My last blog was on Jan. 14 2008... so today I celebrate by writing a new blog...
I was unable to get into my site.... so nan helped me and here I am again.

PARKINSON AND ME

I had wondered for some time about the changes that felt were not right for me. So when I went to the Dr. in mid December, I asked her... could parkinsons be genetic? She said "possibly...WHY?" I explained to her what I had observed and said it seemed similar to what my father had gone through.... ( he lived to be 92 years old). After she had me walk down the hallway and bent my elbow a few times and asked about what I had precieved?

I told her about the weariness, weakness ( I have always been very strong),, stumbling into objects ( doorways, tables etc.) , shaking hands(especially my left hand) and choking on food or water.

She put me on ropinrole.25 mg 3 times a day.. for a week. and then increase it every week until I was up to 1mg..3 time s aday. It has really been fun..

Ropinirole causes nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, trouble sleeping, weakness, dry mouth. So about an hour after I take the pill morning sickness hits.... I go to bed at 10:30 and wake up between 1am and 2am.. so I go out to the recliner and wrapup in a warm blanket and fall back to sleep. but I am not complaining.

Parkinsons is caused by a group of basal gangli, deep in the center of the brain. These gangli are responsible for movement. PD is a loss or damage to the dopimine receptors in this region. PD is deggeneration of a number of nuclei in the dopamine producing nerve cells in the brainstem. Dopamine is a neuro transmitter that stimulates motor neurons... the cells that control the muscles. By the time the symptoms appear I have lost about 80% or more of the dopamine producing cells.

Looking back....myhands began shaking in 1982,,I noticed in an art class age47 restless foot movement...began 1999 age64

balance problems..about2006 age 71

walking steps didnt seem smooth 2008 age 73

left hand shaking ... dec. 2008 age 73

choking...nov 2008 age 73

voice changes (sounds like I have a frogin my throat...dec 2008

The best defence is to exercise daily. delete stress from my life, exercise my mind. etc. etc.

So every day will be a new adventure

every day will carry with it a responsibility

I will make the most of everyday

come what may... and love it.

Information if such a good tool.. I thought I would share with anyone who is interested Love ya, robin