Alan M

Went to H/S with me best mate… we graduated in 1973.  He and I have known each other for a half century this year – and I consider myself to be one of the luckiest blokes on the planet to know him.  We nearly lost him to cancer in the late 1990’s, but he pulled through and continued to bless the lives of everyone who knows him.

My neurologist lives in Auckland, 5 hours away from NP.  He avails himself every 6-9 mos. on average.  I receive a letter from him summarizing the hui within 2-3 weeks after our appointment.

You sound like you’ve licked the worst symptoms, Manuel!  Well done, matey!  I think ou will never regret listening to your clever GP.

I can totally relate, Jo.  I had to stop working (retire) to deal with my RBD-related symptomology.  It seems to affect much of my abilities to “do life”.  I wish I could get on top of it, but most things I’ve tried (magnesium, melatonin, Sinemet timing, Vit. B 1) haven’t helped me much.

But I shan’t give in.  I’ll beat this somehow…

I wish I had but one primary symptom to elude to…  I guess mine fall under a cluster of related symptomology(s) of cognitive impact.  Mostly RBD-related, memory falters (why did I come into this room?), failing spatial perception, loss of tactile abilities (i.e. dropsies) and tracking effective human communication (i.e. my partner speaks to me i…[Read more]

My goals:
1. Get over/around/under/past some “brick walls” with my family tree (genealogy).
2. Learn to play a few tunes on me SSP’s (Scottish small pipes).
3. Increase my amount I exercise each week.
4. Try to get on top of this wretched REM-SBD

Hey Barbara F… thanks for your informative forum post.  My RBD journey has prompted acting out behaviors like thrashing my limbs about, resembling a carp on a hot sidewalk, shouting out, punching, kicking, and rolling violently out of my bed.

I’ve been lucky not to injure myself, but my spouse has run for the hills at bedtime.

You mention the…[Read more]

Can anyone recommend some pertinent literature that would allow a DOPE (amine addict, LOL) like me to catch up on what appears to be a recent pharmacotherapeutic treatment for PwP?  I live in NZ and my neurologist offers little info to his patients, unless yo are able to question directly.  Thanks Ally.

Hey Sharon… thanks for sharing your experiences with us.  How did you decide to start visiting this particular practitioner?  Did they mention whether their treatment involved the BIG programme to you?  I very curious about the “cross over” exercises they suggest.  Left foot, right hand, then switch.  Eye movement exercises.  Does your treat…[Read more]

To Toni and JB,

Allow me first to express my gratitude for your bravery and openness in broaching this sensitive topic!  Most peeps avoid it like the plague.  As a former therapist, I found clients shy away from sexuality as a theme, unless you happen to be a practicing sex therapist.

I’m 67 years young and am still very sexually active.  Ho…[Read more]

Happy Hogmanay, Ally.  If you share your birthdate with us, we’ll be sure to wish you many happy returns, OK?

I know this is a bit late for Xmas greetings, but I got a FitBit for a gift.  I tried it out on both my dominant and non-dom wrist.  It does not record my sleeping patterns (which is one of the main reasons why I put the gadget on me Sa…[Read more]

To Ally and Mary Beth:

I want to encourage you both in the ways you’ve chosen to get responses and involvement by your readership.  As a group facilitator for many years, I found the best way to solicit feedback is to “prime the pump” with great “noticings” you both may have had (and continue to have).

Mary Beth, your dad’s experiences have…[Read more]

Kia Ora Sherman & Tony:

My 20 year old son made me more aware of my driving limitations lately.  I totally agree with the feelings you’ve both expressed, and the changes necessary to make in order to protect others (even the public at large).  Like Ross, for me driving at night or when I’m extremely fatigued is tapu.  This seems more of an is…[Read more]

Wow Richard!  Reading your latest post is like taking a page out of my daily diary!

Like you, I struggle with fatigue and apathy.  I seem to need a mid-day rest every day now and sometimes I might nap twice in one day — depending on how I cope (or not cope) with what’s going on around me.

The apathy robs me of desire to perform exercises or p…[Read more]

T’is true Ally.  Some have noticed this allergic connection as early as 2018.  See https://parkinsonsnewstoday.com/news/migraines-ocd-seasonal-allergies-may-be-risk-factors-for-parkinsons-large-study-suggests/

It also occurred to  me that maybe, in a similar way, PD is somehow linked to inflammatory response as a result of exposure to harmful pa…[Read more]

Like Ken intimated earlier, I believe PD is triggered by both genetic and epigenetic causal factors.

GENETIC CONTRIBUTORS

On my maternal side, two of my mother’s sisters succumbed to PD.  One is still with us.  Nothing on my father’s side, except a prevalence of alcoholism and Alzheimer’s.

I can’t help but wonder if dementia-like diseases a…[Read more]

Ally,
Like Judy’s hubby, I’m in my late 60’s and have made the difficult decision to “hang up my spurs” this December.
I went from working 5 days per week to three days/wk — and I’m hoping I can keep busy enough to allow me to retire fully doing all the things I enjoy (not that I never enjoyed being a therapist).

I hope I can spend the rest of…[Read more]

Hey Ally:

My three sons have three cats — in order of age —- Lucy (13), Nermal (11) and Mittens (6)
Their parents feed them daily, let then sleep on their bed, take them to the Vet when necessary, and ensure they are safe and well cared for.

Wish I were a cat in our family.

DREM is the bane of my existence at the moment.  I seem to need to take an afternoon siesta daily as a result.  One hour’s rest does me.  But I’m ready for bed by 9:30 – 10:00 pm and can’t seem to wake up until 9:00 am.  The Neurologist prescribed me Clonazepam to be taken just before bedtime.  I heard that due to its highly addictive char…[Read more]

In  Scotland, my hied says “go Central, old man” (to the Central Highlands, from Speyside to the north, to Dundee, Perth and the south end of Lock Lomond to the south).

I’d love to tour all of New Zealand.  Monies and time will dictate how much of it I can truly travel to.  A train journey from north tip of the N Island (at Cape Reinga) to the so…[Read more]