[Expert Solution]: Fill in the blanks with the correct terms

Fill in the blanks with the correct terms. 1. Muscles that are not used become wasted, or _________________. 2. Some diseases are characterized by remissions and _________________. 3. Nerve pain is also called _________________. 4. An early symptom of myasthenia gravis is drooping eyelids, also called _________________. 5. Symptoms of Guillain-Barré syndrome are caused by _________________ of axons. 6. Myasthenia gravis is sometimes treated with _________________, which separates blood cells from plasma to remove antibodies. 7. Muscle twitching, or _________________, occurs in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. 8. Medications for myasthenia gravis that can increase acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction are called _________________ agents. 9. PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DISORDERS Underline incorrect information in the following case studies. Write the correct information in the space provided. 1 Ms. Mary Garvey sees her physician because she has been seeing double off and on for several weeks and has been fatigued. Her physician suspects myasthenia gravis and schedules her for a carotid ultrasound. He confirms his suspicions with a Tensilon (edrophonium) test. He explains to Ms. Garvey that she has a disease that is characterized by a decrease in the neurotransmitter norepinephrine. He begins her on pyridostigmine (Mastadon) and prednisone. Her nurse teaches her the importance of getting regular exercise and recommends joining a local health and exercise club. 2 Mr. Tom Newby has a history of trigeminal neuralgia. He enters the emergency department with severe pain in his left wrist. The physician orders a narcotic analgesic because Mr. Newby’s third cranial nerve is inflamed. Once the acute pain has subsided, Mr. Newby is discharged with instructions to get plenty of fresh air and take gabapentin (Neurontin) as ordered. 3 Mrs. Mattie Schultz is admitted with exacerbated multiple sclerosis (MS). Her legs are becoming weaker, causing difficulty walking, and she has been having difficulty swallowing. You know that buildup of myelin on her neurons is responsible for her weakness. You check her for stressors that might have caused her exacerbation, such as a urinary tract infection (UTI) or upper respiratory tract infection. Mrs. Schultz is started on thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) to stimulate her thyroid, which will help reduce her symptoms. She is also placed on trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim) for the UTI you identified through your excellent data collection and on diazepam (Valium) for urinary retention. CRITICAL THINKING Read the following case study and answer the questions. Reverend Wilson is a 50-year-old minister who sees his physician when he develops weakness in his arms and legs and has difficulty carrying out his job duties. He is diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). 1 Reverend Wilson’s wife asks what ALS is. How do you describe it to her? 2 Reverend Wilson returns to the physician’s office several months after his diagnosis because he fell walking to the podium to preach. What is happening? What can he do about it? 3 Reverend Wilson is concerned about continuing in his job and asks if his mind is going to be affected. How do you respond? 4 He develops painful muscle spasms. What medications might be ordered to help relieve them? 5 Reverend Wilson stabilizes for a while. A year later, he is admitted to the hospital with aspiration pneumonia. What probably happened? What nursing diagnosis is appropriate in this situation? List an appropriate goal and two or three interventions. 6 Reverend Wilson’s condition deteriorates, and he has to retire. He becomes confined to a wheelchair. He has a gastrostomy tube inserted because he is no longer able to swallow. What additional nursing diagnoses are now appropriate?