Karla Burkhart

The daily meds in their bottles are in a box on top of the dresser. Then I put the individual pills in a weekly/morning evening box that is refilled weekly. The c/l pills are in a bottle in the bathroom cupboard and in my purse. I need those 4 times a day.

I’m afraid I retired before the diagnosis. I searched for a long time for information on what I was going through and got a number of different diagnoses but none really helped. The search went on for about 15 years with increasing symptoms. Finally, 5 years after retiring early, I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s.

I love the boxing and my husband can participate with me. Without the exercise we get at Rock Steady Boxing I do not function well. I’ve tried other forms of exercise but I need the class environment to do well. Besides, where else can you find a group who understands what you are contending with?

Fatigue is my biggest problem now. I have been taking Adderall for quite some time which helped a lot. That and a nap did the trick. I can’t get Adderall now because of the shortage so the doctor gave me Ritilin. It does not work the same and is gone by noon. I exercise hard at least 3 times a week if not 4. I end up going home to lie down…[Read more]

If at all possible, I spend as much time as possible outside. I just feel better with sunlight. I wear sunscreen year-round because I burn easily and I’ve had enough cancer spots removed for a lifetime.

Sometimes I do and sometimes I don’t. I’ve learned with this disease that every day is different. I don’t have leakage but sometimes when I have to go it is RIGHT NOW!

They are better than nothing but just barely. Plus, I get charged for them the same.

I am following your questioning, mostly because I have never heard of this. I don’t think it is available in the U.S.

I feel that no matter what circumstances we may find in life, in sickness or health, humor is a vital part of being a useful human being who is able to see life in proper perspective. Without humor we can fall apart at the slightest thing. I never thought life would bring me something as difficult as Parkinson’s but it could always be worse.

Boxing has done more to keep me moving than any other activity. I box three times a week and really suffer when I’m unable to go. I have been boxing for almost 7 years. I also combine yoga with boxing because, unlike many people, I don’t have much trouble with tremors but I have a lot of trouble with stiffness.

I find that plenty of water daily is vital as is lots of exercise. My biggest weapon against constipation is something called “My Miracle Detox. It is either a tea you mix up and drink one dose daily or it is capsules that you take one per day. It contains simple herbs–malva leaves, holy thistle and blessed thistle, marshmallow root and leaves,…[Read more]

I have always been very active and loved hiking and walking. I have been having an increasingly difficult time with stiffness. At times I feel like the tin man without an oil can. I can no longer do many of the activities I enjoy. I retired early from teaching elementary school not knowing what the problem was but knowing I was too awkward and off…[Read more]

Most of the time it energizes me but if I go tired, I am even more tired when finished.

Sandy, Utah

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.

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.

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]

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]

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]

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]