I had a great time visiting Madison Wisconsin to see Jaime and Lola (and their parents Jeremy and Michelle)....weather and foliage perfect. Visited both girls schools.....Lola for Shabbat and Jaime for writing. I had daily chats with my friend the TurkeyVulture (as of yet unnamed...taking suggestions). Jaime told me that she saw the vulture laying eggs....I said "I don't think so" but then I researched where turkey vultures lay eggs and it is in wooded grassy areas, hollowed out tree stumps ??? so maybe she did see it. Too steep for me to investigate further !!!                                
Next blog will be about the daily life of a Parkie (me)

Weather Worries

It's such a gorgeous cool and sunny day this Tuesday that I can only hope it stays this way for a while (24 hrs?) 

I have always been obsessed with the weather. As a child we had a school dress code. Girls wore skirts or dresses only, no  pants.If it was really cold girls were allowed to wear long pants UNDER their skirts. In fact the year I graduated from high school (1968) someone from MCPS changed the dress code so starting September 1968 girls could wear pants, slacks, jumpsuits or jeans.
Too late.

Then I went to Syracuse University. Syracuse was cold and snowy 10 months a year and nobody cared what you were wearing. Classes were never cancelled. Ever.

When I first started teaching school weather again was a major concern.Indoor/outdoor recess.? Lots of outerwear that didn't fit in cubbies or lockers. Wet shoes and socks. As the weather prediction technology advanced the forecasters then started promising 12 inches (no school) when in fact it was 2 inches ...not even a delayed opening. Early release, no school.....

Now that I am retired you would think that I wouldn't be so anxious about the weather but this is where the PARKINSONS comes in.
Heres the list of problems I face (and maybe you do too)
1. RAIN.....*getting in and out of the car with an umbrella. (opened    
                   or closed)
                   *puddles
                   *slippery surfaces
                    
2. SNOW.....*same as above plus can't walk in unplowed OR               
                      plowed snow 
                     *totally unbalanced walk

3. PERFECT WEATHER....** must go outside and walk in the woods and pick up sticks and stones and weeds and twigs and rocks and pinwheels and move displays and chairs and bird feeders and squirrel feeders ......risks of tripping , falling, tumbling, slipping, stumbling.**

I will take a perfect day any day.
And so far as rain only go to places that have underground parking.

Whatever
Diane
                         
                   

Last week's Parkinson Support Group topic was SLEEP....and it sparked much conversation  of sleep difficulties. Going to sleep and staying asleep were the most common. Help with sleep distress included prescription and OTC  meds, breathing and meditation,

eating, not eating, sound proof rooms, dark rooms....

There were a couple of folks who have movements during sleep  so severe that their bed partners complain of being punched and  kicked. People have thrown themselves out of bed .Pretty exciting, huh?

My pattern of sleep is NO pattern (it seems).Doesn't matter where I sleep...upstairs, downstairs, bed, chair, couch.....lights on, TV on, complete silence and darkness.....sometimes I sleep okay which means to me NO more than 1 bathroom visit and sleeping til 5:30 or 6. There have been times when I wake up at 2, COMPLETELY awake and I get up and work on a project or do laundry or watch shows I have recorded. I DON"T pull weeds or move rocks in the dark (although I want to !!)

And the other day when I woke up I became very confused because the TV cable box showed the number 906 and I thought what channel was I watching and then realized it was in fact 9:06 am.

I had been asleep for 12 hours. WHATEVER!!!

This is what I call SLEEP.

Wish we could all be this comfortable.

  

L' Shana Tova family and friends,

I have always felt that September is the real beginning of the year because its a new school year.  New and returning TV shows (I like Alex Trebeks' beard), time to reflect on the year gone by, Redskins, plans to change "things" for the better if I can, be thankful for what I have and what I can do. 
Many lessons learned from my experiences from this summers surgeries, and pain and subsequent problems with opioids and withdrawal. I chose a different primary care physician, started acupuncture and therapeutic massage. I continue with physical therapy and and buying silly t-shirts and gently moving rocks and feeding birds. Life is good. 

 Trying to keep cool on August 29th even though its almost 100 degrees. Noticed something in the garden today....CORN growing !!! I think it was part of the birdseed (or bird droppings?) . I picked it, shuck it and sure enough it was an actual ear of corn.....tiny, but hey...Don't think I'll cook it.

t

Also found a huge mushroom...kinda pretty but I think its poisonous.

Speaking of poison, I continue to withdraw (slowly) from the opioids (and surgery discomfort) with the aid of ACUPUNCTURE (amazing) and physical therapy. And Parkinsons exercise classes.
I still don't have an appetite (kinda yea !!), some nausea and some random sweating attacks. No longer drink coffee in the morning (yuck) or drink wine in the evening...no taste for it. (yet)

I am ready and waiting for cooler weather , the Holidays (Jewish) and maybe maybe getting back to "my normal". 
See ya'll soon.

Another 2 months  (or so) has gone by since I last sat down to write. I think it is because every time I think about writing it is to complain or moan or whimper. On any given day I feel and look like these pictures.They pretty much sum up this summer. Right now I am feeling pretty good (blue glasses) except for the Oxycontin withdrawal (brown glasses) I am currently going through
Thanks to all family and friends for support these
trying months. I owe you. (cookies, babysitting, Redskin tickets.....just name it !)
Will blog again soon 
As always
Whatever

 

Good morning everyone !!!

It has been almost 2 months since I have written a blog entry. I have been very busy with surgery, rehab, more surgery, PT, OT, Drs appts, etc. In April suddenly I (out of nowhere) felt intense pain in my left hip area....went to Suburban, X-rays, ct scan, the ER docs said they didn't see anything .

The next day I called the doc who did my hip replacement 5 years ago and he saw lots of problems...like loose screws (not in my head....my hip!!!) and scheduled surgery. Had the surgery, went to rehab (all at Sibley) continued to have pain which progressably got worse. Tried several interventions (injections) and finally Doc said more surgery to see what the f---- was still causing such intense pain. (opioids only made a dent in relieving pain.)

So another week in the hospital post surgery, Doc said all metal bits removed, and now we just wait for healing to start. Left the hospital with lots of prescriptions, and post op directions. Healing could take weeks, months, ????

Found a pain doc (nearby), a great physical therapist (who I have seen many times before)
got a very competent in home caregiver........

I now have 4 walkers ( on each floor and 1 in the car) 4 canes, and 1 wheelchair. Diapers, grabbers, and a wonderful reclining chair. Every bathroom is equipped with what I need.
Surgery doc says another few weeks for walkers and then I can switch to cane and put more weight on my left leg/hip. (I can walk without the walker but don't tell anyone)
   AND    Heres what I've learned from this whole experience......
1. Just because I fall and it looks like there is no injury (except bruises) it could be internal.
2. There are many many caring and thoughtful people in my life.
3. I can still move small objects (books, pencils, pill bottles) and pretend its furniture.
4. PD still affects movements and mood.( I thought that PD would give me a break.)
5. The loss of independence is staggering ....no driving, needing help with dressing, showering, stairs, cat care......just regular daily stuff.
6. The world is in far worse shape than I am. (thanks Donald)
7. I can sink very very low in TV program watching....Joey Bishop, Father Know Best, Wyatt Earp (actually enjoy some of them) 
8. I can watch 5 episodes of Law and Order in a row and not get bored.
9. I still want to pick up sticks and pull weeds.
10. Remember all the positives in my life and get past the rest.

See ya soon.
Whatever.

This picture should have shown me smiling....comfy chair, comfy clothes, and of course......White, the cat !!!!!!