Marlene Donnelly

Carol, you expressed how I feel most days, except I don’t have the lower back pain.  I do understand how you feel!  I went to get my hair cut today, then went to the bank, the library, and went into one store for one item.  I came home exhausted, which is ridiculous.  I napped for about an hour and a half, and now I can go on to other things, but…[Read more]

Kathy and Katherine:  As to the PD and Fibromyalgia combo, yes, a number of symptoms are involved with both conditions and tend to make them worse.   When I first saw my neurologist she told me that I have both.  I really should have realized that I had fibro years before I was diagnosed with PD because both my daughters have suffered from it for…[Read more]

I taught classes from nursery school through 8th grade over the years.  Actually I hardly ever raised my voice in class.  The quieter I spoke the quieter the kids were as they listened to me.  I loved what I did!   It’s just that in my dreams, the kids and I are always involved in some big project that takes a lot of space and I have to raise my v…[Read more]

Jennifer, like you, there is nothing to indicate that my head itches, but it most certainly does!

Katherine, to answer your questions: 1.  Yes, I hate the feeling of the tremors in my core!  It is much more bothersome than those in my right hand.  Sometimes they make me feel like I am having a panic attack.  4.  The yelling in my sleep does…[Read more]

Besides PD I also have Fibromyalgia, so my symptoms can be from either condition.  When my meds are not on I have tremor on my right side and an internal tremor in my core.  I have muscle pain throughout my body.  I have difficulty with digestion.  Fatigue is frequently a problem though I sleep great at night.  I yell in my sleep.  I take meds…[Read more]

I was diagnosed with PD 12 years ago.  Three years ago I began feeling dizzy, this only happening when I was riding as a passenger in a car.  I didn’t think much of it for months, but since it seemed to be getting worse, I had it checked out by a cardiologist who did not find anything wrong.  He did ask me to keep a record of my blood pressure an…[Read more]

I will definitely take whatever vaccines and boosters come my way, be it for COVID or anything else!  Why?  I was always the sickly child, and even as an adult, if there is something to be caught, I catch it (I’ve had COVID twice so far).  However, since I always avail myself of any protective measures there are, I’m still alive and kicking at al…[Read more]

Hi Omer,

Your dad’s experience mirror’s mine oh so much!  I am also 76, was diagnosed 11 years ago, and have done pretty well with PD, my symptoms not great but neither really disabling.  My husband and I got home from a trip to VA (we live in NJ) to visit our daughter and family.  Within 24 hours my husband came down with COVID.  It took me thr…[Read more]

Gil Williams, your wife is a lucky woman, as am I.  I was diagnosed 11 years ago, and my husband has been my rock.  He knows that my appetite is not what it used to be and I tend to get tired by late afternoon, so he has taken over the job of preparing dinner on a regular basis,  Since he is by far a better cook than I am, we both benefit with hi…[Read more]

I know the majority of people with seem to have difficult sleeping, but that is not my experience.  I was diagnosed over 11  years ago, and I sleep through for 8 – 9 hours of solid sleep almost every night.  I am a night owl, so I rarely go to bed before 12:30, and if I’m reading a good book, I may be up until 2:00, but then I will sleep until 10…[Read more]

My husband and I have a 16 year old tuxedo cat named Zach who rules this house.   We have had cats during most of our 53 years of marriage and have always felt we get so much more from our cats than we give them.  We love Zach to pieces, and I have no doubt that being Zach’s maid only helps with my PD.  If I’m feeling fine, Zach makes sure I do…[Read more]

Though I haven’t taken PD fitness classes, I have been taking T’ai Chi, Yoga, and Arthritis Exercise classes, all geared for seniors, and all have been a help.  None are back in person yet, but they all are on Zoom – same instructors at the same times and days.  I use my guest bedroom for these classes, and have been able to keep going t…[Read more]

My first comment is to Krukar:  Have you tried a class of T’ai Chi (yoga helps too)?  I have had PD for 11 years.  I often fell during the first couple of years but then took a T’ai Chi Chih class because I read that it could help.  Since then I have hardly fallen at all!  I rarely lose my balance anymore, ans when I do I am able to catch myse…[Read more]

I have found that caffeinated mints (comes as gum too) help.  Drinking a cup of coffee bothers my stomach, but I have no problem with these.  I use the Viter Energy brand that is online.  Their sample pack is inexpensive, and once I found I liked them, the offers available make the cost of these mints very reasonable.

I have multiple illnesses, some I feel are somewhat related to my PD and others not so.  I also have Fibromyalgia, and I think there can be a connection with these two conditions.  I am never sure which of the two causes the pain I experience; I’m assuming both contribute.  I also have a pacemaker because without it my heart rate dips too low, on…[Read more]

I dream often.  Most are pleasant, but maybe once every other week I have what I call a PD dream.  They are always related to teaching (I taught happily for about 33 years), and always cause anger and anxiety because things are going very wrong.  I NEVER had the problems in real life that I do in my dreams!  I wake up exhausted, and frequently my…[Read more]

Temperatures above the high 70s make me feel sick – nauseous, light-headed, and very uncomfortable.  Before PD this was not the case.  I spend most of my days from May until October indoors with air conditioning (we live in NJ).  I am also less tolerant of cold than I used to be, though that’s not as bad as the heat.  In the house I keep the the…[Read more]

I completely agree with the three comments above!  I think it is very important for others to understand the variability of PD.  Each person’s journey is different, and for that one person we focus on, the journey for that person is also extremely variable.  One day (or hour!) may be very different from the next.  I choose to consider PD my adv…[Read more]

I never thought of this as a PD problem. Like you, Charles, I have many health issues and lots of daily medications. I was diagnosed with PD over 10 years ago, and for many years this was also part of my reality. Even had to have a plumber in on one occasion. The plumbing solution was to find a very long shoehorn and slice up the stool (of…[Read more]