About me

PROFILE:
I have been writing poetry and stories since I was a child, and a love of reading was instilled in me from an early age. I am passionate about writing, and hope you enjoy the books I have written. Whilst most of you sleep soundly in your beds, like many Parkinson’s patients, insomnia dictates, so during those hours that sleep eludes me, the house is tranquil and quiet, an atmosphere perfect to immerse myself in writing. My life has been a series of strange events, which have without doubt contributed to my creativity. To publish anything is to bear one’s soul to the world. It is to stand naked and let everyone see who you really are. I have poured my heart and soul out on paper and I hope to share this journey, immersing you in a story, capturing your attention and firing the imagination. Through my writing and public speaking I hope to bring greater awareness to the general public about living with chronic disease.

Friday, August 24, 2018

If you can’t swallow…


Although I am on the Duodopa pump, I still have some “off” times, but they are nowhere near as often or as bad as those before I was put on the Duodopa treatment. One of the first things I notice when I’m about to go “off” is that I can’t swallow. If you can’t swallow, you probably can’t eat! I was beginning to miss my evening meal altogether and wake the next morning with strong hunger pains. I was ravenous, and my weight began to drop. I knew I had to get some nourishment in me.

This is where soup comes to the rescue. The summer heat has not died down yet and it’s absurd I’m eating bowls of hot soup. This is yet another change in our lives, admittedly a small one. We have always eaten our main meal at night, but now I have to take Parkinson’s into account and am trying to have a substantial meal at lunch time and eat a lighter supper in the evening of soup or soft foods that are easy to swallow.

My friend’s husband always says jokingly “eat desert first”, but now often I have a scoop of vanilla ice-cream, and this cold treat slides down with little effort, and then I find I can manage to swallow thick hot soup. I endeavour to put as many different vegetables and pulses in the soup which is liquidized.

I may have to start drinking Ensure again, which contains all the vitamins and calories a person needs daily. Ensure comes in two flavours: vanilla or chocolate. I’ve also found that sucking on ice cubes helps when I can’t swallow anything else. Just like a car needs petrol to function, the human body is fueled by eating nourishing food.

2 comments:

  1. It is wonderful that through this media fellow sufferers as well as those in the medical profession that follow your blog world wide
    can benefit from your experiences and ideas to facilitate life with Parkinson's. You are a marvelous person with a great man by your side

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  2. My husband was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson's disease at 57.his symptoms were shuffling of feet,slurred speech, low volume speech, degradation of hand writing, horrible driving skills, right arm held at 45 degree angle, things were tough for me, but now he finally free from the disease with the help of total cure ultimate health home, he now walks properly and all symptoms has reversed, he had trouble with balance especially at night, getting into the shower and exiting it is difficult,getting into bed is also another thing he finds impossible.we had to find a better solution for his condition which has really helped him a lot,the biggest helped we had was ultimatehealthhome they walked us through the proper steps,am highly recommended this ultimatehealthhome@gmail.com to anyone who needs help.

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