Corrie Trattner

Hi Diana,

Thanks so much.  I look forward to hearing from you.  Somehow, I may have accidentally blocked notices from Parkinson’s News and am trying to figure out how to unblock it.  I know that you said that you will be reaching out to everyone next week, but just in case, feel free to message me.

Thanks so much again,

Corrie

HI Everyone,

I really want to be part of this forum and caregiver’s group.  But I’d prefer if it was on this forum and not through my emails.

Thanks,

Corrie

Hi Ally,

I am interested in sharing my story as a care-partner and as an occupational therapist (although I wasn’t his OTR/L) for my husband who died from Parkinson’s on March 6, 2021.   He also had other complications including Bipolar Disease and later dementia, vascular wounds, dementia, and visual problems.  He was officially diagnosed fo…[Read more]

Hello Everyone,

My heart goes out to all of you.  My husband passed away from PD a year ago but he also had Bipolar Disease, vascular wounds, Lewy Body dementia, diabetes and other complications.  He was officially diagnosed in 2016 but from the reading that I had done and comparing the declining symptoms he had for many years, I’m quite sure t…[Read more]

My husband passed away from Parkinson’s, Bipolar Disease, and a host of other conditions a year ago on March 6, 2021.  I have to agree with Theresa.  Although I am a registered and licensed occupational therapist, I also was all of the other things that Theresa listed.  Many prayers and blessings to you all.

My husband passed away from Parkinson’s one year ago yesterday.  I couldn’t believe the level of exhaustion I had been carrying because I was still working full time, have no family in the area, and could not hire additional help due to COVID.  Luckily, my husband was in an assisted living facility, as I could no longer care for his physical n…[Read more]

Unfortunately, none of us have a crystal ball to know what will or won’t happen when we are first diagnosed.  When my husband, who has now passed 5 and 1/2 years after getting his diagnosis, was first exhibiting symptoms that were drastically affecting his life, we went through several doctors who didn’t believe anything was wrong as they looked…[Read more]

Hi from Corrie,

Longmeadow, MA USA

Hi from Corrie,

Longmeadow, MA USA

Dear Sandy,

My heart goes out to you, as I must confess that I felt many of the same volitile emotions.  There were days when I tackeled everything and essentially tried to hold a stiff upper lip while other days I was totally overwhelmed, angry, distraught, and besides myself.  At those moments, not only did I not know what to do with myself, b…[Read more]

Hi Marjorie,

Sorry that it has taken me so long to answer.  Acutally, I just noticed your answer and gracious offer the other day.  So, my sincerest apologies.

I hadn’t thought of writing a book because a coworker and I thought we’d write a text for one of our courses and ended up abandoning the project.  There just wasn’t enough time, and I th…[Read more]

Hi Marjorie,

Sorry that it has taken me so long to answer.  Acutally, I just noticed your answer and gracious offer the other day.  So, my sincerest apologies.

I hadn’t thought of writing a book because a coworker and I thought we’d write a text for one of our courses and ended up abandoning the project.  There just wasn’t enough time, and I th…[Read more]

My husband passed on March 6th after 5 and 1/2 years of continual decline after we finally were able to get a diagnosis.  That doesn’t count the years of decline leading up to his having to go into rehab and then into an assisted living.  I have to agree with the person who said that Parkinson’s is a theif taking away everything bit by bit.  I re…[Read more]

My heart goes out to all of you.  My husband passed from Parkinson’s and Bipolar Disease on March 6, 2021.  He was in assisted living facilities for 5 anf 1/2 years and progressively got worse as time went on.  He also was getting sick for many years prior to his entering the assisted living when none of the doctors could diagnose what was wr…[Read more]

I’m a caregiver and not the person with Parkinson’s; my husband is.  Although I can’t get any straight answers from the doctors, I think he might be entering end stage, as he’s bed ridden, needs to be fed, and his voice is barely audible.

I, too, have wondered more frequently than not what the purpose of all of this decline and suffering is that…[Read more]

HI Cindy,

I hope that you’ve been able to get and give yourself some R & R.  I can relate to what you are saying when it comes down to feeling as though caring for yourself is just ONE MORE THING.  There were many times that I wanted to strangle people who told me to be sure to take care of myself, especially when it was one of the “crisis” t…[Read more]

HI MaryBeth,

Thanks for your reply.  I definitely agree that getting out into nature would do much to reduce one’s anxiety.  However, as lovely as a two hour mindfulness walk sounds, I don’t think I’d be able to fit it in more than once a week if that.  Perhaps other’s have more flexible time to do so, which I agree, would be highly re…[Read more]

This is a very difficult question to answer because it depends what stage of Parkinson’s the person is in and also how many additional complicating and co-morbid conditions are continuing concurrently.  During the “crisis” times when things get worse, or suddenly much worse, it’s hard to do anything but care for the person with Parkinson’s.  D…[Read more]

Hi Mary Beth,

I’ve been thinking about you and hope that you are able to find some peace and comfort and are able to reflect on times when they seemed just perfect with your dad, especially during this holiday season.  Remember to take care of yourself and see yourself as a devoted caregiver who deserves and has earned well deserved…[Read more]

Hi Mary Beth,

Thanks for your response.  I agree that it’s hard to discuss the caregiver issues because, at least for me, it’s hard to ask for help and hard to expose feelings that others may not understand and end up being judgmental in their failed attempts to be supportive.  Plus the expectations from our culture to be independent, I find, m…[Read more]