Hi Everyone:
I'm a little late with this update, but I've got quite a bit of news. First, I promised some information on Roger McGuinn's performance at the Folly Theater a couple of weeks ago. For those of you who are not fans of the Byrds, I apologize. For me, this was big (To be healthy we need entertainment, right?) The concert was just McGuinn on electric and acoustic guitar and on banjo. His typically strong Dylan-esque voice was nowhere to be found, I'm afraid. Age has stripped him of his vocal range and power. On the other hand, he took the audience at the beautiful Folly for a trip through the history of music, the beginning of rock 'n roll, and most significantly, the development of the Byrds. He was personal, personable, fun, and funny as he told story after story, based mostly on his experiences. He and the band were unbelievably connected with musicians from other genres, and he played them all. For Sandy, my buddy Jim Aldritt, and me, it was a night to remember. Don't miss the opportunity to see him if you can.
Last week Sandy and I went to our former home of nine years, London, Ontario, for the wedding of Kate Huner. Kate was born just before we arrived in London in 1981. She and her sister, Erin, and her parents, Norm and Sue, lived next door to us for several years and we count them among our dearest friends. We've seen Kate over the years now and then, but it was a spectacle to see her as a striking woman in her bridal gown. She was truly beautiful, as was the wedding. The wedding gave us a good excuse to pal around for a few days with Carla Johnson and Jim Stouffer, exploring London and visiting some of our old haunts. Always a great time, made greater by the fact that I felt really good, and I slept well, even though I had no sleep medications with me. It was a really nice, relaxing four days.
Now, for the health situation. As most of you know, I had an appointment with my neurologist last Wednesday. I had nothing but good things to report to him, because for the last two or three weeks (since about the time I last published an update post on the blog), my medication, which at one point seemed to have lost its potency, has been doing the trick. My movement has been better and my thinking has been clearer. Dr. Pahwa agreed that my symptoms were not as great as they were three months or so ago at my last examination. Because of this, he decided to keep me on my current medication. It's a dopamine agonist, called Mirapex. It works by facilitating the uptake of dopamine by the receptor neurons. The new drug is rasagiline, brand name Azilect. The mechanism of this drug is completely different than Mirapex. It is an MAO type-B inhibitor. MAO Type-B is important in the metabolism of dopamine and increases with cell death. So I've got dopamine-producing cells that are dead and dying (due to PD), which increases the levels of MAO Type-B, which, in turn, increases the metabolism of dopamine. This is bad, because I've already got a shortage of dopamine. I need more, not less. By inhibiting MAO Type-B, rasagiline can limit its metabolic effects on dopamine, leaving more dopamine in my system.
I took an Azilect pill before bed last night. I haven't noticed much difference in my PD symptoms today, but importantly, I don't notice any side effects either. This is all good. Hopefully it will stay that way for a while.
Have a great Fourth of July holiday. Best to you and your families. I'll be back in a couple of weeks.
Take care,
Marc
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