POSITIVE with PARKINSONS

         Today I woke up and still felt really good! I have lost five pounds, which I really needed to lose. I didn't even really try to lose it. I think the death of my friend Roe has really affected me.  I also was having such a hard time with my Parkinson's and sciatica.  Maybe the combination of the three things helped me lose the weight.  5 down, 50 to go!! I cleaned my bedroom and got dressed and even used my flat iron, I don't usually bother. My problem is that my appetite is back full force!! Today was a use my walker all freaking day!  I started to wane about 3 pm.  I don't know why, maybe the weather but I had baby steps and the shuffling two and three step frozen gait.  I don't know why!  THERE IS NO RHYME OR REASON TO THIS DREADED DISEASE!  We went to the cemetery and I got out of the car but I had a hard time, then we went to the dollar store for me to get new hair brushes because my daughter Olivia keeps stea...

          My neurologist, who is a Parkinson's specialist, increased my carbidopa-levodopa by a half tablet three times a day. I had seen another neurologist in Jan who wasn't sure what I had but prescribed levodopa.  I take one 25/100 mg tablet and a half tablet which is 12.5 mg I guess.  So now, instead of taking 75 mg a day, I am taking 112.5.  IT HAS MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE in my walking, which is my main problem!!!! I started the increase in dosage yesterday.  My neurologist said it might help or I might not feel any different at all. This morning, I got up, took my meds, and started cleaning my bathroom. I forgot I had Parkinson's!  I dyed my gray roots, showered and dressed. I had to use my shower chair because I close my eyes when I rinse off the hair dye and I was afraid I'd fall.  But I didn't feel wobbly or off balance at all.  I didn't use my walker at all!  I kept it near me, like a safety net, just in case ...

       Yesterday I received the official diagnosis.  I knew that I was having some type of problem for close to a year but I attributed all of my issues to my painful sciatica. I always thought that I would have tremors with a Parkinson's type disease so I sort of ruled that out of my mind.  Eventually I had to give up the dream of my problems being only sciatica. I knew there was something not quite right!         Today I met my friend Helen for lunch.  She is a very positive and upbeat person and I really enjoy being around her so that was a nice start to my day! After I was with Helen, Dan and I left to go visit Olya at school and go to the movies. Dan really wanted to see Captain Marvel.  I didn't think about my sciatica the entire day!! No Pain from it!! My friend Nancy gave me her mother's walker which has a seat.  It is lightweight and easy to use,  I used it today!  I now have a walker in each car an...

         Today I went to my chiropractor in the morning.  I just love him, he is such a nice person and really good  at what he does.  I don't know why some people don't believe in chiropractors. He is the ONLY person who  has helped relieve most of my sciatica.  And sciatica pain is intensely painful!!I am definitely a believer in deep tissue laser massage. It just feels like a warm back massage running up and down your back.  It does not hurt at all and the relief is quick and soothing. ( Deep Tissue Laser Therapy is a revolutionary technology that helps decrease pain , without drugs or surgery. The Class 4 Laser in the Lightforce EX works through photobiomodulation. ... Quite simply, if it hurts, Deep Tissue Laser Therapy can help. Laser therapy uses a process called photobiomodulation . Photons enter the tissue and interact with the cytochrome c complex within mitochondria. This interaction triggers a biological cascade of e...

             Today I had a doctor appointment with my orthopedic doctor.  He gave me a shot in my hip because I have so much pain walking.  He said my x-ray was good, it didn't show any arthritis  so my pain is probably bursitis.  The shot worked, I feel so much better! My Appointment was at 10:00 a m so I had to get up at 7:30 a m to shower, get dressed and put on make-up. All of my movements are so freaking SLOW!!  I don't always do the make-up thing but I was meeting my two best friends from college for lunch! I wasn't sure I'd have time to put on make-up after my doctor appointment.   I left my house at 9:15 to get to my appointment.  I had to take my meds, lug my walker out to the car, and off I went.  I got to the medical building about 9:45 and then went in after I lugged my walker out of the trunk.  I parked in a handicapped space, but it was pretty far away from where I was heading.  I ...

