Hi Tom,

I have been considering Rock Steady in my area of Northern New Jersey and wondering if you (or anyone else) go to the sessions when you are ON or OFF and any thoughts on how you felt in each mode. Thanks and be well...

Eric

unfortunately no RSB IN THE UK

Eric,

They do an evaluation, so there are four levels. Idea is to have the work out match your abilities.

I was looking to increase my medication frequency/dosage but with the RSB boxing I am doing better. I take additional Sinemet before my 90 minute workout. Some days I could do the speed bag quite well, other times just it was not getting into a rhythm. Talked with my MDS (Movement Disorder Specialist) and agreed it was like I would burn up the dopamine too quickly, so adding a tablet before my 90 minute workout is great.

I still can not jump rope. I'm working on getting left hand to match right hand. We have a practice rope that is cut in half, and a tennis ball at the end. This gives you the feeling of the weight, but it is obvious my two sides have a hard time synching. So I get the cardio benefit of jumping rope, but don't trip on the rope.

One guy in our class fell twice during his evaluation attempting to jump rope. A month later not only is he good, but he did 50 jumps in a minute. His wife is really blown away with his improvement.

For me the best benefit is sleeping longer. Three hours a night was my normal routine, just couldn't sleep. So now I am up to five or six hours of sleep. Amazing how much better I feel.

Tom

Keep bugging every therapist, Doctor, Hospital, and everyone else you know.

It is new to Austin, and we really didn't think it would catch on. It just happened! I had worked out with my son at a local gym, but I made other people nervous with my blank face and shaking. Just life, but with one of my kids is was OK, but when you fall over the GYM owners wants to call 911 thinking you are having a heart attack! Add to slurring words when tired... The gym wasn't for me unless I had a personal trainer (too expensive).

So with a Gym with everyone having Parkinson's, it is great. You loose balance, and fall over and the floor is a heavy rubber mat! Everyone else in class just yells "You can do it, get up, keeping going". Suddenly I am not an outcast, but part of a larger group that gets it. That is huge!

There is a little humor is seeing an exercise class that fills up all the handicap parking spots.

CBS Morning News with Leslie Stahl:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfDHGbuvqiw

Things got a bit crazy. My wife had nerve damage, and despite her tiny size (5'6' 120#) was having a hard time walking. Disc completely gone in lower back, and ended up with L3-S1 Lumbar Fusion surgery. Complete with titanium hardware.

My Pulmonary Doc had me getting CT scans every six months due to a mass in my lungs, so he didn't like the growth rate (slow and steady) but PET scan said "not to worry". Biopsy confirmed Lung Cancer - Adenocarcinoma. Thankfully early detection, so off the Hospital and had part of my lung removed. Even the surgeon was surprised how good of shape I was in. I reviewed with everyone why my Parkinson medication was so critical "on time, every time, wake me up!". Took meds before surgery. They had them ready to go in recovery, and had me up walking around fifteen minutes later. I was discharged the next morning as I was up and walking every two hours all night. Looks like they got it early, still have follow up with Oncology.

It is more of a "meh, what's next?" I really shouldn't be this up beat, but every morning I get up is a victory.

Oh, I thought I would be in the Hospital Longer. No Wifi in the room, couldn't use a table to watch the rest of Foyle's War (Michael Kitchen and Honeysuckle Weeks). Nothing to do but wonder halls at night, and get pitched out the next day.

Sweet Jesus Tom !! When my wife got the big 'C' the other year I thought I must
have done something really bad in a previous life, It might be a good idea to warn people,as I do, not to stand next to you in thunderstorms.
Seriously Tom I'm humbled by your ability to remain up beat under circumstances which would crush most people, you're an inspiration !
I wish you and your wife the best of everything.

I don't think I could've resisted pretending to be a Zombie if they'd left me to wander the halls at night.
Here in the UK I know a bloke who had an operation for stomach cancer,kicked out after 3days with a bottle of morphine and instructions not to take too much at once. The bed must have been still warm for the next patient.

Tom,
Thanks for all the Rock Steady info. Now I need to get off my butt or the floor and push myself to get there. You have a great attitude in rough times and definitely inspirational. Thoughts are with you.

Eric