Life after Parkinson’s

Sept. 6, 2012, 10:06 a.m.

Despite the restrictions that Parkinsons Disease brings, John Coppens has adapted so that he can still do the things he enjoys.

Coppens was diagnosed with Parkinsons 12 years ago at the age of 46 while working as a fitter at the steelworks. The first indication of the disease was a sore shoulder, followed by dyskinesia - involuntary movements.

Its a hideous disease, Coppens says, sitting in his Corrimal lounge room with wife Anna.

He relies on a walker to get around and carries a pump and tube that works all day to deliver Duodopa intestinal gel which controls the severe involuntary movements of advanced Parkinsons. Luckily, the Duodopa is being provided as part of a medical trial otherwise, Coppens says, it would cost about $76,000 a year to stay on the medication.

Because the effectiveness of medication used to treat the disease wears off over time, Coppens has been through a myriad of treatments, including Apomorphine which requires 12 injections each day.

Even now, with the intestinal gel, once Coppens turns off the pump at 10pm he can only sleep for about two hours before the movements increase and wake him up.

And the medication has side effects. The nausea is the worst ... my appetites gone, he says.

Adds Anna: I was worried at one stage that hed lost so much weight that he might have cancer.

Getting out of bed in the morning isnt easy either. He needs to follow routine exercises and it takes at least 30 minutes for the Duodopa gel to kick in.

See more here:
Life after Parkinson’s