Doctor, doctor please don’t say its stress I’ve six years of doctors with that guess. Patient, patient set your mind at ease Your symptoms are those of Parkinson’s Disease. Doctor, doctor tell me please When will I die of this disease? Patient, patient have no fears You will live for many years. Doctor, doctor…
Gadgets and Gizmos That Make Life Easier
That beautiful marble tile in your bathroom, your shiny bathtub, the buttons on your shirt or blouse, the space between your teeth—all should bear “Caution: Danger” signs or “Frustration” trigger alerts. For Parkinson’s Disease, with its toll on manual dexterity and coordination, turns a simple task like putting on a shirt into a battle ground….
Sadness and Depression
An estimated 40 percent or more of Parkinson’s Disease patients eventually suffer from depression.1,2 Their doctors religiously probe for this with questions such as, “Do you ever feel depressed?” “Dumbass,” you think. “Oh, occasionally, Doctor,” you reply. “Doesn’t everyone get depressed?” you ask. “How about thoughts of suicide?” The doctor inquires. “Never,” you lie. In…
Complication: Constipation
“You are going to write about WHAT?” my wife said when she heard about the blog post I planned to write. “Yep, I said, “a blog about clog. Constipation.” Everyone has experienced constipation[1]. It occurs due to illnesses, as a side effect of medications, and as a result of dietary indiscretions. Many older people experience…
Have Medicine Will Travel
Part Three: Preparing Medicine for Travel “Are you a drug dealer?” That is how a US Customs inspector greeted me as I was trying to enter the United States through the Miami airport a few years ago. I was in the “nothing to declare” line when, after examining my passport and declaration card, the agent…
Have Medicine, Will Travel
PART TWO: TIMING IS EVERYTHING Come fly with me. But bring your medicine. In this post, I share my strategies for adjusting my carbidopa-levodopa dosing schedule when I travel. I explain why your medication program affects the timing of even local travel for meetings. With me, you will fly against the sun to Madrid and…
Have Medicine, Will Travel *
Part One: Medicine Magic Even Miracles Need to be Scheduled This post is the first of three parts. Parts Two and Three will appear in the next few months. In this installment, I discuss my thoughts on, and use of, the miracle Parkinson drug carbidopa-levodopa, the generic name for Sinemet. Next, in Part Two I…
Heads Up
“Mommy, what kind of funny hat does that man have on?”, said a little girl not far from me. “Ask, him Sweetie.” “Mister, is that a space hat you’re wearing?” said the little girl. “No, it’s a bicycle hat,” I replied. “Oh, do you ride Citi Bikes like my daddy? “No, I ride stationary bikes,”…
Sleep, A Critical Change in Medicine
In my most recent blog post entitled “Sleep” I discussed my views on sleeping medicines. I preceded this discussion with my usual disclaimer followed by what I take: ‘The taking of various sleeping medications is not restricted to Parkinson’s patients searching for a good night’s rest. I will, in this discussion stick with the rules…
Sleep
I spent 65 of the last 189 days in bed with my smart phone. No, I am not into phone sex! So why have I dedicated 34% of my time during the last six months to being in bed? Not only was I in bed all those days, I was asleep for most of…