If these walls could talk!

Waiting for my meds to kick in, is not dissimilar to waiting for a watched kettle to boil. The longer I focus on this point, it seems to take forever as I impatiently wait to come “on”. However the other morning I was thankfully distracted by the hilarious antics of our new puppy whilst our daughter attempted to wash the floors. As she moved the wet mop back and forth, our puppy eagerly chased it, and at one point was actually sitting on it as it slid over the floor tiles. Washing the floors clearly looked like a great game to Rosie as she held on for dear life. I was laughing so hard, my sides began to ache (but in a good way). Rosie weighs 4.5 kilos and is growing daily. I don’t think she’ll be able to hitch a ride upon our floor mop when she’s fully grown and weighing somewhere in the region of 55 kilos!

They say laughter is the best medicine – and I have to agree. There is nothing like having a really good laugh to release stress and tension and take one’s mind off a situation. Having a pet, in particular a dog, makes a wonderful companion, especially when a person is housebound and unwell. Although a great deal of work, not to mention expense, the benefits most definitely outweigh the downfalls.

No one can take away happy memories we’ve made over the years. When I think of all the funny things that have happened and good times we’ve had in this house, if these walls could talk, they’d have quite a story to tell. Travelling abroad is not easy for anyone suffering ill health. I have written about this topic in The Huffington Post.

Gaucher - Handle With Care

Living with Gaucher disease presents its own challenges. Even something as simple as an X-ray poses difficulties not understood by those who know nothing about this rare disorder. Upon one visit to an ER I had chronic bone pain and required X-rays. The technician, although far from green, had no idea how much pain I was in. Being handled roughly can prove frustrating for he didn’t realise I needed help - I couldn’t get onto the bed and manoeuvre myself into position. I required assistance in moving my legs gently for hip joints are often delicate and painful. I almost need a sticker on my forehead “handle with care”.

An X-ray technician needs to understand when dealing with a Gaucher patient, every move can be excruciating, and the bones require delicate handling. Positioning of the patient’s limbs and joints is also paramount in taking a good X-ray. A technician needs to know what to look for and be able to recognise the abnormalities that are indicative of Gaucher disease. 

Take a look at my article this week in The Huffington Post which is about hosting dinner parties with Parkinson's in tow! 

A Puppy for Parkinson's

Having lost my canine companion of nearly ten years, the house felt strangely empty without her presence. It’s surprising how a dog can fill a place in the home touching our hearts and literally become part of the family. The benefits of owning a dog when disabled or living with a long term illness are endless.

We recently bought home a new puppy to become my four legged companion and assistance dog. Although generally Labradors are used for this purpose, there are other breeds equally suited to the task. We decided to stick to a Dogue de Bordeaux, being the same breed that over the years we’ve come to know and love. These gentle giants are strong heavy set dogs who are family orientated and smart, making an excellent choice as long as you don’t mind the drool!

Although I have experience with training dogs the basic commands such as sit, stay, down etc. I knew I’d need professional help for a new puppy to become my assistance dog. My husband and I fortunately found someone qualified in this special field and we’ll be working together training the puppy to suite my individual needs. Beginning extensive training when a puppy is very young bears the best results, and should one need to increase commands for various new tasks at a later stage, as the Parkinson’s progresses, this poses no problem as the dog is already accustomed to learning.

We named our new four legged addition to the family, Rosie, and needless to say I wasn't short of material for this week's article in The Huffington Post!

Slowing Down

It takes me so long to do anything these days, I seem to be accomplishing less and less. Maybe there’s a time warp in our house where time speeds up, but I remain  exactly where I am – getting little or nothing done! I heard someone describe living with Parkinson’s as if driving a car with the handbrake on. One still moves, but not smoothly or in a natural fashion. I thought this was a good analogy, immediately conjuring up a picture in one’s mind.

Knowing my limitations, I endeavour to allow long enough to complete the task at hand, but often I find myself pushed for time. I used to be as fast as lightning and multi-tasking was as natural to me as breathing. Coming to terms with losing abilities that once I barely gave a second thought to, has not been easy. Before Parkinson’s made its appearance in my life, I only had one speed, and that was “fast”. Now I am relegated to travelling life in the “slow lane” and watch with envy as everyone else overtakes me. 

Do you suffer from night sweats? Menopause or yet another symptom of Parkinson's? I share with you some thoughts in my article "Who Turned Up The Heat?" in The Huffington Post.