UK dad Damien Gath got a new lease on life after extraordinary treatment helped manage his Parkinson’s disease.
Gath was one of the first patients in the UK to be fitted with a portable pump that gradually releases the new drug Produodopa throughout the day to help manage symptoms, according to NHS England.
Produodopa or Foslevodopa-Foscarbidopa is a continuous infusion therapy recommended for patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease who experience severe changes in their movement abilities and for whom standard Parkinson’s medications no longer provide sufficient relief.
A remarkable video captured Gath making himself a cup of coffee inside his kitchen before and after the treatment.
Before starting treatment with the widespread drug, Gath’s wife recorded the 52-year-old struggling to mix his drink as tremors and other symptoms made it difficult for him to grip the spoon and stay still.
Days later, Gath was walking easily through the kitchen.
He grabbed the milk from the fridge and poured it into his mug before mixing the drink with no problem as the pump the size of a water bottle hung from his belt.
Gath, who was first diagnosed with Parkinson’s 12 years ago, has been under the care of Sherwood Forest Hospitals since 2016 and received his first Produodopa treatment in July, according to the English healthcare system.
“It’s been incredible and life-changing — the massive difference is that now there are no fluctuations,” Gath said of the treatment. “So immediately after the first treatment, I was able to make a cup of coffee more easily and go to the supermarket.”
He started the new treatment after his condition worsened and he took four separate drugs by mouth six times a day to try to control the involuntary movements that made daily activities a challenge.
“The massive difference is that now there are no fluctuations,” he explained, as the treatment has also given him a better night’s sleep.
“I’m also sleeping a lot better and the duvet doesn’t feel like a ton of weight on my legs – I can turn over when I want.”
Gath says he had significant pain at night and could not sleep or roll over before taking Produodopa.
The effects of oral drugs are reduced at night causing significant fluctuations in his condition.
The infusion treatment, which Gath is trained to administer himself, provides the patient with minimal fluctuations, a common experience with oral drugs.
The patient can also administer an additional dose when needed.
Produodopa is currently only available in the United Kingdom and the European Union, according to the Movement Disorders Clinic.
Gath isn’t the only one thankful for the popular drug, as his wife says the couple can do more activities together.
“We’ve always tried to keep doing normal everyday things like going out for a meal,” said Amanda Gath, “But sometimes it was hard to deal with the lack of understanding from people around you and it made me very protective of Damien.
“Now, we’re like any other couple enjoying ourselves,” she added.
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Image Source : nypost.com