A Typical Day With Parkinsons

     
        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 of this medical stuff is just stuff.  I guess people can only understand the worst thing that has ever happened to them. And there is absolutely NOTHING worse than losing a child, unless someone has lost more than one child.
       On the way home, I had to stop for gas.  Whenever I can I go to the gas station where they pump the gas for me! When I got home, I read my email.  Then I called about Olivia's computer.  I put n an insurance claim because the sound doesn't work.  I finally got through and they told me that I didn't send in the paperwork?? What paperwork? This was my third phone call and the first tie I heard about filling out paperwork.  So I had to call and get copies of the original receipt from the computer store.  I am working on fixing a term paper for Olya.  Writing is not a great strength of hers because she was adopted from Ukraine at age 11.  She speaks fine but has  a lot of grammatical errors that I help her fix.  Computer grammar check and spell check are Godsends for ESL students and dyslexic students. I made lunch, Ellios Pizza, and ate in front of the TV while watching an old episode of Dr Phil. I cleaned the kitchen counters and started the dishwasher.  Then I called my bereaved mom  friend and invited her to go to Bingo with Priscilla and I and some other bereaved moms.  I read my Facebook messages, went on a few Facebook pages, worked on Olya's paper and sent it back to her, and started writing this blogpost.  My life with Parkinson's is not that different than my life before Parkinson's. I don't have tremors as of now, but I have difficulty with walking.  It is nice when Dan is with me and drops me off at the door and gets my walker out for me.  Right now I can still do those things myself but it takes more time.  It does take me longer to get dressed and showered, I have to use a shower chair and sit while showering.  I am thinking of letting my hair go gray but haven't done it yet.  When I finish this blogpost, I am going to sit and read my book for book club.  I read it a few years ago so I need to reread it.  The book is Lilac Girls and it is really good! I have to pick up Olivia from cosmetology school at 4 and stop and buy something for dinner.  If Dan goes with me, food shopping is just so much easier! My life is not that different right now.  I am reading everything I can about Parkinson's and I do not like reading about the progression of the disease, it is very scary!

Comments

  1. Donna LizMarch 23, 2019 at 3:24 PM

    I am so sorry to hear about your daughter...it has to be devastating!
    Parkinson's is scary...I told my children that I was going to be an ostrich and bury my head in the sand! I did not want to know what was next. Finally, I discovered these wonderful sites on Facebook where other people share their issues, good and bad, about their experiences with PD and it has helped to know that others are having the same issues. I don't feel alone.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. cmfMarch 23, 2019 at 7:33 PM

      Thank you Donna Liz, it means a lot to me that you said that, it truly is devastating.

      Delete
  2. tamMarch 30, 2019 at 5:13 PM

    you are absolutely right about the pain of losing a child, parents were never supposed to outlive their children! it is just as bad, maybe worse, to have them tell you they no longer want you in thier life and walk away from you and your family WITH their children! it is hard to know they are still alive and well and you cant talk to or see them. anyway, my empathy is with you both in parkinsons and in the loss of your daughter. i cant think of anything harder.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. cmfMarch 30, 2019 at 8:53 PM

      thank you so much Tam. I would give my own life for my daughter to be alive even if she had nothing to do with me.

      Delete

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