At age 70 in 2012, Ann was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease - also known as just PD. The 10 years from 2012 to 2022 followed the "normal" progression of PD, as much as any progression of PD is normal.
Over the years, as the PD symptoms increased in severity, Ann progressed through the whole range of PD medications; standard oral, dispersible oral, transdermal patches and finally self-administered subcutaneous injections.
Immediately after diagnosis, Ann joined a GYM and began an exercise regime to help slow the symptom progression. And then in 2022 Ann supplemented her GYM work with a twice a week chair based exercise class - also aimed at slowing the progression of her PD symptoms.
Eventually the medications were becoming ineffective in controlling the PD symptoms, and this is fairly normal with PD.
When the medications in their various forms and combinations no longer deliver the symptom relief to provide a satisfactory Quality of Life - QoL - a different approach is needed.
By the end of 2022, this was the situation for Ann. Her QoL had decreased substantially as had her ability to perform everyday simple tasks. At this point her Neurologist referred Ann to a Movement Disorder Specialist Neurologist who also worked with advanced therapies for PD patients.
At that time, 2023, one of the available therapies to address Ann's symptoms and reduced QoL was just the delivery of Levodopa via continuous intestinal administration straight into the intestine bypassing the stomach.
In July 2023, Ann had her Duodopa Pump fitted in a hospital.
The pages in this small website describe in detail the Duodopa Pump and discusses Ann's journey with the pump resulting in the restoration of her QoL including the ability to resume previously discarded everyday activities.
In 2025 Levodopa delivery via subcutaneous infusion over 24 hours a day became available in various countries. It is approved for use in Australia, but as of March 2025, is not on the subsidised medication list.
In addition, there is a subcutaneous infusion of a Dopamine Agonist, Apomorphine, via a pump also worn 24 hours a day. This treatment is certainly not new as it has been available for some decades.
The only other major therapy for treatment of PD symptoms that are not responding to conventional medications is Deep Brain Stimulation - DBS.
Ann was aged out of the DBS, but was not a suitable candidate as DBS is mainly aimed at addressing uncontrolled tremors - a symptom that Ann did not have.
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