Paul's Update - 07/12/06

Dear Friends:

Today was a more normal day. Paul felt a bit better and was able to eat better. He was wide awake most of today. Tabby & Dad took Paul to the neurologist today. I believe I told you it was suppose to be a Friday appointment but we got our appointment dates confused. Friday Tabby has an appointment with the Social Security Office to get Social Security for Max. Anyway ... the neurologist told them that he will be working with the drugs do see if the Dilantin will actually work for Paul. He wants Paul to take his medicines twice a day to even out the amount he is getting over a 24 hour period. In about ten days Paul will have more blood tests. If the Med levels are good he will gradually decrease the Depacote over the next few weeks. He will attempt to lower the Depacote by 250mg instead of 500 and see if Paul can tolerate that change without seizures. A therapeutic blood level of Dilantin is general considered to be 10-20 mcg/mL. The doctor wants to have a "trough level" (the lowest level of the drug in Paul's blood just prior to his next dosage) no lower than a 12 ... he was at 6. At that level a patient will have seizures. Once Paul's trough level of the Dilantin is 12 or more we can start decreasing the Depacote. The doctor told Tabby that she should call him first if Paul has another seizure instead of calling 911 and going to the hospital. He will walk her through some steps to take prior to deciding if a hospital visit is necessary. After they got back from the doctor's Paul ate lunch. He did well with it. He ate 1/2 a ham & cheese sandwich and some macaroni salad. He was more responsive today. Yesterday he answered "no" to almost everything but today he answered more appropriately. He walked a bit today and he had better posture while walking. He's enjoying the new cable and watched movies this afternoon. Thursday the nurse will come and evaluate Paul. He seems close to being back to where he was prior to the seizures. Praise God!

Have a blessed day! Lynne & Carl

P.S. Please pray for Suzann George and her family as her father passed away today. He had been very ill for some time.