New Medication

"There is a good chance your primary care physician is not familiar with the second most common type of progressive dementia in the elderly: Lewy body dementia (LBD). Despite its prevalence, people with LBD have to see an average of 3 doctors before the LBD diagnosis is made." Lewy Bodies Dementia Website http://lewybodydementia.org

I took Dwane to a new local neurologist who specializes in movement disorders.  She started him on the Parkinson's movement medication, Sinemet.  It is hoped this will help him be able to get out of bed more easily and relieve the numbness and heaviness in his legs.  She also offered the option of botox injections into his salivary glands to stop his excessive drooling.  These botox injections are not permanent, but it might be worth trying to give him some relief.  The problem, according to her, is that people with LBD do not automatically swallow like the rest of us, so the accumulated saliva falls out of their mouths.  This is the most mortifying aspect of LBD for Dwane, so it might be worth trying.   He has been on the medication for only 1 1/2 days, but so far, it has caused him to vomit.  Apparently, the medication needs to be taken on an empty stomach or at least without any protein,  The doctor has now recommended applesauce first to help him tolerate the medication.  We will see if it can be tolerated this way.