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Karla Burkhart replied to the topic Do you use music to manage Parkinson's disease? in the forum Parkinson's Disease alternative treatments 1 week, 3 days ago
Singing has been a great help for me. It not only keeps my speaking voice strong but also my breathing and abdominal muscles. It has been a large part of my life since I was 12. I have sung with a number of groups over the years—some professional, some not.
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Karla Burkhart replied to the topic Do you use music to manage Parkinson's disease? in the forum Parkinson's Disease alternative treatments 3 weeks, 3 days ago
I have been a singer most of my life and I still sing. I had to have some voice therapy a couple of years ago to help but I still sing. I can no longer play the piano so singing is my lifeline.
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Karla Burkhart replied to the topic Has Parkinson's changed the way you experience the world? in the forum Diagnosis Information and General Questions 2 months, 2 weeks ago
Things that used to be important are no longer. However, life seems very rich and I have a new set of friends who understand. That is my Rock Steady Boxing group. We chat and chat and are always ready for support and advice. Other friends are good but these friends understand the basic needs and problems.
My family is dear and tries to be…[Read more] -
Karla Burkhart replied to the topic Do you get cavities? in the forum Living With Parkinson's Disease 4 months ago
As I am scheduled for oral surgery tomorrow morning to have another implant, my sixth, I have to say, yes, Parkinson’s causes tooth problems. I began this journey about 20 years ago, long before I knew about Parkinson’s. I had developed a dry mouth and eyes but no one told me that it was a problem to worry about. Then I started having teeth break…[Read more]
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Karla Burkhart replied to the topic Best Mattress for PD? in the forum Living With Parkinson's Disease 4 months, 3 weeks ago
We have slept on a SleepNumber bed for several years now. It has worked very well for us because each side is adjustable. It is a system of air baffles that you can fill or empty to the firmness you prefer. I find that my PD is not always the same at night and some nights I need more support and some less. We also have a heated mattress cover that…[Read more]
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Karla Burkhart replied to the topic Walking/Bumping into objects in the forum Living With Parkinson's Disease 4 months, 3 weeks ago
I have gotten much more awkward of late. I tell myself that I don’t actually fall because I grab anything near, walls, chairs, people. I’ve met more nice people this way. I also have noticed that my depth perception is not what it used to be. Because of that, I try to be ever more vigilant when driving. My husband, however, will not admit to the…[Read more]
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Karla Burkhart replied to the topic Where do you live? in the forum Diagnosis Information and General Questions 4 months, 3 weeks ago
I’m in Sandy, Utah, USA
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Karla Burkhart replied to the topic Where do you live? in the forum Diagnosis Information and General Questions 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Sandy, Utah, USA
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Karla Burkhart replied to the topic Collagen supplements in the forum Parkinson's Disease alternative treatments 6 months, 1 week ago
I started taking it for thinning hair. I was told that the thinning hair was from PD. I’ve seen some success but I forget to take it since it needs to be mixed into liquids and drunk.
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Karla Burkhart replied to the topic Do you meditate or practice yoga? in the forum Parkinson's Disease and exercise 6 months, 2 weeks ago
On days I can’t attend Rock Steady Boxing I use Yoga as a discipline. Without one or the other, I do not function well but become extremely stiff and clumsy. I use meditation most nights in order to get to sleep. I also use it if I wake during the night. I have recordings to help me with that. I have cut out using melatonin and have cut way back…[Read more]
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Karla Burkhart replied to the topic Do you take melatonin for sleep disturbances? in the forum Parkinson's Disease Medications 8 months ago
I’ve never heard of melatonin for acting out dreams. I take a slow acting tablet to help me get to sleep. If violent dreams are the problem, that is entirely different.
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Karla Burkhart replied to the topic What would you like non-Parkinson's patients to know? in the forum Parkinson’s Disease Awareness and Advocacy 8 months, 3 weeks ago
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]
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Karla Burkhart replied to the topic What do you think of the term 'Parkie'? in the forum Parkinson’s Disease Awareness and Advocacy 8 months, 3 weeks ago
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.
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Karla Burkhart replied to the topic Do you struggle with hot or cold flashes? in the forum Parkinson's Disease Symptoms 8 months, 3 weeks ago
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]
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Karla Burkhart replied to the topic Dyskinesia, jerky movements in sleep in the forum Parkinson's Disease Symptoms 1 year, 2 months ago
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.
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Karla Burkhart replied to the topic Do you play an instrument? in the forum Diagnosis Information and General Questions 1 year, 4 months ago
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]
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Karla Burkhart replied to the topic Winter footwear and other concerns in the forum Living With Parkinson's Disease 1 year, 5 months ago
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.
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Karla Burkhart replied to the topic Parkinon's impact on sleep and dreaming in the forum Parkinson's Disease Symptoms 1 year, 6 months ago
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.
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Karla Burkhart replied to the topic Did your tremor come on slowly or did it manifest itself fairly quickly? in the forum Parkinson's Disease Symptoms 2 years, 2 months ago
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.
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Karla Burkhart replied to the topic Linda Ronstadt and PD affecting her voice in the forum Parkinson's Disease Symptoms 2 years, 4 months ago
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.
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