Day by Day with Parkinson's and Peripheral Neuropathy

I was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease and Peripheral Neuropathy in 2006, but my symptoms seemed to take a turn in a different direction in late 2007. The current diagnosis is Essential Myoclonus. You will find record here of a my journey - coping with the testing, the medicines, nutrition, digestion problems, exercise, the emotions, and no telling what else!

Friday, August 25, 2006

My Other Problem

Part of what has made diagnosing all this trouble walking so difficult, and has slowed down being able to deal with it, is that I have finally finished an almost 4 month long battle with the dreaded diarrhea. Once I was finally diagnosed with colitis and put on some very powerful medicines, I did start to improve. But by that time I had already fainted, had stitches in my head, and gotten so weak it was all I could do to walk at all.

The walking difficulties came before the colitis did, though, so the basic problem still exists. Even now that my digestive system is getting back to normal, I still can't walk normally.

My Gastroenterologist, Dr. B, is beginning to taper me off of some of the high powered medicines he had to use to get my system under control, so that may help me walk better, too. We'll just have to wait and see. I'm to cut one pill back for the next 7 to 10 days and let his nurse know how I'm doing. Based on what I tell her, she'll give me instructions on what to cut back on next.

I was able to map out an Estate Sale/Yard Sale shopping tour for us today that didn't involve a whole lot of walking, and we both had a great time. Friday has been our Date Day ever since we retired, and it sure was nice to spend most of the day normally, even if I did have a doctor's appointment.

I was hoping we would find a walker, but we didn't. Dr. B fussed at me for not using one, and I told him we'd been looking for one. He made me promise him that I would get one, so I guess we're buying a walker.

Labels: , ,

2 Comments:

  • At 8/26/2006 8:35 AM , Blogger Ruth said...

    It's very challenging to plan days out with mobility issues. As for the walker before you spend the money you might want to check with two places locally- senior citizen centers and first aid squads. FOlks donate used equipment to them all the time and they sometimes have it sitting there just waiting for people to ask for it. (The equipment adds up financially!) Glad I found your blog - I am sure your thoughts/solutions will help me - and many others.
    Ruth

     
  • At 8/26/2006 9:17 AM , Blogger Dirty Butter said...

    This whole idea of planning with mobility issues in mind is so new to me, Ruth. My puny little problems are so miniscule, compared to what you and so many others deal with, that I feel like a whiney baby by comparison.

    When I started trying to do research on PN, though, most of what's available deals with diabetes, cancer, or HIV causes, and there's not much out there on anything else. That's why I decided to start this journal online, hoping to find others with PN similar to mine to talk to.

    But finding you was a true Godsend for me, an unexpected blessing.

     

Post a Comment

Links to this post:

Create a Link

<< Home