Giving Thanks

On By skrischerIn Inspiration, Parkinsons DiseaseLeave a comment

Reflect upon your present blessings—of which every man has many—not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some

Charles Dickens in A Christmas Carol

Thanksgiving is a holiday that is meant for giving thanks and gratitude for the blessings in our lives. Football and Thanksgiving movies have become part of the tradition as has my annual list of my Top 10 Things to be Grateful For. Because this year is so different for everything because of social distancing, football, Thanksgiving movies and family gatherings are severely limited in size. I will spare you the Top 10 and focus on a few good things that have happened in Twitchy world this year.

A year of many blessings

We began the COVID-19 quarantine in March and thinking that we only had to do this for a few weeks, we counted our blessings and found ways to use that new free time to do things we had been wanting to do for so long. Mr. Twitchy and I had a great time binge watching tv shows and I finally got out on the golf course with him. We cooked, we baked, learned a new skill, took classes on line and learned how to keep in touch with our friends in new ways. As the year dragged on, we were thankful that we were healthy and exercising more than before. We Zoomed everything until we could not Zoom any more.

One important group that I am blessed to have is my Parkinson’s friends, near and far. I have met so many of you over the years because you have been following my blog, which I started March 22, 2015. I love reading your comments and emails, and seeing you at various conferences and meetings. I can honestly say that People with Parkinsons are the nicest people!

Combating Loneliness

Exactly 5 years after the first blog post, on March 22, 2020, Sunday Mornings with Twitchy Women began on Zoom in response to the shutdown for COVID-19. That group continues to grow as our sheltering at home goes on and on and on…. We have had a number of very interesting speakers and activities in the last 9 months. Most importantly, it is a place for women with Parkinson’s to come together from anywhere in the world, to meet other women with Parkinson’s. It goes a long way to combating the loneliness many are feeling because they are stuck at home. The women have really come together as a “tribe” as one member called it.

A Support System

Because of the stay at home restrictions, I have been approached by a number of newly diagnosed women looking for help. Because in-person classes for people with Parkinsons are have not been available since March, these people cannot meet others who could become part of their support team. As a result, the need for other types of support has increased. I reached out to the women in our group to see if anyone was interested in setting up a peer mentoring program for these women. In response, I have an amazing team of 10+ women who have put together our new program, Twitchy Women Peer Support in record time. If you are a woman who has been newly diagnosed and would like to have someone to talk to who has “been there”, click here to find out more and fill out an application.

Sorry guys, but this is for women only. But if you want to start a Men’s Peer to Peer support program, please reach out to me. I can help you get it started.

Even more to be grateful for

This morning I received the news that the Parkinson’s Life podcast series that I was on last summer was recently named ‘Best Global Audio Campaign of the Year’ in the Global Content Awards. Click here to read about it.

Finally, I am proud to say that all Twitchy Women programs are free to all who participate. However, they are not without cost. It takes resources to continue our work and we cannot do it without your help. In light of that, the last thing I am grateful for is that I have partnered with the Parkinson’s Wellness Fund so that those who want to provide support can do so. PWF is a 501)C)(3) organization based in Southern California that helps people with Parkinsons by providing access to services and support needed to live an improved quality of life, today. Check back soon to find out how you can support Twitchy Women.

Thank you again for helping to make Twitchy Women a community where women with Parkinsons feel welcome and supported. 

Have a great Thanksgiving.

Here is a classic Thanksgiving oldie but goodie. Enjoy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGFtV6-ALoQ

How To Get Through Days When You Can’t Fight Parkinson’s Anymore

On By skrischerIn Exercise, Parkinsons DiseaseLeave a comment
Person
Illustration from Parkinsonsdisease.net

Originally published by Parkinsonsdisease.net By Sharon Krischer · November 19, 2020

We have all been there. After a bad night you give up and drag yourself out of bed. It’s 4:30am. Yes, 4:30! You are restless and you just have to get out of bed. You know you should exercise, but that is the last thing you feel like doing. You stay in your nighttime pajamas because you just don’t feel like getting dressed.

Read the rest at Parkinsonsdisease.net

Tennis Anyone?

I played tennis for the first time in almost a year this week. First, my regular game for the past 25 years temporarily fell apart when one woman left the group and another was on the disabled list for 2 months. By the time she was ready to return, we were on lockdown for COVID 19 and all of the tennis courts were closed.

