Movapo Part 2

Movapo Part 2

To say it has been a long day would not do it justice.

My intention when I got up this morning was to document the day.
Using videos to show the progression of the "off period" and the response to the Movapo.
Well....
As with most things in life, things just don't seem to be as simple as you figure.
I started out okay, on plan. I shot videos of myself every so often.
I stopped when Cheryl got up, and we started getting dressed for the day.

We had been instructed to be at the EMG Lab, Regional Hospital  at 9 am .
 
So my first dose of the day was to be at 6 am. That time came and went. No big deal I had missed this time before. There was a little bit of stiffness. But it felt like a normal morning.
I realized something was happening when I criticized Cheryl's choice of route to the hospital.
Maybe not my brightest moment. I became aware that things were happening.
We arrived at the hospital at 8:30. Waiting in the registration area and walked down to the EMG lab.
And waited...
Shortly after 9 we were called in.
There was the Doctor, Rose (Parkinson's Nurse) and Lena (Movapo Rep)
They took one look at me and said " you look marvelous".
Well maybe not exactly like that, but they could tell, as we all suspected, I was not "off" enough.
So we were told to go have a coffee and come back at 10.  So we did.
Back to the EMG lab at 10.
" No you are just too good looking for us " they said . " Go away and come back when you are a lot more off-ensive."
This time we were told to come back at 1 pm.
The 10 am dose time came and went.
Still only feeling a little stiff, and my right big toe is getting a little tense. But I think I am clear headed and talking well.
So we went.
We went to Canadian Tire. Had lunch at Swiss Chalet.
And back to the hospital for 1 pm.
On the walk from the car to the hospital my right big toe is now curling under my foot, forcing me to walk on the side of my foot.
I am getting pretty slow. In spite of all this, I still feel normal. I am unaware anything is happening to me. Other than I walk a little slower.

So back to the Hospital.
This time they said " have a seat."
Okay...
Every Parkie and their Carer is aware of the "trained seal" evaluation. Unless you have taken the test, or seen someone take the test, it is very hard to describe.
It starts... 
Rose asked " tell me a story, what did you do when you left here."
So I told her where we went. While I am telling her, she has this, what I think is, a silly look.
While I thought I was speaking clearly, I was told later I was actually very soft.
So it continued. I tapped my right foot. I tapped my left foot, etc. etc etc.
With each task I was scored 0, 1, 2 or 3.
At this point, I have been without meds for 20 hours.
This is my "off" base line.

Now Rose begins to show me how to load the Movapo injection pen. Screw on the needle.
I pull up my sleeve and stick it to me.

We wait.....  9 minutes later...
I am made aware by my body that I was not all right. That something was amiss. And now it was being corrected.
9 minutes and I felt a difference. Everyone in the room saw a difference.
As the time passed I continued to get better.
So after 20 minutes we do the whole trained seal thing again.

In 30 minutes I feel almost like I do when the meds are working.

Frigging Miracle

Around 2 pm Rose gives me some water and I take my meds.

This has been a very, very long day.
The time is now 7:48. 
I took my meds at 6 pm as usual .
This dose should do me until 10.
Which is about the time I go to bed.
In the past if I started to go "off" before 10, I would grit my teeth and wait it out.
Now I know there is assistance should I need it.

So tomorrow morning when I leave for work,  I will have my wallet, my phone, and my Movapo Pen.

Oh yeah, that video thing,  what video!