I'm home from Africa and thought I would share an update. You can see a video of me at the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro at nanlittle1 on You Tube. Climbing the mountain was the most difficult physical thing I have ever done. Although I reached the summit, I believe I paid a very real price in terms of my health. We have been home for a week now and I am still exhausted and find that many of my PD symptoms that had been eliminated through cycling have returned. I'm also noting that it is difficult to read comprehensively, a problem that was resolved over a year ago. I'm back on the bike, hopeful that I'll return to at least my prior state soon.

Of the 14 people with either MS or PD, the four PD all summited and 7 of MS people did. Of the 28 in the group, 21 reached the top. The goal was to show people with disabilities that if we strive for a goal, we can reach it. I thought many times of the posts on this site and other people with PD I've met along the way, and feel that that is an unrealistic expectation to put on anyone. I know we can all try hard and possibly achieve more than is expected of us, but few can climb a mountain such as Kilimanjaro and, even though I did it, in retrospect I feel that it was unwise to use up so much capital getting there.

It's quite possible that I'm the oldest woman with PD to summit Kili (65), but what does that mean? Hopefully what I've done will inspire others to aim for achievable goals, but will not discourage them just because they can't do something so dramatic.

It's good to be back on my bike.

Hope that given a little time you will see that what you did is indeed a very real achievement, and that regrets matter little, it is what you did that is important.

If it is any help the chap who organises en-to-end here in the UK, a major cyling event on the PD calendar, also felt exhausted this time round. I think he is around your age too, amazing guy.

Cycling has never been a possibility for me, never learned, but I watch what you guys are doing with great interest, and not a little awe! And you do inspire, if you can manage all that then I can get through the day, whatever it brings...

Take it relatively easy (for you) and recuperate a little!

Lindy

I hope you're recovering well - that was a monumental adventure! I think that you'll find that the memory and the pride in your amazing accomplishment will be worth all this fatigue. I did a two day 50 km hike in the mountains awhile back - I was asked to go when I was really going downhill in the first couple years after diagnosis and had to train like crazy to be able to go - and it let me think of myself as an athlete instead of a patient. I've felt better about everything ever since. I'm very proud that I'm in better shape than a lot of people my age who don't have PD.

Wendy and Lindy, You can't imagine how much your comments help. "Let me think of myself as an athlete instead of a patient" is so much to the point. As my health returns and my cycling is stronger, once again I'm not thinking of myself as sick, just weary, which is perfectly normal. One person told me this is not unlike post-partum depression, which also rings true. So many people tell me how inspired they are. And, as I look at my video on the top, I recall how emotionally spent and joyful I was at reaching the goal. If I or you or any of us can inspire another to take that important step to think of ourselves as more or other than a patient, then our efforts and communications are all worthwhile. Thanks so much for your inspiration.

Great job on the climb and I'm sure you'll be back to your pre-climb health soon ready to take on another challenge.

you proved that nothing, not even PD, can rob us our pride and determination to reach the tops. thank you.
Imad

the best workout ofl 6 classes at the health club is at 9:40 am on monday. we call her the killer and everyone is there because we like it. some people can't do it. but i have to set my alarm for 6 am on that morning and load up on sinemet to be able to do it, i have balance problems in my classes especially tai chi but i still feel my very best in the water.

One monday my friend who drives had a doctor's appt so i got myself there but shouldn't have done it. just the anxiety of getting on in time and driving myself there was enough to make my med not work. i ate breakfast and of course would pay for eating too much. so i left with my head bobbing - sort of on but not really because i hobble walk and my head bobs when i am off.

in spite of taking multiple doses. i took her class with my head bobbing the whole time and went home still sort of off.

i think that damages our muscles and i probably should not have done that. it didn't loosen me up, i was exercising rigid muscles and i had to recover from that. i usually do have some problems from muscles not just returning to normal, it's like they are stretched like a piece of gum and they do not recover right away.

i don't know how you climbed that mountain - you are obviously very driven...that had to be a mind thing. congratulations to you! it may serve you mentally when you need it. ...not too many people can say that. you are the first in your age and with your condition right?

your body probably just needs to recover - i need a week or two from traveling to conferences, i don't know if i ever would if i climbed a mountain.

be kind to your body for awhile with light exercise. you have accomplished a one of a kind feat.

Paula and all, I hope that you realize you climb a mountain higher than Kilimanjaro every day you get up, go to swimming or tai chi or whatever you do to get past your barriers. I trained for eight months and completed a most challenging task, but the climb, up and down, took one week. You do this every day for your life. I bike. Already I'm very close to being back to where I was in terms of both health and cognition, only stronger and more determined to share Imad's message that "nothing, not even PD, can rob us of our pride and determination to reach the top." I wept when I read that. Someone asked me last night if I'm glad I did it. I paused a long time and said "yes".

Where did the determination come from? Many places I'm sure. But just before we left to tackle the summit at 10:45 p.m., my husband, who was suffering from a horrendous cough and low blood oxygen, whispered to me, "I know you can do this." It was so cold the water in my pack turned to ice. I have frostbite on the end of my thumb. My hands were so frozen that my guide had to get food and water for me and feed me like a baby. I returned to high camp at 12:32 the next afternoon having hiked all night and half the next day. If he knew I could do it, I could.

I see through Google that I'm not the oldest woman to summit with PD. Hats off to a 67 year old who did it earlier this year in 9 days on the Coca Cola route.

Each of your stories of overcoming PD thrills me. Thanks for sharing them.

For those of you in the Seattle area, there will be a free presentation hosted by the Northwest Parkinson's Foundation about the Mt. Kilimanjaro climb. Several of the climbers with MS and PD will be on a panel and will be happy to answer your questions. You can register at http://www.nwpf.org/Events.aspx?Event=319 The event will be Sept. 10 from 9-12, with chit chat from 9-10 and the program from 10-12. It will be at the Shoreline Community Center.

If you come, would you please introduce yourself to me? Thanks.

Also, the YMCAs of Greater Seattle and the Mill Creek Y in Snohomish County are recruiting participants for the Pedaling for Parkinson's at the Y classes that will start this fall.

Nan, do you know how to get a copy of Dr. Albert's latest article about forced exercise? It's in Exerc Sport Sci Rev 2011 Jul 18. On PubMed, it says it's e-print in advance of publication and just has an brief abstract. Thanks.