Karla Burkhart

The thing that seems to be on the top of my list lately is memory. I wish people understood that I don’t miss appointments, meetings, commitments, etc. because I don’t care. I just can’t remember them. Writing them down is only a small help. My Alexa keeps reminding me and I still forget. I seem almost “normal” to most people and so they don’t…[Read more]

I’m with Alan. I think the term “Parkie” is funny and any chance to laugh is one I’ll take. Besides, it’s a lot easier to type than “Parkinson’s” for my hands that no longer like to type. Mental health is being able to laugh at yourself and, believe me, the last few years have included many moments that made me either laugh or cry. I’d rather laugh.

Yes! I thought I was going crazy. I’ve never been overly sensitive to hot weather. In fact it has been a problem in the past because I wouldn’t realize I was overheating and I’ve gotten sick a couple of times in the far past. Now I can’t tolerate temperatures that a few years ago would have been just fine. Plus I am really having trouble with…[Read more]

I quite often have jerkey movements when I’m going to sleep or waking up. Plus during the night if I wake up it’s usually because my muscles are tense or cramping. Then I have to move them and sometimes even then it doesn’t help. I haven’t talked to the doctor yet about it because it hasn’t been going on for very long.

I played both the piano and the flute growing up. I have also been a singer since I was 12 and have sung in numerous choirs and jazz groups. I no longer feel confident to play the piano because my hands don’t work together. Also, with Covid I have been unable to sing and that is really taking a toll on my feelings. I’m afraid that by the time it…[Read more]

I have special cleats that hook onto my boots for slippery days. They have been worth their weight, which isn’t much, in gold. I also use walking sticks quite often.

I don’t have trouble was acting out dreams. My trouble is not dreaming at all. I have an app that tells me how I sleep and it tells me that I have very little rem sleep. I understand that that can cause lots of trouble. I don’t know what to do about it.

I was diagnosed in 2014 but had symptoms for at least 15 years prior. I was told for a long time I had Sjogrens, an autoimmune disease, which included pain and extremely dry eyes/mouth. It wasn’t until a started a tremor in my left hand that Parkinson’s was thought of. It seems that all the symptoms I had been having also fall under the PD list.

I was beginning to have trouble singing but my neurologist referred me to a speech therapist. After a few sessions with her to improve my breath control among other things, she sent me to a voice teacher for a couple of sessions to follow up. Then I was back to singing. The biggest problem now is heavy fatigue since most rehearsals are evening.

I, too, am a singer although not of Linda Ronstadt’s level of fame. I have worked very hard, even before I knew I had Parkinson’s, to maintain my voice. Voice therapy plus the help of a good voice teacher has been a life saver to me. I’m just not ready to give up my life.

I had a number of problems for years before developing a tremor. It wasn’t until then that Parkinson’s was considered.

I certainly feel that my day revolves about med times. I not only have to set alarms on my phone but I also have to time meals just right. Regular life has to fit that schedule.

I have more trouble with my toes than with my fingers. I have not DBS. There are so many strange symptoms with PD that made it hard to diagnose. The tingling, numbness, and pain are hard to live with.