A retired nurse has said a new drug therapy for Parkinson's disease has given her "a chance at living a life" after becoming one of the first patients in Norfolk to receive it. Janice Fuller, 64, of Hopton, was diagnosed with the disease in 2015 having first experienced symptoms in 2012. Last month she underwent a new treatment called produodopa, which has recently been introduced at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) after an NHS rollout earlier this year.
Equipment for produodopa used by the NNUH (Image: NNUH) The treatment sees patients given two drugs, foslevodopa and foscarbidopa, which are steadily released into the bloodstream using a pump via a portable kit worn 24 hours a day. Ms Fuller began using the treatment at the NNUH on September 23 this year and said she is already seeing a noticeable difference. She said: "Produodopa is not a cure, but it does control some of the symptoms.
"Over the last year I have spent most of my days in pain and having dystonic spasms. "I was virtually housebound before and had people come to check on me, to make sure I was able to get to the kitchen to have something to eat or drink. "I had no quality of life, but now, having been given the opportunity to take this new treatment, my pain is reduced.
"I am hopeful that if this continues then at least I have a chance at living a life and having a future." The treatment means she has the pump attached to her stomach around the clock. She added: "It won't suit everyone and I.