Good news! Over the last two weeks, I have had no new issues with the Vyalev pump. I am still experiencing the aftermath of the last big issue. There’s still a BIG nodule and the skin is still red, but it’s smaller and less angry-looking … Continue reading Vyalev Pump: More Good News
A few months ago, I typed about where/how to secure the Vyalev pump on your person. Now it’s about time I addressed where to stick the other end. But first, Lemmy Kilmister give ya a few details you may not already know. First off, the … Continue reading Vyalev Pump: Where do I put the other thing?
Nearly a month ago, I told you about my experience getting through a major airport with the Vyalev pump and supplies, specifically flying from Charlotte (CLT) to Des Moines (DSM). As I noted then, I expected the TSA folks at the major airport that is … Continue reading Vyalev Pump and air travel: The Return
I have been dreading this. One of the main reasons I didn’t get the pump sooner was that I didn’t like the idea of trying to get through TSA screenings with the thing. So, I was happy to find that the teetering mound of documentation … Continue reading Vyalev Pump and air travel
So far, I must admit the Vyalev pump provides the benefits I was hoping it would. My off periods are greatly reduced or non-existent, I’ve been more physically and mentally stable, and I turned into a werewolf. But I do have a couple of problems … Continue reading Vyalev Pump: Where do I put this thing?
The primary advantage of using the Vyalev pump rather than the pill form of the same medications (carbidopa and levodopa) is that the pump provides a steady input of medication throughout the day (and night), avoiding the “rollercoaster” effect that results from taking pills once every few hours. But the process ya have to go through each day to disconnect, refill, and reconnect is kind of an ordeal. Thus, after nearly two weeks using the pump, I found myself pondering whether it was worth it. So, this morning I decided to take a day off from the pump and revert to the pills.
Ah, how quickly we forget! Today has been AWFUL. When the pills are in full effect, I’m feeling quite good. But when they start wearing off, my whole body becomes tense, I become a hunchback, I get jittery, I can’t even think straight! In retrospect, none of this is new. I just needed a reminder of exactly how bad it all can get. Now I know, and I’ll be reconnecting to my pump first thing tomorrow morning!
Within my first week on the Vyalev pump, I have already tested (and proven) the strength of the component parts of the Vyalev pump system. Y’see, the tube that runs from the pump to the canoodler on the belly is long, to facilitate the human … Continue reading Vyalev Pump: Unintentional Testing
This week’s episode of Thymptom Thurthday (“Invisibility and Parkinson’s”) is hereby cancelled, as I have something new to tell you about: I have the new Vyalev pump! After weeks of waiting for insurance approvals (among other things), I went to my Parkinson’s Disease (PD) Specialist’s … Continue reading Vyalev Pump: It Begins
A week ago, I slightly increased my Pramipexole dosage, in the hope it would address the off periods I have been experiencing lately. While there has been some improvement, I’m still not where I want to be. The anxiety and depression have been reduced over the last week, but the physical exhaustion is still as bad as ever. Worse, a fresh dose of levodopa no longer reliably vanquishes the exhaustion. So my guess is that the new levodopa pump wouldn’t help me. It may be time to add yet another different drug to my daily routine. Or maybe I should stop carrying all this Kryptonite around with me.
Several weeks ago, I mentioned the possibility of my getting a Levodopa pump system “installed” on my person. I have since decided against the pump, despite the fact I never looked at the additional information I had requested. For me, it comes down to two things:
But, as I said in the previous pump post, something has to change. And now I think I know what that is. The reason I feel like something must be changed is not because of the physical fatigue I’ve been experiencing, or any of the motor symptoms. It’s because of the anxiety and depression that come with most of my Off Periods. When this has been the case in the past, it has been successfully countered by slightly increasing my Pramipexole dosage. So, I’m increasing it from 11 pills a day to 12. After a week or so, I’ll take stock of my situation and go from there.
As for the pump, it’s still a possibility down the road. But it’s not happening until I’m so far gone that someone else is in charge of my hygiene.
Voyages with Parkinson's 