                   I don't know if depression is associated with Parkinson's but I think it is. I think I was in total denial that I had Parkinson's for the past two months.  I kept thinking I was incorrectly diagnosed and would wake up without this dreaded disease! Now I get it, I totally have it and it is not going away and it is not getting any better. I HAVE PARKINSON'S.  I have to acknowledge that I have it.  I HAVE PARKINSON'S.  I had breast cancer about 8 years ago, took one day off  from work, a Friday, for a lumpectomy,  and went to work the following Monday.  I got up an hour early and had radiation every morning before work for 6 weeks. I remember lying on the table in all my glory, breasts exposed and waiting for the doctor to come in.  The techs could not start treatment until the doctor was in the building.  And he was ALWAYS late!  The techs would get me all set up on t...

         Last April of 2018,  I got sciatica. At first, I thought I had a pulled muscle and it would go away. It became so painful so quickly that I had to stop going to the gym.  I went to my family doc and he sent me to PT.  I also started taking over the counter pain meds like Advil or Aleve.  I took so many that I developed Pancreatitis and had to be hospitalized for about 10 days.  Afterwards, I went back to PT and started seeing a pain management doctor.  I got 4 shots in my back over the course of a few months to the tune of $1200 per shot.  None of them worked longer than 24 hours. I had to use a cane to walk and eventually had to use a walker.  I started seeing a new pain management doctor about the time that my daughter Renee, a PA, suggested I get tested for Parkinson's to get it ruled out.  The problem was that it got ruled in.  The last shot I got in my back from my new pain management doctor work...

            Today was my first rock steady boxing class for Parkinson's sufferers.  I had to go to the beginner's class because I still have my walker some days.  This class only has 5 people in it.  The other people all had caretakers with them.  when I was evaluated I told them that I was not going to bring a caretaker with me because I didn't need one.  Dan happened to drive me today because we were going to food shop after.  He sat out in the waiting room.  The assistant told him that he had to stay and he said no, I'm not going to do that, my wife is fine without me.  I don't understand why she would say that because I went over it with the instructor and the evaluator.  Dan left to go get coffee and the assistant came in and told the instructor that Dan left even though she told him he had to stay. She did NOT like that he left!   I spoke up and said, no, I have gone over this twice, I don't ne...

            Today Parkinson's won.  I am worn-out, bone weary, exhausted, tired,  weak, done in, spent, drained, run-down, sapped, and wasted today!I am done in for today. I try to be positive but today I am bushed and I am out of gas!  I don't know why. I had a good night's sleep, I took all my meds and I am trying to keep a positive outlook on life.   Today we went to the cemetery, and I couldn't even get out of the car.  Then we went to Pet Smart to find a new climbing pole and scratch pad for our cats. They are starting to scratch at my new couches because they have worn out the bottom scratching posts.  After Pet Smart, we went to Giant to food shop.  I really waned in Giant. I had to lean on the shopping cart and force my legs forward.  After we checked out, I got in the car and wanted to go to sleep but I didn't.  Dan unloaded the groceries and I made a  salad for lunch, Dan had gotten a salad...

         Today I had plans to go to Bingo with a few of my bereaved mom friends. I got up after 10 a m because I just could not go to sleep last night. I didn't go to bed until 3 a m. I think I was just too wound up from the funeral.  Seeing the woman who was diagnosed with Parkinson's 3 years ago also upset me.  No one wants this awful disease. She has a lot of difficulty walking and has terrible tremors.  I just see all of that in my future because it is a progressive disease. I know this disease is different for everyone but I think we all go through similar stages. I took a quick shower, got dressed, packed a few snacks, took my meds and got ready to leave.  I didn't need my walker much yesterday but I definitely needed it today!  Everyday with Parkinson's can be different.          After the funeral and luncheon yesterday, Dan and I drove 2 hours to visit Olya at school.  I am always happy to see Ol...

        Today was my friend Roe's funeral.  She died so quickly so it is hard for me to realize that she is really gone.  We got to the church and I saw that all my bereaved mom friends from our daytime group were there.  They are all such true blue loyal friends.  MJ, Lisa, Jill, Susanne, Adriana, and Nancy were all there to show support for Roe and her family.  I also saw people I knew from years ago who remained friendly with Roe.  Jean came in with a walker and after chatting with her I learned that she also has Parkinson's, she was diagnosed three years ago.  She sees the neurologist who I have an appointment with next week and said he was excellent.  I barely needed my walker today.  My chiropractor is amazing, he has almost totally relieved my sciatica which was so painful and I had almost a year.  It was nice to see Roe's friends,  Roe always talked fondly about her friend Angela who I knew years ago. ...

