Update on my condition
Tremor - noticeable, but controllable, when my hand hangs by my side. Stress, no matter how insignificant, really aggravates it.
Excess saliva - hasn't happened since the elevator incident
Voice - at times normal, but when I get tired, I speak quietly with a certain smooth, monotone harshness.
Muscle cramps - no terrible ones such as those I had prior to medication. Some cramping but quite manageable.
dystonia - none since the terrible leg cramps twisted my foot and toes prior to medication.
Swallowing difficulty - none since the episode last year.
Tiredness - at times excessive, especially mid afternoon. Bed time is about 8:30PM
Sleep disturbance - definitely. Last night, for example, I slept 6 hours in 3 two hour shifts. Usually awake at 4:30 and outside for a walk by 5AM. Not sure how long the shift breaks last - you do the math.
Balance - seems OK. I can stand on one leg (left one) for about a minute or more. Not so much with the right leg - maybe 20 - 30 seconds. Doesn't affect me in my daily routine.
Gait - perfectly normal. No more "wobbly legs"
Myoclonic spasms - at least 4 prior to getting to sleep. Annoying but not really a problem.
Stiffness - oh yeah! Slows me down a bit.
Parkinsonian mask - nope. It hasn't come back
Handwriting - hate doing it. It can be very frustrating, and, believe or not, very tiring. It always starts off nicely but rapidly deteriorates.
constipation - For sure! But that's OK for me.
PD Stage - I think I am still at stage one but who really knows because the medication works so well that symptoms on my left side would not be noticeable.
Medication side effects - no compulsive behaviour. Exhaustion the only real side effect, but I am in a position where I can deal with that.
All in all, things are not bad. I wish I didn't have PD, but I do, so I will just have to make the best of a raw deal.
Just for the record:
ReplyDeleteVoice - at times normal, but when I get tired, I speak quietly with a certain smooth, monotone harshness. CHECK My husband thinks he's going deaf.
Muscle cramps - no terrible ones such as those I had prior to medication. Some cramping but quite manageable. CHECK 'specially if I don't eat my bananas !!
Sleep disturbance - definitely. Last night, for example, I slept 6 hours in 3 two hour shifts. Usually awake at 4:30 and outside for a walk by 5AM. CHECK ... it's about the 2:00a.m. bathroom break ... sometimes twice a nite even!
Balance - seems OK. I can stand on one leg (left one) for about a minute or more. Not so much with the right leg - maybe 20 - 30 seconds. Doesn't affect me in my daily routine. CHECK 'o-o-o, yea, when I first get up ... wibbly-wobbly .. but I don't fall down .... yet !
Stiffness - oh yeah! Slows me down a bit. CHECK My legs must be getting longer every month now bacause my toes are harder to get to.
Handwriting - hate doing it. It can be very frustrating, and, believe or not, very tiring. It always starts off nicely but rapidly deteriorates. CHECK Can hardly make it out anymore !!
And I guess my diagnosis is AGING ! e-e-e-e .... and thanks Doug for sharing yourself with us. we love you ! edie