[Formydad]

I'm posting for my dad, who was diagnosed in 2007(ish).

He mentioned recently that he seems to have gotten worse lately. He has been under a tremendous amount of stress (remodeling the kitchen - he did much of the work himself with the help of family and friends), but said that his meds aren't really getting him the 4 hours of "on" time that they were not that long ago.

I mentioned to him the fava beans and fermented papaya and he was open to the idea. Anything that might help at this point I think.

Do some of you take meds more often than every four hours? He's on Sinemet, but I'm not sure what dosage. Would the patch that was recently re-released give him more on time? He was doing things around the house, dishes, folding laundry, etc. but said he's having a hard time doing even those things now, especially in the afternoon and evening.

He recently started taking Trazadone to help him sleep at night. He was only getting 2 or 3 hours at most a night for probably 4 or 5 months straight.

Any help or advice is appreciated. It takes an amazingly strong and courageous person to fact this awful, awful disease. You are all to be commended.

[stevem53]

Stress make symptoms worse, and depending on how much, and what kind of work your dad is doing, and how many hours he is working will likely have an effect on the timing of his meds

It does for me..And when I get fatigued, I take a nap..I do as much as I can, and then leave the rest for another day

[lindylanka]

If he is stable on the dose he is on now, except for the off times, perhaps you/he could talk about splitting doses in a different way, i.e. same amount per day but smaller doses closer together. If he is not already on a medication that extends on time this too could be discussed with his neuro.

Lindy