and strength of spirit when it sometimes

feels like we can barely make it to the next hour.

Colette (from D.C.)