September 16, 2017
Hi Everyone. Sorry for taking so long with updating. Mary is currently fighting a UTI that started up last Wednesday, the 13th. We saw the NP in the Doctor's office, and she prescribed Bactrim, especially since Mary can't take Cipro due to bad reactions to it in the past.
In doing some digging on the internet, we found that Bactrim inhibits an enzyme that converts folate into a methylated version. In essence it slows down the methylation process, which is not good since Mary is already a slow methylator as it is. We have noticed a decrease in the effectiveness of the Sinemet (less on time) and increased dyskinesias (wild, involuntary movements) as a result of taking the necessary antibiotics.
Before this, she was starting to see minor improvements. She was able to roll over in bed and get up to go to the bathroom unassisted in the middle of the night. Hopefully these and other improvements will be regained after the course of antibiotics is over.
This whole process has been challenging, but we are hopeful that Mary's health will improve.
Many Blessings to All
August 5, 2017
Sorry for taking so long to update. Mary completed the 40 hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatments near the end of June. From those treatments, Mary has been experiencing continual heavy metal detox during and ever since, making things challenging. Because of the heavy metal detox, sleep is very difficult. She also experiences a lot of muscle pain and weakness, making it difficult to leave the house.
At the three month and a half months now (15 weeks), we have not noticed any significant improvements in her symptoms. We are hopeful that she will gain functionality in the very near future. The doctor said that it could take 3 to 6 months before we notice any changes, and with maximum benefit at the 1 year point. We have more to go.
Many thanks for all your prayers and the financial gifts.
Peace & Light,
Michael
May 21, 2017
It has been a month since the stem cell procedure. At this time, we are not seeing any differences yet that can be attributed to the stem cells.
Mary has been undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatments ever since the stem cell procedure, and she has completed 16 out of 40 treatments. She has been noticing signs of detoxing from the hyperbaric treatments. Sleep is still broken, but she is getting 6 - 7.5 hours in chunks of 2.75 hours or less.
Thanks for your generous donations and prayers. God Bless.
April 25, 2017
The stem cell therapy went off without a hitch. Many thanks to the Stem Genex staff & Dr. Lallande. Great people that really care about their patients.
Started the round of 40 hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatments this morning. Taking it one day at a time with hopes for positive outcomes.
Again, many thanks to those that have donated. We greatly appreciate your efforts. - Michael (Mary's husband).
April 20, 2017
Met with the Dr. at StemGenex this afternoon. Mary & I are impressed. We report tomorrow morning at 6:15 AM for stem cell harvesting with activation & implantation later in the day. We are excited.
Thanks for all your support & prayers.
March 29, 2017
Hi Everyone. Again thanks for your donations.
Mary has been receiving hyperbaric oxygen therapy treatments over the last 5 weeks. Your donations have been covering the cost of 1-2 treatments each week to help strengthen Mary for the stem cell treatment.
After each treatment, Mary has more energy! She also sleeps better for a day or so! The evening of the treatment the dystonia (severe muscle cramp in the left leg) is reduced quite a bit; this is what helps with the sleep as she doesn't wake up as much with leg pain. Also the dyskinesias (involuntary movements which are a side effect of the medication) are not as brutal for a day or so.
And these small changes are from 1-2 treatments each week. After the stem cell therapy, she will be receiving 40 treatments, 5 a week for 8 weeks. We are looking forward to even more and greater changes.
And again we couldn't do it without your help and support. Thank you so much!
February 27, 2017
"I know that we have thanked all of you for your generous donations. But I want to thank you again so, so much because I know that this treatment will improve my quality of life." - Mary
The flu that Mary caught earlier this month has left her feeling very weak. Regaining what strength that she did have has been a bit challenging.
On a positive note, Lauren Solomon (the Wellness Coach - Parkinson's Wellness Fund) had recommended using topical magnesium (spray) over the dystonia (muscle spasms) in the leg that she gets in the evening and that wake her up in the middle of the night. Just a few sprays rubbed into the area has eased the spasms (dystonia) to the point where she can get back to sleep for another hour or 2.
Mary started the hyperbairc oxygen therapy treatments. She has had 4 treatments in the last 2 weeks. She has noticed less wheezing, less sinus congestion, and her eyesight is not as blurry. With regards to the PD, the nighttime tremor that wakes her up in the middle of the night is less intense. Her intent is to do 10 treatments up front to strengthen her body to put her body in a better place for when she does receive the stem cell therapy, funding permitting.
Many Blessings to all. Michael & Mary
February 9, 2017
Mary caught what started out like a head cold and morphed into something like a low-grade flu (temp, aches, etc). The last time she caught the flu (full-blown) back in 2008, the PD went from mild to severe.
Right now the meds are even more unpredicatble due to the inflammation associated with elevated body temperature. The problem with taking Tylenol is that it depletes glutathione which is necessary to counteract the resulting by-products of Sinemet which are toxic. So the Tylenol makes the Parkinson's worse.
Ibuprofen helps with the temperature, but Mary has a very sensitive stomach and ibuprofen causes her problems. Plus in the long run, ibuprofen is not good for the heart.
Thus another round of challenges. We are hanging int here and appreciate all the support from everyone. Again Thanks.
Michael
February 1, 2017
We want to thank The Unity Center (www.theunitycenter.net) for their help.
February 1, 2017
Many thanks go out to the Parkinson's Wellness Fund for their support. The PWF provided us with a grant to help offset the expense of the many supplements that Mary needs. Without these supplements, Mary would be even more incapacitated that she currently is.
http://parkinsonswellnessfund.org
February 1, 2017
Many thanks go out to the all the people that have donated so far. Your contributions are helping us to meet our goal so that Mary can have a better Quality of Life.
