A young woman has a ‘flare’ for the dramatic on a first date.

One of the most troubling symptoms for those with Parkinson’s is bradykinesia, which is just a fancy word for slow movement. I’m grateful (alleluia) that my tremor and dyskinesia have subsided with help from a great Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) programmer and medication adjustments. However, I continue to be plagued by slow and stiff movement, particularly in my hands. I find it ironic that before Parkinson’s, I could talk and walk fast, eat quickly, play the accordion at a fast clip, type 99 wpm without errors, complete university in three years, work three jobs simultaneously, and overall function as an efficient and fast-moving person. People previously described me as an Instant Person.

With Parkinson’s, particularly when my medication and DBS stimulation aren’t working at an optimum level, life seems in slow motion and particularly my hands move at a snail’s pace. For example, sometimes buttoning my blouse, zipping my jacket, turning the key to open the door, folding a sheet of paper and putting it in an envelope, putting a stamp on an envelope, handwriting, taking coins and bills out of my wallet, eating with a fork, preparing or cutting food, putting on makeup–all can seem like insurmountable tasks with my [...] continue the story

Assumptions and the School of Cancer By: MsInterpretation October 11, 2011

As with many living with a chronic, terminal or unresolved health issue, I’ve become a student of my condition. I’ve found, in the course of my schooling, that Assumptions abound.

Diagnosis and the assumption: I felt in pre-school when my doctor said, in gentle tones: “You have DCIS: Ductal carcinoma in situ.” She handed me the lab report, and wrote down a website, instructing: “Only look at this particular information, The rest will just freak you out.” Providing specifics of a website seems responsible, recognizes the power of the internet, and is in keeping with the principles of Participatory Medicine.

I remember none of this. I know it happened, because I have the paper to prove it. What I do remember is that I understood DCIS to be exactly the opposite of what it meant. What I understood from DCIS was, “Cancer’s in my ducts. That’s the same as lymph nodes. That’s bad. In situ. That must mean it’s inoperable. I have to prepare myself for death. And I also need to prepare my family.” I left the office a dead woman.

It was a friend (diagnosed with DCIS more than a decade before) who described [...] continue the story

By redcurls November 28, 2011

When I was diagnosed with MS I had lost most of the vision in one eye with Optic Neuritis and the dizziness was frightening having to drive on a busy highway each day to work. There were times I couldn’t tell if my car had stopped or not and working with abused mothers and their children I was always afraid of running over a child coming or going from my office. I got my sight back but started a long relapsing and remitting, in and out of the hospital experience. I had been very active in writing and illustrating my stories for the children that I worked with. I taught art classes to encourage their creativity. I had begun getting ready for my own art showing but felt like I would never be able to paint or sketch again. I went to sleep with tears, I had closed the door to my art studio with paintings half finished. I couldn’t handle the small details of my painting anymore. I dreamed that I saw myself painting and I was painting to music …it was SO REAL. I awoke and went into my studio at midnight and took out [...] continue the story

A group of seniors with Parkinson’s disease is getting a much needed reprieve from the debilitating symptoms that haunt their daily lives. Erica Hill reports along with fitness expert, Sarah Robichaud.

December 12, 2009