Chapter 199 - A New Toy
My intention was to regularly record her subjective levels of leg pain to show to our GP last Tuesday (the appointment had been for Thursday but the surgery brought it forward) but she was haphazard in making notes in the diary and I tended to forget and when I did remember to ask I felt I was causing her stress.
She had seen an advertisement from one of our local chemists for a device called a "Circulation Booster"; the sort of title that suggests quackery to me. On investigation, the device was seen to be a TENS machine designed for the feet. The chemist offered free demonstrations. So on Thursday before last we went to the chemist for her to try it out. The patient, while seated, places both bare feet on foot pads and controls the settings by a small remote control. As always happens, her problems were not bothering her at the time but all the same, what in my words was tension disappeared and she thought some swelling in her ankles eased. The chemist was very eager to sell us the device for $399 but she resisted (I was tempted to buy it on the spot, partly because I wanted to relieve her suffering but also because I feel guilty rejecting a concerted sales pitch). She had already found an on-line chemist selling the device for $299! She rang Medibank Private to learn that the cost would be covered by the Package Bonus scheme. To be certain though we asked the GP on Tuesday for a letter saying that the device will be beneficial for her. So I on-line ordered it from YourChemistShop, free postage, although I added $6 for insurance. Ordered on Wednesday, arrived Friday morning early. They even included the correct invoices to claim on Medibank Private. Fortunately she is more observant than I and after I had completed the claim form and sealed the envelope, she said "Medibank will reject that because it is all in your name and you don't have any Package Bonus left." Damn! An email to YourChemistShop for help - they are mailing invoices in her name.
Anyway, she has used the device each morning since, Friday, Saturday and today, Sunday. There was only minor pain each time she began a session and she says she has not had pain later each day. The only objective measure that I have is that she has not asked to use the treadmill. And she has not been shuffling about in pain.
Last Tuesday I had intended travelling to Big Smoke to visit a telecommunications museum. We debated my catching a train, driving, both of us staying overnight. Leaving her on her own for the day or taking her with me for a painful uncomfortable day were neither acceptable so I decided not to go. As it turned out, the GP's appointment was changed to Tuesday and was more important anyway.
After she told our GP of her problems since beginning Madopar HBS he gave her a prescription for Stalevo to see whether that will be better for her. She began Stalevo yesterday morning, replacing the 6am Madopar HBS. The GP said to replace each Madopar dose at a 3 day interval until she is entirely on Stalevo. Some years ago the neurologist in Hot Air City placed her on Stalevo which she stopped after having strange side effects, including tingling, creepy feelings in her scalp.
This week she has been busy making pot holders from embroidered squares she stitched over a couple of days. Yesterday afternoon she did not feel up to socialising at a small musical event at our local hall, although earlier in the week she seemed keen to go.
She had seen an advertisement from one of our local chemists for a device called a "Circulation Booster"; the sort of title that suggests quackery to me. On investigation, the device was seen to be a TENS machine designed for the feet. The chemist offered free demonstrations. So on Thursday before last we went to the chemist for her to try it out. The patient, while seated, places both bare feet on foot pads and controls the settings by a small remote control. As always happens, her problems were not bothering her at the time but all the same, what in my words was tension disappeared and she thought some swelling in her ankles eased. The chemist was very eager to sell us the device for $399 but she resisted (I was tempted to buy it on the spot, partly because I wanted to relieve her suffering but also because I feel guilty rejecting a concerted sales pitch). She had already found an on-line chemist selling the device for $299! She rang Medibank Private to learn that the cost would be covered by the Package Bonus scheme. To be certain though we asked the GP on Tuesday for a letter saying that the device will be beneficial for her. So I on-line ordered it from YourChemistShop, free postage, although I added $6 for insurance. Ordered on Wednesday, arrived Friday morning early. They even included the correct invoices to claim on Medibank Private. Fortunately she is more observant than I and after I had completed the claim form and sealed the envelope, she said "Medibank will reject that because it is all in your name and you don't have any Package Bonus left." Damn! An email to YourChemistShop for help - they are mailing invoices in her name.
Anyway, she has used the device each morning since, Friday, Saturday and today, Sunday. There was only minor pain each time she began a session and she says she has not had pain later each day. The only objective measure that I have is that she has not asked to use the treadmill. And she has not been shuffling about in pain.
Last Tuesday I had intended travelling to Big Smoke to visit a telecommunications museum. We debated my catching a train, driving, both of us staying overnight. Leaving her on her own for the day or taking her with me for a painful uncomfortable day were neither acceptable so I decided not to go. As it turned out, the GP's appointment was changed to Tuesday and was more important anyway.
After she told our GP of her problems since beginning Madopar HBS he gave her a prescription for Stalevo to see whether that will be better for her. She began Stalevo yesterday morning, replacing the 6am Madopar HBS. The GP said to replace each Madopar dose at a 3 day interval until she is entirely on Stalevo. Some years ago the neurologist in Hot Air City placed her on Stalevo which she stopped after having strange side effects, including tingling, creepy feelings in her scalp.
This week she has been busy making pot holders from embroidered squares she stitched over a couple of days. Yesterday afternoon she did not feel up to socialising at a small musical event at our local hall, although earlier in the week she seemed keen to go.
posted by Kilpike | 9:13 am
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