Chapter 495 - A New Generation
Early on Friday 20th July we became great-grandparents of a baby girl. Some photos suggested she looks very much like our daughter, her grandmother, did when only a few hours old, so many years ago. A bonding reaction I suppose, but she does have the cap of black hair. Too far away for an old timer to drive in one day to see her and matters of disability equipment make make it difficult for simple overnight stops along the way. A problem to solve.
Reducing the Duodopa flow rates by steps throughout each day certainly reduced her dyskinesias but also reduced her mobility as expected. On Sunday 15th July the steps were: 0630 7.0; 0950 6.0; 1130 5.0; 1315 4.0; 1500 3.0; 1900 2.0 till next morning. On Saturday 21st July the steps were: 0620 6.0; 0930 5.0; 1055 4.0; 1300 3.0; 1520 2.0 and at the end of that day I wrote "Best FitBit chart ever". I find even though I set alarms on my phone to remind me to change the pump settings, I sometimes leave my phone elsewhere or I ignore it altogether so the steps are not very accurate time wise. Anyway, I will annotate the FitBit print outs and post some here another time. At least I have proved to myself that a continuous flow rate above 5 is excessive, at least at this time. I suspect her dyskinesias reduce following changes in flow rate but then increase again some days later.
We met the sisters for lunch at the half way place yesterday without her legs kicking madly by meal's end. There was a burst though when we arrived home; I suspect stress driving in moderate traffic on the return.
The local Dance for Parkinsons began again last Tuesday 1000 - 1200, and as I expected. a burst of dyskinesia at the same time. On Thursday, a return to the dentist for a check and clean yet only a single spike of 1000 steps in FitBit chart during the ordeal. Next Thursday for a repair visit requiring drilling and water spray may be a different matter.
Reducing the Duodopa flow rates by steps throughout each day certainly reduced her dyskinesias but also reduced her mobility as expected. On Sunday 15th July the steps were: 0630 7.0; 0950 6.0; 1130 5.0; 1315 4.0; 1500 3.0; 1900 2.0 till next morning. On Saturday 21st July the steps were: 0620 6.0; 0930 5.0; 1055 4.0; 1300 3.0; 1520 2.0 and at the end of that day I wrote "Best FitBit chart ever". I find even though I set alarms on my phone to remind me to change the pump settings, I sometimes leave my phone elsewhere or I ignore it altogether so the steps are not very accurate time wise. Anyway, I will annotate the FitBit print outs and post some here another time. At least I have proved to myself that a continuous flow rate above 5 is excessive, at least at this time. I suspect her dyskinesias reduce following changes in flow rate but then increase again some days later.
We met the sisters for lunch at the half way place yesterday without her legs kicking madly by meal's end. There was a burst though when we arrived home; I suspect stress driving in moderate traffic on the return.
The local Dance for Parkinsons began again last Tuesday 1000 - 1200, and as I expected. a burst of dyskinesia at the same time. On Thursday, a return to the dentist for a check and clean yet only a single spike of 1000 steps in FitBit chart during the ordeal. Next Thursday for a repair visit requiring drilling and water spray may be a different matter.
posted by Kilpike | 1:42 pm
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