I read my last blog before writing today....it seems that I was excited about clothes that fit and wearing them. DONE  OVER  FINISHED with that nonsense.!!!! Back to loose, baggy, roomy and comfortable ( what made me think that I could change who I am and what I wear ?)
I tried, really I did !! 

2019 is almost over and I am looking forward to a fall-free year in 2020.( not counting minor trips or tumbles and stumbles ....bruises okay no breaks please).

PD is here to stay so I just will have to "deal" (whatever that means) with it. I think everyone feels that way about something in their world.

 My plan is to
* Remember when all else fails there is always a Law and Order and SVU and CI to watch.
 *Hope for impeachment
 * Welcome a healthy new baby to the family

Happy and Healthy New Year !!

Diane

Now that I look at the picture I think I look SAD which I AM NOT !!! 

Perfectly happy,  but yes I am a little nervous. Why ??? Because for the 1st time in the 55 or so years that I have been picking  out what to wear.....I actually purchased shirts and pants.....that are the correct size  AND WORE THEM ALL DAY!!

Yes, it was weird for me. I kept checking any mirror I passed to see if I was fully clothed.

I graduated from MCPS in June 1968. The dress code for girls at that time was skirts or dresses only. Except of course the vile, hideous one piece GYM SUIT that you had to take home every Friday and bring back CLEAN on Monday. (my mother used to iron our gym  clothes). Hated skirts and matching sweaters (Villager and John Meyer).

BUT THEN in September 1968 MCPS abolished the DRESS CODE !!!! SURE........now..........when it was too late.

What does this random clothing blog have to do with Parkinsons ?
NOTHING , just tired of writing about random Parkinsons. You have heard it all.....dyskinesia, balance, tremors, and totally unexpected daily fluctuations despite drugs, acupuncture , food......it is so WHATEVER.........

I will try to write more coherently next time
Maybe I shouldn't enjoy the side effects of MEDICAL reefers (as my father called it) and write at the same time.

Whatever

***No talking today about Parkinson Disease or  Therapy or Acupuncture or anything body or brains related. White (the cat) is sleeping, hiding, 
relaxing and thinking...all healthy activities I try to accomplish each day!!!  ***   

Sleeping

Thinking

Remember M&Ms melted in your mouth not in your hand ? Well mine melted in my hand and in the bowl !!! Kinda like art??

The partially empty plastic jar was holding the last of the birdseed...it was in the garage...and a toothy rodent chewed through it and did it in such a way that it sorta looked like cat ears (use your imagination !! And thats all folks !!! WHATEVER

t

It's been awhile since I have posted any news, mainly because I have tried to take it slowly and minimize my activities so as NOT fall, trip, stumble, misstep, or crash into a floor or wall or grass or trees. 
Its a little boring but so is surgery and rehab. I have a walker on every level of the house. I have a walker in the car and a walker for outdoors. I have made solemn vows to family and friends to go NOWHERE without a walker. Canes are not helpful for me. 
I have learned a lot about the world of walkers. (and wheelchairs). 
1.There are few automatic door openers (push the button to open)  but there are lots of people to hold the door (restaurants, smaller shops, office buildings).  
2. Its tricky getting the walker in and out of the car when you are by yourself BUT it can be done (slowly)
3.There are so many different kinds of walkers....
wheeled, no wheels, with seats, with and without brakes. My favorite has a seat, storage, hand brakes and its blue.
4). Certain stores are more accessible than others for walkers. My current favorite is Target...covered parking, always shopping carts nearby so I can then push the cart to the store where I can get a riding cart to shop. They are fast and fun and yes I have knocked over a few cardboard displays...no one hurt !!
5) Sidewalks are sometimes treacherous..dips, cracks, uneven pavement, tree roots...

All bird feeders are gone from the front yard and back yard. I'm now concentrating on plants on the new deck, and (with assistance) decorative wind blower 'things' in the back.

So....doing okay....I can sit in the front or back of the house and breathe. And enjoy the trees and greenery and squirrels and chipmunks and car sounds from 270 !!

Whatever

I'm home recuperating from the hip surgery ....doing pretty well. I have a PT coming 2x a week. I have a home health care aid who is GREAT !! There is still pain in my hip and leg but for the most part 800 Ibuprofen works well enough.....I won't take anything stronger. If I time the dosages correctly ...like take one in the middle of the night (when I'm awake anyway) then it makes it that much easier to move (my body) first thing in the morning.

I am trying to put this all in perspective ....Parkinsons, falls, my risky behaviors ( like moving sticks and stones), walking with a walker forever (maybe)....

Maybe its time to move to a single level condo. Maybe give up my obsessions about feeding every bird and squirrel in N. Bethesda....

Instead of creating huge rock gardens make little ones (not sure what to do with them ??)  