Tennis ball and golf ball Wall Mural • Pixers® - We live to change

I started playing golf last spring with my husband at the golf club we belong to and now it is a running joke that I have played more golf there in the last 6 months since the golf course re-opened than I had in the previous 35 years we have been members. I have taken a few lessons, got new clubs to replace my Neanderthal clubs and get out on the course with Mr. Twitchy about once a week. I found that I usually fall apart after playing 6-7 holes. I would suddenly get tired and it would be harder to concentrate. I would forget how to swing the golf club and my shots went all over the place.

Running out of energy

Back to tennis this week. We had a tennis clinic with one of the pros at the club and then played doubles. I was surprised that my game was better than I thought it would be after such a long time. And then, after about 1 hour and 15 minutes, my legs suddenly turned to jelly and moving was getting harder and harder. The only thing I had in my bag was a small box of mints. I downed about 1/2 of them and the sugar helped me survive the last 15 minutes of the game. The tennis pro suggested that I keep power bars or something in my bag for times when my energy level drastically drops.

This energy drop is consistent with what I have noticed over the years. Because of Parkinson’s, I will suddenly become so tired that I cannot move, like I did playing tennis. This will happen at any time, not just with sports. We can be spending an evening with friends and Mr. Twitchy, who often sees it coming before I do, tells the other people we are with that I am “melting” and it is time to take me home.

This morning, we went to play 9 holes of golf, and sure enough, my game started to fall apart on about the 6th hole. Concentrating was becoming difficult and I could not hit the ball. Fortunately we were close to a spot on the golf course were I could get a snack. Within minutes I started playing better again.

Snacks are a good thing

The bottom line is that for me, I need to keep some kind of snacks nearby when I am playing tennis, golf or any activity that goes on for several hours. I have to be able to recognize when I start to fall apart and get something to eat before I start having real problems. When I was a teenager, my grandmother used to say that I would get really quiet when I needed to eat. Now, with Parkinson’s, I not only get quiet, but it becomes harder to move and to concentrate on anything. The energy drop is faster and much more dramatic. Hopefully, by recognizing this I can be much more pro-active so that I can keep my energy levels more even throughout the day.

It is an easy fix for an annoying problem. Too bad something this simple doesn’t work for our other PD symptoms.

Have you tried Poling?

On By skrischerIn Exercise, Parkinsons DiseaseLeave a comment

Our mission is to help people realize that their full potential is not only achievable but also sustainable, by doing exactly what their body was designed to do – move.

Mandy Shintani and Diana Oliver 

(The following review/opinion is strictly my own. Urban Poling provided the walking poles and accessories to me at no charge and allowed me to keep the poles, after the review was completed. I was not compensated monetarily for this review. In no way, did receiving the poles at no charge, influence what I have written.)

Several months ago, I was approached by Urban Poling to see if I would like to try their poles. I had tried two different types of poles before. One I did not like at all. The other one worked well for me, but I really only used them when we were traveling. They were a big help when touring in cities with uneven cobblestone streets, climbing hills and keeping me from tripping over my own feet. I had never considered using them for Poling, or Nordic Walking as it is more commonly known.

My Activator Poles

I was vaguely aware of Poling as an exercise for People with Parkinson’s. I only knew that Becky Farley, PhD, founder of PWR!, uses them in her exercise programs for people with Parkinson’s.

Once Urban Poling contacted me, I was curious to give it a try. Before sending me the poles, they asked me questions about my exercise routine and any difficulties I was having. They determined that I should try the Activator Poles (they have several different types of poles for different uses). With the poles, they sent two different types of tips. Urban Trekking Tips are regular round tips for hiking. Urban Boot tips are recommended for fitness. They look like little rubber boots! (see above illustration)

Who is Urban Poling?

Founded by Mandy Shintani, BSc (OT), MA and Diana Oliver. Urban Poling is an awarding winning Canadian company that that is 100% women-owned and operated. It was was one of the first companies to bring Urban Poling to Canada. They have a training program for physical therapists and personal trainers for all types of rehab and for different diseases and conditions. There is even a course for people with Parkinson’s. Click here for a short video from the website showing improvement in gait using the poles.

