Blog

24 May 2012 by Chris Boughton

Just one exam left later this week and my first year at college, studying for a BA in English and History, will be complete. The exam is a question on four political thinkers; Rousseau, Wollstonecraft, Mill and Beauvoir, and for the last week I have been studying hard. I am pleased to report that I got through my first academic exam in 37 years last week without Parkinson's disease (PD) interfering significantly. The exam was 2 hours long and I had been very concerned that fatigue might kick in before I had finished, but I just managed to finish before it arrived. I was exhausted at the end but equally elated I had won this battle.

The Roller Coaster Ride

17 May 2012 by Meg Pinfield

Ivan’s reprieve lasted just three weeks. Then he had to be re-admitted into a nursing home. When he returned home in early April, he was very fit. His Parkinson’s disease (PD) symptoms were well under control. We took things easy at first; during the second week, we resumed the care plan, with Ivan going to his daycare centre twice. We also attended a medical appointment, so it was a busy week.

These Early Days

14 May 2012 by Chris Boughton

Today was the May Day public holiday in the UK and my son, daughter-in-law and grandson came for lunch and stayed for nearly 6 hours. Usually 6 hours would be way past my limit for any form of social interaction without at least one, if not two, lengthy periods of bed rest. Amazingly my grandson exerts a power over my Parkinson’s symptoms that no one else, or no other event or medication, can achieve. I did take an hour’s rest prior to their arrival and immediately after their departure but I still think it is remarkable how, more often than not, he keeps my fatigue attacks at bay during his visits.

Mind Matters

14 May 2012 by Briony Cooke

Geography was always my favourite subject at school because you could sit and chat in class while colouring in the colonies on a map. Also, it was easy to get full marks if you knew your stuff; capitals, longest rivers and the number of sheep in New South Wales. I spent hours with my nose in the atlas and my head in the clouds and later on I discovered that it had great scope. Geography was the subject for me, and I decided to take it at university and afterwards went on to teach the subject.

Wear Sunscreen

02 May 2012 by Chris Boughton

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is known to affect the memory of some sufferers, although not of everyone. My personal logic is that if I am to be one of the PD patients who is not affected then I have to try shortening the odds. My theory is that because not all suffer memory problems, perhaps there are manageable variables for this potential PD symptom. My strategy is simple: use it or risk losing it. As my illness has progressed over the past 10 years I have mentally pushed myself by reading more, doing crosswords, Sudoku puzzles, and engaging in newspaper and pub quizzes.

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