Good Times, Bad Times
I try very hard to keep my Parkinson's stories on the light side. Who would want to read depressing news all the time? Who would want to write that all the time?
But there is a serious side to this. I've heard stories from people who have had family members with Parkinson's. It's not pretty.
It's funny to make a fall sound like an episode of The Three Stooges. The bruise reminds you it's not all that funny.
Friday night, I had dinner with my daughter, Kimi. We were at her Temple for a Shabbat dinner. I grabbed a pitcher of water and spilled it while trying to pour it into a glass. I told her it was the pitchers fault, not mine. When I spilled some grape juice, well that blew my cover story.
I've asked her numerous times in the last year, if she could tell any difference in me. This was the first time the answer was yes.
Something similar happened the next night. I was handed a full pitcher to pour some drinks. I looked at the people I was with and both knew it was better if they poured...and they did.
A couple of my symptoms have worsened. My hands are nowhere near as steady as they were a year ago.
I've tried like Hell to keep off true Parkinson's medication. There are a lot of different ones and they all have some kind of side effect. Depending on the drug, the side effects range from impaired memory, confusion, hallucinations, skin turning purple and developing compulsive behaviors. That last one does sound intriguing but I think you see why I don't want to start usuing these meds.
Now before we get all weepy, this stuff isn't a daily occurrence. Most days are pretty good. I just take things a little slower.
Almost everyday, I go to a local Panera Bread and have some hot tea. I try to relax for an hour. It usually helps. Naps help me, too.
When it doesn't, I pop a Valium and play some soothing music. Sunday, it was Led Zepplin I. Apparently those hallucinations have started even without taking the PD meds. I guess my brain had a Communication Breakdown.
There is good news. People do live long and fulfilling lives with Parkinson's. Last week, I ran a couple of lists that showed famous people with Parkinson's. Almost all were in their early to mid- 70's. I'd take that right now.
There are a lot of clinical trials for new meds. One breakthrough was a drug that treated the disease and not the symptoms.
There's a lot of hope and a lot of reasons to be thankful. On Sunday, I'll be with a few thousand people who are in the same boat as me. Sadly, most will be in worse condition.
I have to remember it's an inconvenience and not a death sentence. Try to keep positive. But on those real bad days, a Valium or two and Led Zeppelin goes a long ways.