Corrie Trattner

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]

Thanks so much, Jean for your kind words of support. I greatly appreciate it. Corrie

Not sure where to start in this discussion.  My husband officially has had Parkinson’s for 4 and 1/2 years but assuredly it has been much longer prior to the actual diagnosis.  In addition to watching his motor, non-motor, and cognitive skills decline, I think the greatest cost is the loss of the emotional support that he used to be able to g…[Read more]