       Today is my friend Roe's funeral. I hope I can get through it OK.  She was such a wonderful person and a wonderful friend.  I know that her loss will be felt more deeply by her family but she was very much a part of my daily life.  Her son Steven died about four years ago and I like to think that he welcomed her into heaven and I know that she would be so happy to be with her son again.  Her burial is private, she is from a rather large family, so I will visit her when I visit Amy at the cemetery on Sunday. She only knew Amy as a little girl so I hope she remembers her.  It is difficult to think of heaven and what it is like.  Is everyone there with people they know and love?  Are evil people there?  If they were mentally ill on earth, do they get forgiven?  The Bible says that because Jesus died on the cross for us that all believers get to go to heaven.  It doesn't seem quite fair that someone beco...

              Today I went to my retina specialist. I got up early, showered, dressed, made my bed, took my meds and off I went.  I drove to the office, hung my handicap placard and got my walker out of the back seat and went to my appointment.  It is annoying and time consuming to have Parkinson's but it is not the end of the word, at least not yet!  All of the office workers know me because I am usually there once a month or every other month and I have been going for years!  This is the first time they saw me with a walker. Each one asked me if I had a knee problem or a hip problem.  When I told them that I was diagnosed with Parkinson's, they looked genuinely upset.  The same thing happened at my orthopedic doctor appointment yesterday. Of course, I don't like having this annoying disease, but I am still alive, can still drive and can still socialize with my friends!  After burying my 19 year old daughter, all ...

                Today I had to go to see my orthopedic doctor because I needed to get a shot in my shoulder because of my torn rotator cuff.  In the afternoon I had to go to my chiropractor appointment. I told my chiropractor that I feel like my social life is being replaced by doctor appointments!  On the way in the car, the song "Happy" by Pharrell Williams came on. It brought a smile to my face because I thought of the flash mob dance we did for Olivia's 18th surprise birthday party!  We surprised her at Uno, she just thought we were going out to dinner.  Renee, Olya, Natasha, my niece Erica and her friend Jennie,  a few of Olivia's friends, and I got together a few times to practice. Thank goodness that Renee could lead us.  We performed outside in the parking lot which is on West Chester Pike, a rather busy road  Cars actually stopped on the side of the road and watched us!! Waiters and waitresses a...

         I am still so sad about losing my girlfriend Roe. She was so nice and so sweet. It always amazes me....here one second and gone the next!  I have no idea why she had to die. Maybe she is happier in Heaven with her son, but I still wanted her here. I guess that sounds selfish but I think she was too young to die at age 60.  If there is a Heaven, I really hope she is with Amy too! If I get an opportunity to go to a decent psychic( if there are any),I hope she comes through. My  best friend Priscilla, who clinically died twice and has done a past life regression, says she KNOWS there is an afterlife.           Today I was walking around in my kitchen holding onto the counters. I have a center island… So I walked to the kitchen with my walker and then walked in the kitchen holding onto the counters while cleaning the sink and cleaning the counters. All of a sudden I felt weak and saw my walker was at the other end of...

                   I am back to using my walker. There is no rhyme or reason to my Parkinson's disease symptoms.  I am so upset about it.  I fell twice and I am so annoyed.  My mind keeps thinking I can get better, but I know that will not happen!  I thought the meds would even out my symptoms but I think I need stronger doses of my medication. I am seeing a new neurologist at the end of the month, he is supposedly a movement specialist, I can't wait to see him.         I got assessed at the gym for the Rock Steady Boxing classes. I have to start at the lowest level because I still need my walker.  Or I can do PT at the gym because I have a slip to do PT.  I will just see how I do at the first boxing class next week.         My friend Nancy is sending flowers to the family of our friend Roe who recently passed away. I am still so shook up about her death. She...

           It is with complete sadness that I write today's blog. It is very difficult to be positive about anything today.  My friend Roe died on Thur night. I am crying as I write this.  Roe was such a wonderful person. I miss her already.  She and I were friendly friends years ago when our kids were much younger.  We all belonged to a group of school moms and dads that hung around together.  Roe's husband Bert and my husband Dan were in Indian guides together and went camping, etc with a group of about ten dads and sons. Eventually we went our own way and I sort of lost contact with Roe.   Fast forward to Back to School Night about four years ago for Olivia and Olya when they were in high school.  One of the girls' teacher's was Mr. Locker, who had been in Indian Guides with his dad and Dan and Bert. He told Dan that he felt bad about what happened to Roe and Bert's son Steven.  He had recently died of a br...