this is audrey.. and yes, I did know that... only I could * have* read that
many hours in a row :))  I have been up all night catching up on my emails
and reading the messages .. so I too am not perfect when it comes to typos
and transpositions ( dyslexia )  lol


----- Original Message -----
From: Barb_MSN <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2000 12:24 AM
Subject: Re: NEWS-Parkinson's hinders patients' ability to distinguish
contrast


> Errrr.... I should NEVER write to the List when it's past midnite!
> YIKES - I hope y'all will excuse the number of typos in this
> message!  Heck - I've set a new "typo record" tonite!
>
> Make that I read for about a 1/2 HOUR to 45 minutes each nite,
> 'kay?
>
> And you're all smart enough to translate what I typed as opposed
> to what I MEANT to type, right ? <LOL>
>
> Barb Mallut
> [log in to unmask]
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Barb_MSN <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: Saturday, January 29, 2000 12:08 AM
> Subject: Re: NEWS-Parkinson's hinders patients' ability to
> distinguish contrast
>
>
> >Mary Ann, Hilary, et al....
> >
> >The magic words when for a reader (a "bookie?"  Naaaaw) <grin>
> >who's suffering PD-vision problems (no matter what type of book
> >turned them on in their pre-PD days_ is "Reader's Digest LARGE
> >TYPE magazines!  ALSO - lotsa book stores carry large print
> >nowadays (thank goodness) however, large-type magazines are
> easier
> >for Parkie-fingers to hold cause they're not bulky or heavy as
> >magazines.
> >
> >I've changed my reading habits tremendously over the past 3 or 4
> >years to accommodate my degenerating vision and have discovered
> >the large-type to be a real boon.  I read every single night for
> >about 12 hour to 45 minutes, with classical or country music on
> my
> >bedside radio.   The kitties sprawl  across the bed next to me as
> >I read.
> >
> >Bed time, for ME, is prime time!  It's blessedly quiet, I'm
> >relaxed and comfy, and I enjoy this special time of the day more
> >than any other... BTW, I ALWAYS  wear reading  glasses (tho I
> used
> >to get along just fine with one pair of tri-focals, today, for
> >safety's sake, I have three different-lensed glasses to wear---
> >reading only, distance only, and bi-focals to wear at home, only)
> >
> >I've stopped being a "reading snob," too,  'cause there was a
> time
> >years ago that I'd NEVER have admitted to reading\, much less
> >ENJOYING "Reader's Digest! <faking a becoming blush> (lol)
> >However, PD has long-since "desnobified" me!   In fact. upon
> >reflection, PD has pounded with some success at lotsa my little
> >vanities.
> >
> >Hmmmm.... I'm wandering and I didn't mean to do that right now
> >'cause I've got a good book I'm starting to read - "Angelas
> Ashes"
> >(regular print size, so I'm using a magnafying glass!)
> >
> >One last thing to make reading easier - I DOUSE my eyes with a
> >good (meaning expensive) eye-moisurizer... and that feels great,
> >AND makes my vision noticibly clearer for a while.
> >
> >G'nite to you all, and happy reading!
> >
> >Barb Mallut (the "original bookie"!) <LOVE  a good book - OR a
> >trashy romance novel occasionally) <wee smirk>
> >[log in to unmask]
> >
> >
> >-----Original Message-----
> >
> >
> >From: Hilary Blue <[log in to unmask]>
> >To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
> >Date: Friday, January 28, 2000 2:55 PM
> >Subject: Re: NEWS-Parkinson's hinders patients' ability to
> >distinguish contrast
> >
> >
> >>Once again i can identify completely.. Reading - i am a
> librarian
> >by
> >>profession - i used to read     10-12 books a week - then i
> >started reading
> >>moostly children'se books - at first i  used to saay they are
> >well written
> >>good stories and have happpy endings - then i realised i was
> >bluffing myself ,
> >>it was really the large print i was seeking. Aned ulverscroft
> >books were too
> >>heavy. Now i cant even cope wit  Harry Potter !!  My hands cant
> >hold the
> >>book, my eyes cant focus on the print, and my mind cant
> >concetrate o'n the
> >>story - gets bored and wanders off on its own. I've started
> >trying to knit
> >>again - keeps my hands busy, dont need to see what i'm doing
> like
> >crochet, and
> >>doesnt occuppy my mind which cann go off on iots fligihts of
> >fancy! 'And i
> >>always know when i nedd my mesds without a clolck - i cant see
> >the computer
> >>screen/ And the percentage of un corroected typos goes up - i
> >simply dont see
> >>them. but when my meds kick in, i see perfectly (with my
> glasses)
> >my neuro
> >>thinks i'm crazy, wouldnt support my request to see a
> >neuro -ophthalmolgist-
> >>but during off times i cant even distinguish the letters on the
> >keyboard!!!
> >>i've gone thru all those phases and synptoms since  i began
> >writing this letter
> >>hilary blue
> >>
> >>Mary Ann Ryan wrote:
> >>>
> >>> Barb wrote:
> >>> It's not that they don't recognize my visual difficulties. but
> >>> > rather they lump it under the "Mom's getting older"category.
> >And
> >>> > while I  DO admit to having a birthday once a year and those
> >years
> >>> > ARE mounting up <GULP>, at 57 I don't consider myself THAT
> >old!
> >>>
> >>> Barb brings up a major complaint of mine - that when folks get
> >older they
> >>> should *expect* to be sick.  I'm 55 and have **no** vision
> >problems.  In
> >>> fact, I'll bet most of the caregivers on this list don't have
> >the visions
> >>> problems described in Derek's article.  Which means that,
> >clearly,
> >>> difficulty distinguishing contrast is a specific problem
> >associated with
> >>> PD - and not age.
> >>>
> >>> My husband, Jamie, has had such terrible problems reading that
> >he no longer
> >>> is able to enjoy what used to be his favorite pass-time.  He's
> >been seen by
> >>> a Neuro-opthalmologist who could offer no solution to his
> >problem.  Jamie's
> >>> neurologist just shakes his head when Jamie mentions his
> visual
> >>> difficulties.
> >>>
> >>> I sincerely hope that active research continues in this field.
> >It may be
> >>> that there is a rather simple solution to this problem - at
> >least that's my
> >>> hope.   It would be wonderful if my husband could read again.
> >>> -----
> >>> God bless
> >>> Mary Ann (CG Jamie 60/20)
>