Karla Burkhart

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.