Robert Harris

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…

[Read more]

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]

In this episode of How to Take Your Medicine, we offer some information about where to stick the Neupro patches.  Those Parkies with too much free time might have tried to read the full monograph that comes with each 30 patches, but having access to the Cliff’s Notes version (or is it the Reader’s Digest Condensed Books version?) might provide a…[Read more]

Okay, I’ll come out of the closet. I’m a Christian, and the faith and my relationship with the Lord have made all the difference. The reasons are. first, we are all going to die, but God  has a cure for death. Second, take a look in the Bible and you’ll see that some of the greatest promoters of  Christianity suffered horribly. The Apostle Paul g…[Read more]

In high school, I was a macho meanie. Six feet one, and intimidating everyone by hulking around at 179 pounds. Okay, the macho part is a lie, as was meanie, intimidating, and hulking. Actually, if you think about a 179 pounds hanging off a 6-foor frame,  you will more than likely think, “string bean” instead of “nightclub bouncer.” Then I went to…[Read more]

I met a woman through eHarmony after we were deemed by some computer or pocket calculator to be compatible. We later met in person and ate food together. She  brought me an avocado and a jar of green olives because in one of our emails I had said I liked them. I think I kissed her at the end of the second date, while she was distracted putting…[Read more]