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Sunday, April 25, 2010

APRIL IS PARKINSON'S AWARENESS MONTH/EMPATHY

I got a call a few days ago from a friend of an old friend of mine. It seems this ladie's husband has had PD for ten years.
He is not doing well and the rate of progression is of a concern. He cannot walk by himself anymore and has other advanced problems associated with PD.
His only treatment is Carbadopa/Levadopa 25/100 four times a day. He is depressed and cannot find himself in an upbeat mood anymore.
I am not a doctor just a PD patient with 13 year on the journey and not offering medical advice, just my observation.
As I understand the situation as described via the telephone, this person's neurologist thinks he is overmedicated.
April is Parkinson's awareness month.
With all the advancement in treatments in the last few years, you might wonder why so many PWP are not aware of the various alternatives and do not get that comprehensive and all inclusive care that is so vital to the quality of life of the whole person. Parkinson's is a fickel disease, ever changing with many surprises. Those who provide medical care should be addressing the whole person and learn from their patients how and when changes occur. There is ample research to show and share, teaching us that PD affects us in different ways and cannot be treated with a rubber stamp philosophy.

I have empathy for the person I first mentioned.
Hoping for better days ahead.

Zebrafish model to understand Parkinson’s developed | TheMedGuru

Zebrafish model to understand Parkinson’s developed | TheMedGuru

Friday, April 16, 2010

APRIL IS PARKINSON'S AWARENESS MONTH/NEW VOICE TEST

Doctor.jpg
WE ARE JUST OVER THE HALFWAY MARK,
ARE YOU HALFWAY AWARE OF P.D. ???

Now, a voice test to predict Parkinson's!

Now, a voice test to predict Parkinson's! (Getty Images)
In what could be called a major breakthrough, scientists claim to have developed a voice test which can predict Parkinson's disease years earlier in people.

Parkinson's is normally only diagnosed once symptoms show -- meaning it's already at an advanced stage and patients have lost a significant number of brain cells. Now, an Israeli team has devised a test to predict the neurological disorder.

In their research, the team from Haifa University have discovered that by measuring tiny changes in speech patterns, undetectable to human ear, they can tell whether a seemingly healthy person is a sufferer.

Accordingly, they developed a computer programme that can identify a Parkinson's "voice", which they claim could be used for screening those who are at the hereditary risk of the disease or as part of a national screening programme, British newspaper the Daily Mail reported.

Speech is affected by the disorder because it causes a deterioration of muscles in the neck and mouth -- giving some sufferers a husky voice. But the change is apparent to human ear after the disease has been diagnosed through symptoms such as rigid muscles, tremors, slow movement, and loss of balance.

The new test needs only a couple of sentences from patients, say the scientists.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

APRIL IS PARKINSON'S AWARENESS MONTH/A COMMUNITY

NOT JUST FOR PD
Understanding and support from those who know.....
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Saturday, April 10, 2010

APRIL IS PARKINSON'S AWARENESS MONTH/ APATHY

Apathy in people with Parkinson's 'shows the condition is getting worse'

Healthcare News
09/04/2010
Apathy among people with Parkinson's disease is a sign that the condition is getting worse, claims a new scientific study.
A new scientific study suggests that apathy shown by a person with Parkinson's disease is a sign that the condition is worsening.

Research published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry suggest that apathy can be caused by changes in the brain resulting from the condition, Parkinson's UK reports.

The Norwegian study followed a group of 79 people diagnosed with Parkinson's disease over a four-year period.

Commenting on the findings, Parkinson's UK's director of research Dr Kieron Breen said: "This is an important study that helps increase our knowledge and understanding of one of the common non-movement related symptoms of Parkinson's."

He went on to say that the charity's own research had found apathy to be a common symptom, while understanding why people with the condition may be apathetic may help carers.

One in every 500 people in the UK has Parkinson's disease, equating to around 120,000 people living with the condition, according to Parkinson's UK.

Thursday, April 8, 2010

APRIL IS PARKINSON'S AWARENESS MONTH/ COLD-HOT

BE AWARE:
If it is not one thing it is just another. At least that is how I find it. Cold is bad for many PWP and now we have a quick swing into summer ( and it's only April) so I am now working my way through the 88 degree heat. The swing only brings stress and as I''ve said before, Stress is a Mess. Hoping for a less messy day tomorrow, but as we know PD is fickle and sometimes unpredictable.
Just so you know.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

APRIL IS PARKINSON'S AWARENESS MONTH/ VOCAL CORD CHECK

Well to all the followers of this journey, I must report today was a first for this PWP.
My P.A.D.R.E.C.C. Doctor has taken the time to order an audiology testing and an appointment with a speech pathologist. Both testing and consultations are completed. In the process they had scheduled me to see an ENT specialist..that was today's experience. I have been cleared to get state of the art hearing aids ( I have a symmetrical hearing loss) and then the nice Doctor proceeded to let me know the next procedure to view my vocal cords. A little numbing spray up the nose and down goes a lighted minicam through the nostrils to target.Thank goodness my cords are clear. Now I can look forward to a long course of therapy to overcome the effect of PD on my voice and speech.
I continue to be thankful for such a comprehensive approach to patients with Parkinson's.
THIS IS PARKINSON'S AWARENESS MONTH.

Saturday, April 3, 2010

APRIL IS PARKINSON'S AWARENESS MONTH

ARE YOU AWARE?
DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT?

DID YOU HAVE YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND?
BE AWARE.
LOOK ME IN THE EYE AND PROMISE TO BECOME INFORMED

IT IS SOMETHING YOU MIGHT ENCOUNTER, OLD OR YOUNG