I definitely DO NOT WANT TO go through this kind of  trauma again and will do what is necessary to avoid hazardous situations,   This latest fall was unpredictable and seemingly had no cause (didn't trip, stumble, feel dizzy)  I just went down  !!! That's what makes Parkinson's such a stupid, tricky, nasty, mean, unrelenting disease.

Could be worse I know. Way worse. 

Whatever

Good Morning Friends and Family

I fell last week. In the house. Holding my granddaughters hand. No obstacles in the way. No dizziness. No wine or weed. Just fell.
Hard on the wood floor. I knew it was bad because I couldn't move at all. Much drama happening all at once...my son, daughter in law and daughter and  2 grand kids were visiting from out of town... (for Passover).  911 responded quickly...went to Suburban Hospital  X-rays and scans showed that I had broken my right hip.

So I had surgery the next morning. It was a break called an anterior which is in the front of the hip. Different than the break 6 years ago on my left hip. 2 days later I was transported to the Hebrew Home Rehab. It was very interesting moving process The social workers at Suburban determine which facility would be the best place for my recovery but mostly which rehab had room right away. As it turned out the Hebrew Home is 5 minutes from my home. If I could move more easily I could walk home !!! (escape if necessary!!)

This is a very different experience than the 1st hip replacement 6 years ago and the hip replacement/hip repairs last year. I am not in horrendous pain around my hip (very sore of course ) but I suffered extensive bruising on my right side sorta where my ribs are and kinda upper thigh...
I tried to handle it with Tylenol only but it was too much. Now I'm taking Tramadol which seems to take the edge off.

This week I will do 1 hour of PT and 1 hour of OT each day. I hope I can go home in a week or so.

I am still feeling WHATEVER !!! (positive) because I WILL be okay...I won't be moving any rocks or stones for a while but I can walk ( I have 4 walkers, 4 canes, a wheelchair and 2 pairs of walking sticks and other equipment).
I can watch Jeopardy....do crosswords....the important things in life !!!

That's all folks

Diane

springtime

Let's start with the PD part of pdpluscats......

I HAVE PARKINSONS DISEASE...SO......

I trip, I stumble, I fall

I take MANY meds

I read about PD on websites

I feel fine and I feel lousy

I exercise and rest

I always hope for the best and  I have PD

Now about cats. We are still very sad about Monkey. White is adjusting slowly. She likes to go to Monkey's favorite spots to sleep (White never slept on this bed....it was Monkeys place.)

 

I have been watching Jeopardy since Art Fleming was host. I hope Alex Trebek is doing okay and will hit the Daily Double of miracle cures.

Getting ready for the Seder here on Saturday night and really looking forward to it.

I heard that Lola will be singing my favorite (not!!!)

Passover song......Dayenu

Can't wait !!!!

So until next Happy Holidays and of course

Whatever

Good Bye Monkey

Today is a very sad day for the Tunis family because our beloved Monkey is now in kitty heaven with family and friends playing with toys and catnip and climbing trees and trying to catch squirrels  and birds. Monkey was an inside cat who always wanted to explore the great outdoors! Now she can ! 

One of my favorite books is Judith Viorst's The Tenth Good Thing About Barney (a family's cat died) Here's some good things about Monk
1. She never killed a bird or mouse or ate them.
2. Monkey always used her litter boxes ..always
3. Monkey loved tuna from Bagel City and chicken from Popeyes
4. Not a finicky eater, (like Morris). liked any brand, any kind,     canned or dry
5. made herself comfortable in any cardboard box, especially boxes that were a little too small
6. The top of the cat tree was her favorite perch
7. Meowed melodically
8. Monkey kept her figure svelte and toned
9. Always waited at the door to greet visitors (and try a daring escape)
10. Monkey was warm and soft and loving

We will miss Miss Monkey Business

taking a nap at the bird and squirrel watching window

Monkey is sharing a box with a monkey

Sunshine on her tummy made her happy

 



This is the Zen Cat area in the woods . Metal and wood cat sculpture..
little toy cats on rocks..changes displays weekly
Monkey always hoped to visit one day Now she can.

whatever

Todays PD subject will be  Falling....
up, down, sideways, backwards, and forwards.
I have fallen numerous times during my PD career, each fall slightly different from the previous one SO even though I try NOT to repeat the latest mishaps, I fall. 
I have fallen inside the house, (stairs and steps).
I fell in my classroom (tripped over a kid who was sitting on the floor).
Lots of tumbles in the backyard wooded areas as well as  the grass lawns.
I have 5 walkers, 4 canes, a wheelchair , 4 walking sticks, a knee walker, sturdy hiking boots, and 3 grabbers. Hand rails on stairways in the house. Enough gear to climb The Rockies or maybe Sugarloaf Mt.
I have fallen standing still.

