Robert Harris

Before my Parkinson’s showed its more obvious symptoms, I experiencing a very gradual loss in water pressure when I whizzed. In the last six or 10 months, though, my Parkinson’s sympoms  have been increasing (festination, retropulsion, balance instability, voice sabotage ) and more off time when I eat too much protein. My fire hose has been…[Read more]

First, our increasng klutziness (knocking over water glasses, slipping on the pavement, missing the chair on the way down and ending up on the floor, etc.) are not due to carelessness or ignorance, or lack trying to avoid an accident. A PD patient’s brain is  just not working at 100%. It takes a miracle of interconnected sensors, brain control…[Read more]

Try to identify any changes in medication that were prescribed around the time the swelling began. Dopamine agonists such as pramipexole, ropinirole, and rotigotine patch can cause leg swelling, as can NSAIDs and, as WebMD says, “Many drugs can cause swelling in the feet and ankles. . . .”

So, first step is to discover whether he has started a…[Read more]

I changed from CL to Rytary about six or seven months ago. I have found it much better than the generic CL because of the better extended release factor.  The dips are much leveled out, and I get hit by off-time only when I eat too much protein during a meal (tuna sandwich, roast beef and gravy, two or three pieces of fried chicken). I must have…[Read more]

1. As Parkinson’s continues to take its toll on me, my handwriting (which earned me a D in 6^th grade) is now impossible to read. I don’t know why I keep trying to write, or why I keep buying new pens. I think I want to write my life the way I want it to be. But God wants to write my life the way he wants it to be. So we struggle. I sta…

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RE: Saddleback Church Parkinson’s Support Group

Meets the Second Wednesday of Each Month via Zoom, from 2:00-4:00 pm (Pacific)

WELCOME

Manny Johnston and Robert (Bob) Harris, facilitators

This group provides a relaxed and friendly atmosphere where anyone interested in learning more about Parkinson’s disease—including Parkies, caregivers, relat…[Read more]

Ally:

I don’t know if this is the appropriate place to post this, but it might be of interest to readers. Beginning today (December 16, 2020, the Saddleback Church Parkinson’s Support Group will begin a once-a-month Zoom meeting faith-based support group. It is Christian-based, but we welcome Parkies and their supporters of all faiths (and just…[Read more]

I bought a weighted blanket a year so ago. It was 15 pounds, which I  believe is a standard weight. (They go up from there.) As a Parky, however, I found it very difficult to move  the blanket around, to get it, say, covering my feet and up to my neck. Also, I have typical Parkinson’s figit, causing me to change positions almost constantly. The w…[Read more]

I’ve suffered from  “sleep disturbances” since I was about 8 (I’m 70 now) I’ll give you a digest of what sort of helps with sleep for me.

1. I take a pretty hot bath just before bedtime. The theory is that when your body starts cooling down, your brain goes into sleep mode, because it takes a cue from the temp change.

2. Relatedly, make sure…[Read more]

No. If I were always honest when someone asks, “How are you today?” or “How are  you feeling?” much of the time I would have to day, “Wretched, exhausted, tired, having some more balance issues.” Other times I would have to say, “I’m sleepy because my myoclonous kicked in a 3:30 this morning and kept me awake. I couldn’t move around it because I…[Read more]

To Robert C from Robert H:

Well, compadre in PD combat, we have a lot in common. Your last paragraph in another related post mentions your problem with typing. My accuracy rate is about 10-6: for every ten letters I type, six of them are typos requiring me to back up and retype. If my meds have pretty much burned off, I have to quit typing. And…[Read more]

It can sometimes be a challenge to separate what is a side effect of medication and what is a symptom of Parkinson’s. For example, fatigue, insomnia, constipation and a few other presentations can be related to either the disease or the medication (or maybe both). If  you read the monograph accompanying these medicines, you’ll note that they will…[Read more]

Russ:

What is the strength of your pills? Do you take straight butyric acid or GABA?

Okay, let’s see if we can discover why natural remedies are so often shoved aside by the pharmaceutical industry:

1. A remedy must be proven to be SAFE and EFFECTIVE before it can be declared a genuine remedy.

2. To prove a remedy is safe and effective, several rounds of development and testing are necessary. For a new chemical, the cost to big…[Read more]