LaCanada  1968

YEAR (FILE ) SUBJECT
---- ------- -----------------------------------------------------
1962 (0145) John Griffin on his back in the living room

15 JAN 1968 STATEMENT OF HEALTH CONDITION
This is a statement as to my own appraisal of my condition. This is made so I may have a means of comparison with prior years which also should be contained in this envelope. I still go to Dr. John Wagner, John Cooper (urologist) and Dr. Bonderant (an internist) I have not seen Bonderant since Jan 13, 1966. I will see him soon. I am taking Disipal. I tried switching to artane but the side effects (nervousness, dificulty of speaking walking etc) were more than I could bare. Dr. Bonderant put me back on indocin but told me to take a glass of milk with each pill. It has worked out pretty well. I was able to help trim the hybiscus and put up the xmas lights this year. I took them down without any help and, it did not seem too much of a task The difficulty in walking, typing writing putting on and buttoning my shirts, coat etc. Ihave a great deal of trouble getting into and out of bed. Each day it is a little worse. I have almost constant pain in my back, near shoulder blades. also a bad pain on my left side down low. I am especially bothered while riding in a car. Constipation is about the same. Not bad if I take laxative every day. If I miss a day I am in trouble. I still drive a car and got my drivers license good for 4 years. My posture is terrible and getting worse every day. I have no energy. Simplest jobs seem too much for me.

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"More recently I heard of L-Dopa being used with good results. At first it was difficult to find someone who was handling the drug. My son who graduated in medicine at Stanford called the Medical School and found out who was [handling L-Dopa]. He made an appointment for me and early in February 1969 I went to Stanford for treatment.

"I was hospitalized for two weeks during which I was supposed to become used to the drug. L-Dopa has has so many side effects among which are anxiety. After the two weeks I was sent home. Shortly thereafter I developed the feeling that L-Dopa was detrimental to me and my doctor suggested that I return to Palo Alto which I did. I stayed in Palo Alto two more weeks. Since that time I have taken L-Dopa regularly and to me it is truly the mirical drug. I can get in and out of bed, I have no trouble initiating action, and my walking has improved substantially.

"All during this time I have suffered with this pain in my back. I hasn't been bad at times but it has been there and getting worse all the time. Last August my daughter wanted to go to the grocery store. She was unable to get the car started and so I gave her a push. I could feel something go in my back but it wasn't painful. Two or three hours later I began to have pains in my back. Every day they got a little worse until now (while typing this letter) I can hardly stand it."

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