So what do I do about falling ? Be aware, think ahead OR don't go anywhere ever. Sit on the couch all day (I fell off the couch one day reaching for the remote). Any ideas ? Let me know.

Good Morning All !!

I decided to take a break from BLOG writing for a little while. I got a notification from my blog service (don't know who or what that is) I think Google....will be making changes....don't know what they are....

Maybe I should take some time to actually learn how to use the computer and phone as well. I went to Apple last week because I thought I was having a battery problem. I didn't . As the very kind and patient young Apple guy was showing me 'stuff' I could only think "who knew....really ? ....I had no idea....",

In general life is fine. That means as a person with PD. Good days, challenging days, meds that work, meds that don't work. I can drive, which is a huge factor in maintaining independence . Unwavering support from family and friends. Using equipment more such as walkers and canes and grabbers . I move sticks and stones and bricks. I am ok.

If you want you can always write to me for questions and comments at dianegtunis@gmail.com. I give advice and opinions freely. (only when asked !!)

Diane

*******   BREAKING NEWS    **********

I have a Urinary Tract Infection !!!!!!!!!!! And that is why I have had SO MUCH trouble the last few weeks with the new med I had been taking to alleviate PD problems  and symptoms such as dyskinesia and gait and balance issues.After numerous attempts of adjustment my internist (and neurology  team) ordered blood work and a urine analysis.

It took a week to get the results. The urine test showed that I have a
UTI which considering I experienced NO SYMPTONS certainly came as a surprise. I have since learned that a UTI can disrupt all PD meds and behaviors. I am on an antibiotic, off the new med (for now) and slowly getting back( PD wise) to where I was in December.

**** VERY IMPORTANT lessons learned. The most important one is that if your neurologist is part of a university practice FORGET reaching them on a weekend or holiday...there will be only 1 neurologist on call for ALL patients who are seen at Georgetown clinics plus anyone coming into the hospital for emergencies. I NOW know better and more effective ways to communicate with my team M-F and that my internist is the go to guy on weekends.

**** PD is complicated and variant and tricky and confusing and stupid and annoying. I never know what to expect. Even though I have been around PD my whole life it seems like everyday brings surprises and challenges. 

I am sorry to report that I cannot thank the new med that I have been trying out for the last few weeks.The pills, which were supposed to improve all kind of PD symptoms, did not improve them at all and in fact, unfortunately, made them worse. 
In addition to that I had a terrible time reaching my doctor because he is part of Georgetown University and therefore is not available on weekends. It was last Saturday and I waited more that 7 hours for the hospital on call neurologist to return my call.....I was able to reach my primary care physician meantime and he reduced the dosage and when I finally was able to talk to my neurologist Monday we discontinued the drug. The lesson learned this week is that if your neurologist is part of a Movement Disorders practice at a university then best of luck reaching them other than 9 to 5 M-F
I have begun to collect names of other neurologists in private practice should I decide to make a change.

Good news !!! Maybe a little snow this weekend!

Good news !!! Since I don't drink wine anymore and have cut way down on sugar I am at ALMOST my goal weight which is the weight that is on my drivers license !

Good news !!! Since I moved the bird feeders indoors at night no more deer. I also have the feeders higher from the ground and away from trees so the squirrels are having a harder time.

Good news !!! I can still drive, walk, talk, and complain. No recent falls. 
And still feeling Whatever !!!!

I have had a very interesting learning experience over the last 10 days .....I have started yet another PD drug. Its supposed to minimize  dystonia ( involuntary movements) and other PD symptoms ......there are many. Mine includes losing balance, trouble getting my legs to go forward, not sleeping peacefully, nighttime trips to the bathroom, short term memory loss (did I just take that pill?) , some OCD, anxiety and the list goes on.
Fortunately (not really) some of these issues are age related .I know because my friends of a similar age say the SAME THING !!!

But since I am on a new med my neurologist made me promise to use my walker at all times, in and out of the house, until I  become accustomed to it. And this is where I experienced things I had never paid attention to. I have many different walkers, one for each floor, one for the car, and one for walking outside. Now I will pay attention to where I am going, such as a mall, and where their elevators are located. Montgomery Mall has elevators at far ends of the mall, very inconvenient for anyone with wheels. I remember when the mall had an elevator right in the middle of the center. 

Another thing I learned is walking with a walker in the neighborhood is tricky. Streets and sidewalks are uneven, and the curbs do not always have a safe way to get up or down.I never noticed that when I walked without a walker.

I'm not trying to complain but I have certainly are more aware of the numerous challenges for those who need wheels to get around.Before now I didn't  think about it even though my mother used a walker and wheelchair because it wasn't ME.

Happy 2019 !!! and of course WHATEVER !!!!!!