Live Activator Course for Parkinson’s

Getting started

Once my poles arrived I was instructed to go to their website to learn how to use the poles. I had not seen this with other companies. There are a number of very useful videos to teach you what to do with your poles.

First, I learned how to adjust the poles to the proper height. It was so much easier than the other poles I had tried, which had flip locks that would sometimes slip while I was walking. The Activator Poles have a button locking system that is so easy to use. The poles are clearly marked R and L and the grips are very comfortable. Now I was ready to get moving.

I watched another video and tried it out. It took a while for me to get my hands and feet coordinated so that I did not have to think about which pole went with which foot. I found that once I learned to use the poles correctly, I was moving more quickly, with purpose, and more upright, thanks to the poles being adjusted to the right height for me. When I go out on my walks using the poles, I am using my legs AND my arms, so I am getting a much better workout than I would get just going for a walk at a leisurely pace. My only complaint is that there are no straps attached to the grips to go over your wrists. Knowing me, I would put them down when I stopped somewhere and forget to pick them up again when I leave.

If you are interested in Poling as exercise for Parkinson’s Disease, check out their website. In Canada, the poles are widely available and may be covered by your insurance. In other countries, you will have to order them directly through the company or through Amazon. Note: the only poles I could find on Amazon are the Activator 2 poles, which are slightly different than the ones I have.

For another perspective on poling, my friend and blogging colleague, Karl Robb just posted his review on Urban Poling’s walking poles. 

Have you joined PD Avengers yet?

PD Avengers

We are a global alliance of people with Parkinson’s, our partners and friends, standing together demanding change in how the disease is seen and treated.

 We add urgency to research, wellness and advocacy by uniting people and organizations to the cause of ending Parkinson’s.  Join the movement today at https://www.pdavengers.com/become-a-pd-avenger.

For Women with Parkinson’s: Hormones and PD Meds

On By skrischerIn Drugs & Treatment, Living Well, Parkinsons DiseaseLeave a comment

On Sunday, November 1, Twitchy Women hosted a panel discussion on how changing hormones can interfere with Parkinson’s medications for Women with PD. We began with an overview of the few studies that have been done on this topic. Unfortunately there has not been very much research on this.

Estrogen may provide some level of neuro-protection

First, there have been several studies that suggest that Estrogen provides some level of neuro-protection; if so, that may explain, at least in part, why PD onset in women tends to come later than it does for men. But, these studies were not looking at how the hormones might interfere with the effectiveness of your PD meds and say nothing on that front.

Menopause symptoms can worsen your Parkinson’s

Second, the American Parkinson’s Disease Association (APDA) and the European Parkinson’s Disease Association (EPDA) were the only websites where I could find anything about PD Meds and Hormones. Both were careful to state that these findings were not definitive. Here is what they both said:

  1. For pre-menopausal women:
    • As many as 11 out of 12 pre-menopausal women with PD experience a worsening of their symptoms and reduced effectiveness of their medications a few days before and during menstruation.
    • Doctors will generally focus on treating PMS before treating PD.
    • Speak to your neurologist before taking additional PD med’s during PMS.
    • Birth control pills can reduce the fluctuations in hormones.
  2. For all women, regular exercise and relaxation techniques can help decrease symptoms.
  3. For menopause and post-menopause
    • Menopause symptoms can worsen your PD symptoms and there can be confusion between Menopause symptoms and PD symptoms.
    • Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) can be helpful.

Our Experiences

The three women on our panel spoke briefly about their experiences before we went into breakout rooms for smaller group discussions.

Image from Practo Health Wiki

The first was Darlene, who was diagnosed at age 43. She has noticed increased PMS symptoms, including cramping and heavier bleeding. She said she feels much like she did as a teenager with PMS. Her “off times” for her PD meds are much longer at this time. She just started on oral contraceptives that will reduce her periods to 4 times a year, hopefully reducing some or all of the problems she is having.

The second was Anne, who was diagnosed with PD the same month that her periods stopped; in her words, “a double whammy.” She started having intense hot-flashes almost immediately, the anxiety of the PD diagnosis affected her sleep and she was also having headaches. Her general practitioner suggested that the first thing she should do is to see her gynecologist about HRT to make her less miserable.

