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parkins.doc
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1994-02-22
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When the doctors at the Naval Hospital in Charleston, SC told me that
what I had was Parkinson disease, I looked a them like a dummy and had
to ask "What was parkinson disease?," but I was later to find out just
what parkinson's disease was.
It all started with just a small twitch in the right side of my face
and once in awhile a slight numbness and a loss of dexterity in my
right side centering around my right hand and arm. I never paid too
much attention to the twitch in the right side of my face and very
little to my right hand. As it progressed the shakes would come on so
bad that some times I would be unable to salute as I stood at morning
quarters. It was then that I decided to go on Sick Call and see a
neurologist, he informed me as to what he thought I had and that he
was sending me up to the Naval Hospital in Norfolk, VA for further
evaluation.
What is Parkinson disease? It was first referred to as "Shaky-Palsy"
which was erroneous, Parkinson's disease is caused by gradual
deterioration in certain nerve centers inside the brain. These centers
control movement, particularly semi-automatic movements such as
swinging your arms while walking. Deterioration of these nerve centers
upsets the delicate balance between two body chemicals, Dopamine and
Acetylcholine which are essential for controlling the transmission of
nerve impulses within this part of the nervous system. The resultant
lack of control produces the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. nobody
knows what causes the more common form of the illness. In rare cases
the nerve degeneration results from such factors as carbon-monoxide
poising or high levels of certain metals in the body tissue. Sometimes
Parkinson's disease is the result of and earlier infection of the
brain. What are the symptoms? One characteristic symptom is a type of
tremor (sometimes incorrectly spoken of as "palsy") which actually
means paralysis. There is an involuntary, rhythmic shaking of the hand,
the head (or both) often accompanied by a continuous rubbing together
of the thumb and forefinger. Such tremors are most severe when the
affected part of the body is not consciously in use. Once you begin to
consciously move the involved body part the tremors disappear or
diminishes. If the disorder worsen, there is a gradual loss of
automatic physical movement such as the natural swinging of the arms
that makes walking smooth. or the ability to write legibly, or move
your mouth and tongue so as to speak clearly. And that my friends is
what Parkinson's disease is, I'll leave you with this though the next
time you that do not have the disease get to wondering why the person
who has it acts the way he does just remember what I'm about to give
you.
A LETTER FOR MY FRIENDS
I have Parkinson's disease. It is not catching or hereditary. No one
knows what causes it, but some of the dopamine cells in the brain
begin to die at an accelerated rate. Everyone slowly loses some
dopamine cells as they grow older. If the cells suddenly begin to
die at a faster rate, Parkinson's disease develops. It is slowly
progressive and usually occurs as people get older. Medicine can
help. I'll take newer, stronger kinds over the years. Some make me
sick and take lots of adjustments. Stick with me. I have good days
and bad days.
TREMORA-You are expecting me to shake. Maybe I will,maybe I won't.
Medicine takes care of some of the tremors/ If my hands,feet or head
are shaky, ignore it. I'll sit on my hands or put them in my pocket.
Treat me as you always have. What is a little shakiness between
friends.
MY FACE--You think you don't entertain me anymore because I'm not
grinning or laughing. If I appear to stare at you, or have a wooden
expression that's Parkinson's. I hear you. I have the same
intelligence. It just isn't easy to show facial expressions. If
swallowing is a problem, I may drool. This bothers me, so we'll mop
it up;
STIFFNESS--We are ready to go somewhere and I get up, I can hardly
move. Maybe my medicINE is wearing off. This stiffness or Rigidityis
part of the Parkinson's. Let me take my. keep talking. I'll get
there eventually. Trying to hurry me won't help. I can"t hurry. I just
taker my time. If I seem jerky when I start, that's normal. It will
lessen as I get moving.
EXERCISE-- I need to walk every day. Two or three is good. Walk with
me. Company makes fun. It may be a slow walk, but I'll get
there. Remind me if I slump or stoop. I don't always know I'm doing
this.
MY VOICE--As my deeper tones disappear , you'll notice my voice is
getting higher and wispy. That's the parkinson's. Listen to me. I
know you can talk louder and faster and finish my sentences for me.
I hate that. Let me talk, get my thoughts together and speak for
myself. I'm still there. My mind is ok. Because I'm slower in
movement, I talk more slowly to. I want to be part of the
conversation. Let me speak.
SLEEPLESSNESS--I may complain that I can't sleep. If I wander around
in the middle of the night, that's Parkinson's. It has nothing to do
with what I ate or how early I went to bed. I may nap during the
day. Let me sleep when I can I can't always control when I'm tired or
feel like sleeping.
EMOTION--Sometimes I cry and appear to be upset and you think you
have done something to hurt my feelings. probably not. It is the
Parkinson's. keep talking to me. Ignore the tears. I'll be ok in a
few minutes.
Patience, my friend. I need you. I'm the same person, I've just
slowed down. It's not easy to talk about Parkinson's but I'll try if
you want me to. I need a friend. I want to continue to be part f
life. please remain my friend
***Sysop's Note: The above article was written by Percy Manning who may
be found hanging around HandiNet B B S. 1:275/429 or 94:8040/1