[Bill]

Miralax every day, 3 Colace per day (1 am, 2pm)and make sure I drink enough water.

[Bill]

At my wife and my daughter’s suggestion, I got an Apple watch over the Thanksgiving holiday. Mine is the simplest version, and one thing it does is keep track of the amount of sleep I get and the various sleep stages. This information is automatically transferred to my Iphone.  The increased awareness has me going to bed earlier and sleeping longer. That works for me, unless the cat decides to get on  top of me while I sleep. A simple fix that others may want to try.  78 year old male diagnosed about 4 1/2 years ago.

[Bill]

Guess I might have also reported that I’m 78 years old and have Parkinson’s Disease and remain pretty active.  No more jabs here.  Seven days into this round of Covid, I’m feeling better. Staying away from others and the gym as I await a negative test.

[Bill]

As before, I got the first two shots, got Covid, no boosters after having Covid. Currently in my second go round of Covid. Still have seen no compelling evidence that shots or boosters do alot of good. Claims of “less severity” seem impossible to scientifically prove.

[Bill]

Doing this on your own is not, in my opinion, the way to go. I live half way between two relative small towns/cities and participate in support groups in each of them. Additionally,  I go to Rock Steady Boxing three days a week and participate in The Loud Crowd, a program of The Parkinson’s Voice Project. Attended a local symposium on Saturday and another in Austin a couple of weeks ago. Parkinson’s will win if I let it, however at 78 years old I’m not planning to give up. I learn from the other PD patients, their caregivers and the various programs sponsored by various groups. The interpersonal connections with others is essential to me. I’m encouraged and inspired by others. Isolating  and not taking advantage of available resources will only lead to a more rapid progression, again in my opinion.  Check out your local association or star one. Get on your computer and see what The Parkinson’s Voice project (parkinsonvoiceproject.org) , Davis Phinney (davisphinneyfoundation.org) Michael J Fox (michaeljfox.org)  others are offering in the way of programs and support.  There are many opportunities to be supported. As Nike says, Just Do It.

[Bill]

Yes, part of which has to do with problems emptying my bladder, however for the past year I’ve been using a catheter three times a day and that has all but eliminated that part of my sleeping problems. That solution to the bladder problem is one I avoided for several years, however do no regret making the decision. Still have trouble staying asleep,  which seems to be related to nightmares, sweating, drooling or PTSD . . . or a combination of these. Many nights are ones in which I get 4, 5 or 6 hours of fractured sleep. I don’t want a prescription for sleep, however find that Aleve PM seems to work pretty well, although the PM part messes with some of our PD meds. I use it very judiciously . . . maybe 2 or 3 times a month.

[Bill]

Yes, still have it and drive almost daily. At age 78, I have been doing so for most of the last 64 years.  I live in the sticks and almost everything one might need is at least 25 to 30 minutes from my home. Should I get to the point where I can’t drive, I imagine we would move into town. I was diagnosed 4 years ago and symptoms are pretty well regulated with medications. We live in a area with a large deer population and try to avoid driving at night because of the deer.

[Bill]

I share a house with my wife and two cats (Mac and Apple.) The cats have been with us about 2 years and are very affectionate and entertaining. Just like their humans, the cats have the particular set of behaviors, many of which, put a smile on my face or a chuckle in my throat. Each night as I get ready for bed and get my current book ready to read, Mac jumps on my chest and starts kneading my stomach and does anything he can to distract me and keep me from reading. If I push him further away from my face and start reading, in a few moments, his little tuxedo face/nose appears under my book as he reclaims his position on my chest/stomach. During this ordeal there is only one thing to do, laugh and tell him how much you love him and what a good boy he is. So, yes, I have two cats and cannot imagine life without a cat or cats. My wife loves them as much as I do and were I alone the care of the cats would be more challenging. The cat we had prior to these two lived for 20+ years and was also a delight.

[Bill]

I share a house with my wife and two cats (Mac and Apple.) The cats have been with us about 2 years and are very affectionate and entertaining. Just like their humans, the cats have the particular set of behaviors, many of which, put a smile on my face or a chuckle in my throat. Each night as I get ready for bed and get my current book ready to read, Mac jumps on my chest and starts kneading my stomach and does anything he can to distract me and keep me from reading. If I push him further away from my face and start reading, in a few moments, his little tuxedo face/nose appears under my book as he reclaims his position on my chest/stomach. During this ordeal there is only one thing to do, laugh and tell him how much you love him and what a good boy he is. So, yes, I have two cats and cannot imagine life with a cat or cats. My wife loves them as much as I do and were I alone the care of the cats would be more challenging. The cat we had prior to these two lived for 20+ years and was also a delight.

[Bill]

Probably not. Got the first round of two shots. Got Covid anyway. Absolutely no way to prove the shots helped any. Now have the shots and the antibodies from having Covid. Once again, no way to prove that puts me in a better or worse position.  Too many obvious lies by people in power who said they were following the science and clearly were not.  What factual reason might I want to get another jab?

[Bill]

No guarantee here, however a couple of ideas. I take a slow release carbidopa/levodopa at night and in the morning in addition to the regular one. Also will occasionally take the PM version of Alieve which helps. I have problems with urine retention and catheterize right before going to bed which really helps. May still wake up, but fewer times.

[Bill]

I have a narrow foot and wear New Balance 990V5 shoes that are available in 2A, B and other sizes. Top quality construction, fit properly.  Others athletic shoes I’ve tried don’t offer the stability and fit as these.  Cost a little more, made in USA and worth every penny.

[Bill]

Texas Hill Country, USA

 

[Bill]

Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam. Spent 11 months on the rivers in the Mekong Delta. We were in areas which were sprayed and 100% of the water we used came from the rivers and was contaminated with AO. There are no prizes for knowing the origin of the PD, however the tremendous support system available to us is a gift. In many ways, at age 77, I am healthier than I have been in years because of lifestyle changes made in dealing with PD. The symptoms don’t care what happens. What I do to mitigate them does matter and I am thankful for the abundance of support available.

[Bill]

First symptoms, although I didn’t know it at the time, was the occasional incontinence during the day. Dang bladder would just cut loose and dump some urine. There was leakage through out the day. I was diagnosed about 4 years ago and my frequency increased to 20-25 day day, big problems with UTIs. The other issue that I didn’t recognize as part of PD was constipation.  So now a few years in, I’m dealing with urine retention, slow movement in my bowels and prostrate enlargement. This trifecta causes some issues which currently has me using a catheter 2 or 3 times a day, with a normal volume of 750-1000 ml each time time I catheterize myself. The most aggravating part of my current condition is Urologist who only see me as having an enlarged prostrate and being 77 years old, when I say it has to be seen through the filter of a 77 year old man with PD. The other thing that aggravates me is doctors who already know what the problem is with your UTI and don’t order a new urinalysis and culture after you have completed after you have completed their prescribed treatment. I know I can change doctors and have done so. Fortunately I have a great primary care doctor who says after it.

[Bill]

Kevin, Knowing where it came from is sort of the booby prize. There is a tremendous support system out there for Parkinson’s patients and their caregivers . . . a support system that will make a difference. Find a local group, do things that will keep you upright and moving.  At 77, I have Parkinson’s, it does not yet have me.