Last was Bonnie, who said she was in denial for almost 4 years after her diagnosis. At first, she went the alternative medicine route and saw complementary medicine practitioners and took a lot of supplements. The supplements did not seem to help, and she finally started on PD meds about 6 months ago. Her biggest problem is hot flashes and doesn’t know if that is affected by her PD. She focuses on exercise and nutrition. She wants to learn from the other women in her group.

Small Group Discussions

Pre-menopause – A small group of only 5 women, most said that they had serious cramps like when they were teenagers. Off-times for their PD meds increased. Exercise, stretching and heating pads can help. Most are planning to speak to their gynecologist to go on birth control to reduce the number of periods per year so that they do not have to go through this every month.

Image from Zen Of Sleep

Menopause group – only 3 women were in this group, all on HRT. Two take oral HRT and the third is on patch. The HRT has helped all of them.

Post menopause – This was by far our largest group with over 20 women. Some are on HRT. Many do not see any difference in Parkinson’s symptoms with HRT. No one talked about going off HRT and how that would affect their Parkinson’s.

It was a very interesting morning, but unfortunately, nothing earth-shattering came out of it. This may be why there are almost no studies on the effect of changing hormones on Parkinson’s meds; it seems that every woman reacts differently, making it difficult to come to any general conclusions.

If you want to add to this conversation, join us on the Twitchy Women Facebook page. (Not Twitchy Woman ) This is a closed group, so you will have to request to join it. It is for women with Parkinson’s Disease only in order to keep confidentiality.

Looking for Inspiration?

On By skrischerIn Inspiration, Parkinsons Disease1 Comment

Get Out and Go

Linda K Olson

Last year, the opening session of the World Parkinson Congress featured a speaker who literally took a terrible situation and turned it into an incredibly positive experience. The woman who turned everything upside down for us was Dr. Linda K. Olson. With a smile on her face, she proceeded to tell the captivated audience how she survived a gruesome accident involving the van she was traveling in and a train in Germany 41 years ago.

If you can do it, I can do it.

Linda and her husband were just out of medical school when they traveled to Germany on vacation. Their van was hit by a train, causing the van to roll over, shattering their lives and Linda’s body. Her injur ies were so severe that the doctors needed to amputate both legs above the knees and her right arm. In addition, she had fractures in her spine. When she finally saw her husband, who had a broken ankle, she said to him that she would understand if he left. He responded “I didn’t marry your arms or your legs. If you can do it, I can do it.”

Life as a triple amputee cannot be easy. But Linda was determined to do everything. While in rehab, she prioritized what she wanted to do in life. Highest on her list: being able to do the activities of daily living, driving , use artificial legs to walk and go back to work.

Work was the easiest. Her career as a radiologist took off because it only required her to sit and read scans on the computer, something that she could do easily. She knew she could go back to that.

In the years to come she did learn to walk with prostheses, had two children and traveled the world with her family, including being carried in a custom made backpack on her husband Dave’s back when on camping trips. As she said, it didn’t take long to figure out that fake legs were useless in the wilderness. She was pulled on dog-sleds, by horses and even in a wheelbarrow. Canoeing and Kayaking were things she could actually participate in. But specially made skis attached to fake legs did not work at all.

Five years ago, her life took another u-turn. She started having anxiety attacks, restlessness, difficulty writing. Within a few weeks, she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. Exercise was difficult, but she worked with a trainer and eventually learned to do things like one-armed push-ups, cardio exercises and more. She attended the WPC in Portland because she wanted to learn about living with PD. She ended up being on a panel discussion for the newly diagnosed, which led to her keynote address at the WPC Opening in Kyoto.

Accept, Adapt, Innovate

What got her through all of this was her attitude. And of course, her infectious smile. Her key message is to “Accept, Adapt and Innovate.” If you can get enough people to help you, you have enough determination and are willing to do things a little differently, you can get there. The hardest thing we have to do is to accept that our condition that it is real, then you can adapt and find new ways to do things- to innovate.

She brought us on her journey with her, not for pity, but to celebrate the good things in life, even as a person with Parkinson’s who just happens to be a triple amputee.

Because I cannot do justice to her story, I encourage you to watch the video recording here.

And you can now read her study in her newly published book Gone, A Memoir of Love, Body, and Taking Back my Life