Hi Everyone, and a Happy Easter to you all!!

Spring is here!..And so is the rain!..But its warmer, And the oil man wont be around as often!..Id rather have a root canal than see him again!

I went to have an upper Endoscopy last Monday, because I have the acid reflux disease..(gerd)..and the results were good..No cancer..I have to go in this Wednesday for a routine Colonoscopy..GIT ER DONE!!

I can recall Chasmo saying many times that pd was not the beginning of the end..but the end of the beginning, and I understand now what that means..The journey that I was on prior to dx has changed course..New people are put in your life, especially if you get involved in pd support, etc..I met a man who has pd who became a fellow APDA board member..He just so happens to be a Marine Biologist and a Professor at the University of Rhode Island..His name is Stan..He asked me if I would be interested in participating in volunteer work at the Paul Cuffee School in Providence..The Paul Cuffee school is a school for under privileged kids, mostly minorities, that Stan explained to me, were enrolled in that school because they were fortunate..54 of the middle school aged children are studying the Cod Fish, and its importance through our history..The students will also see a Cod Fish disected etc, and my job is to give a talk about my expeience in the fishing industry, and how it has changed through the years environmemtally, as well as finacially, and the roles that the strict regulatory process has played..So this past Thursday I went to the school to meet the teacher, with Stan and another biologist from URI to discuss a strategy..Many of these kids, even though they live in a state blessed with miles upon miles of coastline, have never been to the beach..So we are planning some field day trips on the R.I. Dept of Fish and Wildlife Research Trawl Vessel, the "Capt Bert"..The Capt Bert basically has a trawl gear set up like my boat did, and they drag for marine species with a net, to do stock assessments, and research..The kids will get to see the operation, and see how fish are caught, and how research work is done..Should be interesting, and exciting!..It will be great for me as well..There are times when I..we..render ourselves useless because of pd..I go through this processs sometimes, but dont talk about it much to anyone, because after all..We're supposed to pull ourselves up by the boot straps arent we?....Ive also said before that this journey is what we make of it, and that it presents opportunities that would have probably not have presented themselves otherwise,..(providing that we are still well enough to participate of course)..and opportunities like this one give me a reason to get up in the morning and feel useful..My life with pd has been bittersweet, but it has been inspiring to experience the "sweet" part of this journey..like meeting Lonnie Ali last month for example, and being a part of that Symposium..Being a past PAN Rep..Becoming a APDA board member, and participating in, and helping to plan pd events in my state, and becoming a part of our online community here and having the pleasure of meeting many of you folks in cyberspace, and some of you in person..Ive heard it said that when one door closes, another one opens, and it certainly has been the case for me, even in the presents of pd

I wish you all a Happy Easter!

How was your week?

Steve,

Thanks for the kind words and for what you do to help others. Lonni Ali is pretty impressive don't you think?

Enjoy the kids....you have much to offer them about their environment and you can change that environment.

best,
paula

Happy Easter to you too Paula, and Thanks!..Lonnie was impressive, and an inspiration..Humble, friendly, down to Earth, and open..It is people like her that remind me, that when I feel useless because of what pd has taken from me..I need to look at what it has given me, and try my best to enjoy my early retirement..Not always easy, but it can be done taking it one day at a time

Thanks for your inspiration and steadfastness. This forum is a true blessing and an important resource to me. Also, thanks, Doc John and our moderators!
I encourage you lurkers to jump in and "grab a paddle" as Steve often says.
Have a great week, everyone.

I don't remember Easter being this cold before? Is it just me or what?
The Easter bunny hopped on past me for the most part....no chocolate eggs, -well a little one. Trying to stay out of the sugar jar and some days doing okay. We had a family dinner, not at my house though. I ate modestly, but still ate more than I should have and had some down time after dinner. Went looking for my exercise wear so I can mentally prepare myself for my anticipated re-entry into the world of "move your butt" and hopefully feel better and more mobile. Ordered myself a chin up bar which I'll install in the bedroom doorway. Chin ups are tough for females because they carry more weight in the lower part of their bodies than men. Other than that not a lot has changed. I am still adjusting to living with family (my daughter's that is) even tho I have my own space. I had to go pick up some stuff one day last week and had to phone for directions home!!!! I ended up in some mall parking lot and it was rush hour and the story is all down hill from there. I did make it home (or else how could I be writing this?) Well enough blah blah blah.... keep on posting ...J

Hello,
It has been some weeks without writing in the Forum. I am so tired and a bit depressed. This P.D. is strangling me . I know that I should be glad and positive in my thinking, but I feel it is getting dark in my mind.
Glad you are here, -
Be patient , yes , I must -

annelise

tjings are very bad here. seeing mutuple doctors. having trouble driving to appointments. carpsl tunnnel has set in due to trmors. edema has got me on lasix so i must stay close to a bathroom. I've ababdoned my doctors at hopkins and ttyng to get in to see others more local. keep going Steve while you can, i did for many years and it gave me memoriies that sustain me now.

mary

Mary,
It's really sad to know how you are struggling now. Surely there are resources available to help ease the struggle. Laura Dean, aka Harley, just now posted some of the helpful things she has discovered in the Seattle area that promise to be a big boost to her situation. Similar resources may be within reach there in east Tennessee.

There may be a relocation in your future, although that may not be your preference. It is unlikely that you would be able to bring your beloved Arabians with you to, say, Nashville, but such a sacrifice may be necessary in order to improve your qualilty of life. I think it is more likely that you could find good DBS programmers there, or Birmingham, or Charlotte. It might be worthwhile to try to contact PD patients who have had DBS and who live in those places to find a good programmer.
PM me if you wish.

Robert

annelise: wish you well ... hope you get over depression
I think you have the will power .. to
- do breathing exercises
- simple yoga
- have and enjoy simple things
- take it from there

Dear imark 3000
It is so good to hear your " hello" -. thank you. I have a hope for better days. Just now it is not sunshine, I think I must find a new way of living my daily life, accept P.D. and let God carry the heavy days with me.
I can follow ,- with breathing , yoga ?
My energy is low, but I know it will be better. Why, do I know, ? It is just a believe.

annelise