Chapter 78 - Half a Story

Last Thursday & Friday were "normal" days - Modopar Rapid at 6am, Sinemet CR + Indorel at 9am, 2pm & midnight and Dothiepin at 10pm. Except Friday night she was asleep before midnight, waking with shakes around 2:30am to take the CR & I. On both days a little embroidery in the afternoon-evening. Then on Saturday she forgot to take pills at 2pm; she had been so engrossed with emails & reading PD notes on line that she just forgot, not remembering until 5pm. Her usual tremors etc had not alerted her to what should have been her "need". I suggested she skip the dose, taking the 7pm dose as usual. She shuffled a little, some difficulty standing from a seated position but nothing out of the ordinary. After the 7pm dose she walked reasonably well, not very shaky, slightly bent. By 9pm she didn't feel very mobile, so we walked the village to loosen things. During the evening she had been continuing with her calendar embroidery. When she went to bed at 11:45pm she admitted feeling lousy since around 8pm. At 12:15am she felt cold when taking her midnight dose so asked for a quilt to be placed over her (I felt comfortably warm; the night was mild) and around 2am she fell asleep.

Then Sunday after the 6am MR dose we both returned to sleep until 9:15 when she had her usual meds. At 9:30 she needed the TENS machine on her lower back which was giving her a lot of pain & discomfort. Obviously no church today. At 10:45 she showered & dressed herself completely, surprising me when I went to check on her to suggest she should shower! Then at 2pm she decided to skip the dose. During the afternoon she felt OK except she tended to wobble up & down while standing in a stooped position but she had no difficulty rising from a firm chair. After 7pm meds we walked the village. She began sweating around 10:30pm then to bed at 11:30pm, waking at 3am Monday for what should have been her midnight dose. Taking that dose so late decided her to skip the MR at 6am Monday morning. Later she showered & dressed without difficulty, took her 9am dose the proceeded to do the washing. As normal, I was criticised for hanging things haphazardly on the line. Again she skipped the 2pm meds and later re-folded the sheets & towels I had left in a mess. Meds at 7pm & 10pm then very tired & into bed at 10:30pm. No midnight Sinemet CR & Indorel. She slept straight through until 6:15 this morning when she took the MR.

So in a few days she has reduced her Sinemet intake by almost half without causing herself any problems. However, we had noted previously that at least a week is required for her system to stabilise after a change in medications so we still have a few days to go. I feel quietly confident, although I'm unsure where this is leading. Half the pills for half a week. Watch this blog.

During the last few days she read a biography, most unlike her, she who has always been satisfied reading Mills & Boon stories for relaxation. The scooter waits patiently in the corridor; its owner not seeming to need the freedom expected of it.