Back from the Neurologist

So it was a good visit. She was shocked at the condition I was in and admonished me for not calling to be seen earlier.

She asked if anything had changed in the past few months. First thing she though of was to ask if my medicine changed at all. I remembered that in Sept my Amantadine switched from one generic to another. (meaning a different distributor) but that probably isn't the cause. Since I started to go down hill in Aug. The timing was off.

At the time in her office I couldn't think of anything else. She asked if there had been any stress in my life. I said now. It wasn't until later that I though of all the stuff that I went through with AQ. Talk about stress... and the timing is right. So, it is possible the increase in my symptoms is stress related. But, no one really knows.

In any event, she has me up'ing my Amantadine to 3 times a day and she is having me get the brand name for the Amantadine which is Symmatrel. That's going to cost us. Brand name is $45 copay...YIKES. But, if it works...

She also is having me start on a new version of the Selegiline. It's called Zelapar. It is a quick dissolving tablet that you take in the morning. It is suppose to go straight to your brain...basically by-passing the GI tract. It's brand new so I have to wait for her to get approval from BCBS. Which shouldn't be an issue but it does mean waiting probably three or four weeks before I can take it.

I go back to see her in 3 months. If I am not improved then she'll add an agonist. Most likely Requip. She also encouraged me to start exercising again. I know I need to do it and that it will help but I just don't know when I'm suppose to do it. I think after the holidays I'll try going back to my hydrobics on Mon/Wed mornings at 8AM. Hopefully, I'll have the energy to do it.

Keeping my fingers crossed!
Toodles

****UPDATE****

So, I finally got the Zelapar at the end of November. I took forever to get the approval. Anyway, I started taking it. I immediately felt WORSE. Like I wasn't taking anything. I gave it 5 days but then I couldn't take it anymore and I switched back to the pill form of selegiline. I gave it another try after the 1st of the year and had the same results. Told the neuro about this at my appt in Feb and she was surprised but said that we'd do whatever works for me. So, I am back on the pill form of the selegiline.

Current meds (as of 2/25/07)
Selegiline 5mg 2x's
Amantadine 100mg 3x's
Wellbutrin 100 mg 2x's
CLONAZEPAM 0.5MG 1/2 a tab at night b4 bed