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In the 6-8 weeks that I have lurked here, this is the first time anyone has
mentioned exercise.  I think its very important   I never exercised as a kid
or "young" person, but began about 6 months pre-dx -- hoping to do something
about the funny way I was walking and moving in general.   I worked with a
trainer 2 hours a week--fast walking, weight lifting, stretching, toning
etc.  It seemed to help a little, but clearly there was someething bigger
the matteer.  SO, with my PD dx in May of 1994, I decided that I needed to
increase to 3 days a week, design a program, and do some woron my own.

My wonderful trainer moved back to England about 18 months ago and I now
work
with 2 different ttrainers- mdiocre at best, but I now know enough to make
it work pretty well for me.  What I can't do is work out without a trainer.
I thought I just needed a jump start but find that I need constant pushing
A person who comes at 6:30a.m. 3 days a week is the constant push I need.
Expensive, but a life line.

It was your "while I am still mobile, I should do what I can" that caught my
attention.  I find that I am stockpiling all sorts of resources:  I am
studying Italian (without teacher, this time--through tapes and the
computer) taking a master gardening course through the agricultural
extension center at the Botanical garden, and have a 3/4 time (when business
is good) consulting firm dealing with membership relations issues for
hospital associations.  Its a small niche but its my own.

The exercise, italian lessons and gardening stuff are all done with the
thought that I need to learn, stockpile, build strength , employ brain cells
while I can.  The future seems so unknowable, with PD so idiosyncratic (sp?)
so different for everyone.  I think I am progressing very slowly. I am just
beginning to have tremor on the left side.I am terrified of developing some
kind of dementia and on bad days see symptoms everywhere.  But on good days
I recognize the risks for what they are and don't exaggerate them.

 My worst symptoms are bradykinesia, dyskinesia, festination and the like. I
stumble about a lot  during off periods, and have had to cut back my work
which used to involve a lot of travelling, publlic speaking and
glad-handing.  I am not all that sorry to see it go--and luckily can afford
to work only part time.  My 8 kids (3 born of me, 5 step chidlren, all 8
rasied by me)are all grown, I see my 17 grandchildren just frequently (or
infrequently) enough, and  most days things are pretty good.

I am currently taking sinemet 25/100 1/2 tablet 5xday) plus one selegeline
and now Permax and 100 mg zoloft. The zoloft helps a lot to keep the
frustration at bay (at least I think it does- its hard to tell).  The Permax
has helped a lot in elminating what used to be my chief complaint - restless
legs.  In addition,I take 800 Vitamin E, 2000 vitamin C and some other good
stuff.

But without the exercise, none of it would help.  I am convinced of that and
am particularly high on walking.  Range of motion and stretching also seems
very important in presereving some semblance of good posture and
strengthening exerecises as well.  I HATE the aerobics and substitute the
brisk walk.

Sorry I have run on so long.  I never did introduce myself to the group and
I guess this response to you will serve as an introduction as well.

Nancy Shlaes (also deGrazia--married name) 60/4



button wrote:

> Hi, Friends,
>
> A question re: weight bearing exercise.
> In the interest of building muscle strength and endurance, I have
> embarked on a three days a week exercise program at a Health Club.  It's
> a pretty strenuous workout and I feel that perhaps it is making my
> tremor
> worse.  I don't want to do anything that is going to aggravate my
> symptoms, but I do feel that while I am still mobile, I should do all I
> can to get in good shape.
>
> Anybody out there got advice for me?  (I should mention that so far my
> only symptom is tremor in right arm and leg.)
>
> Cheers and thanks,    Kitty



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<HTML>
In the 6-8 weeks that I have lurked here, this is the first time anyone
has mentioned exercise.&nbsp; I think its very important&nbsp;&nbsp; I
never exercised as a kid or "young" person, but began about 6 months pre-dx
-- hoping to do something about the funny way I was walking and moving
in general.&nbsp;&nbsp; I worked with a trainer 2 hours a week--fast walking,
weight lifting, stretching, toning etc.&nbsp; It seemed to help a little,
but clearly there was someething bigger the matteer.&nbsp; SO, with my
PD dx in May of 1994, I decided that I needed to increase to 3 days a week,
design a program, and do some woron my own.

<P>My wonderful trainer moved back to England about 18 months ago and I
now work
<BR>with 2 different ttrainers- mdiocre at best, but I now know enough
to make it work pretty well for me.&nbsp; What I can't do is work out <B>withou</B>t
a trainer.&nbsp; I thought I just needed a jump start but find that I need
constant pushing&nbsp; A person who comes at 6:30a.m. 3 days a week is
the constant push I need.&nbsp; Expensive, but a life line.

<P>It was your "while I am still mobile, I should do what I can" that caught
my attention.&nbsp; I find that I am stockpiling all sorts of resources:&nbsp;
I am studying Italian (without teacher, this time--through tapes and the
computer) taking a master gardening course through the agricultural extension
center at the Botanical garden, and have a 3/4 time (when business is good)
consulting firm dealing with membership relations issues for hospital associations.&nbsp;
Its a small niche but its my own.

<P>The exercise, italian lessons and gardening stuff are all done with
the thought that I need to learn, stockpile, build strength , employ brain
cells while I can.&nbsp; The future seems so unknowable, with PD so idiosyncratic
(sp?) so different for everyone.&nbsp; I think I am progressing very slowly.
I am just beginning to have tremor on the left side.I am terrified of developing
some kind of dementia and on bad days see symptoms everywhere.&nbsp; But
on good days I recognize the risks for what they are and don't exaggerate
them.

<P>&nbsp;My worst symptoms are bradykinesia, dyskinesia, festination and
the like. I stumble about a lot&nbsp; during off periods, and have had
to cut back my work which used to involve a lot of travelling, publlic
speaking and glad-handing.&nbsp; I am not all that sorry to see it go--and
luckily can afford to work only part time.&nbsp; My 8 kids (3 born of me,
5 step chidlren, all 8 rasied by me)are all grown, I see my 17 grandchildren
just frequently (or infrequently) enough, and&nbsp; most days things are
pretty good.

<P>I am currently taking sinemet 25/100 1/2 tablet 5xday) plus one selegeline
and now Permax and 100 mg zoloft. The zoloft helps a lot to keep the frustration
at bay (at least I think it does- its hard to tell).&nbsp; The Permax has
helped a lot in elminating what used to be my chief complaint - restless
legs.&nbsp; In addition,I take 800 Vitamin E, 2000 vitamin C and some other
good stuff.

<P>But without the exercise, none of it would help.&nbsp; I am convinced
of that and am particularly high on walking.&nbsp; Range of motion and
stretching also seems very important in presereving some semblance of good
posture and strengthening exerecises as well.&nbsp; I HATE the aerobics
and substitute the brisk walk.

<P>Sorry I have run on so long.&nbsp; I never did introduce myself to the
group and I guess this response to you will serve as an introduction as
well.

<P>Nancy Shlaes (also deGrazia--married name) 60/4
<BR>&nbsp;
<BR>&nbsp;

<P>button wrote:
<BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE>Hi, Friends,

<P>A question re: weight bearing exercise.
<BR>In the interest of building muscle strength and endurance, I have
<BR>embarked on a three days a week exercise program at a Health Club.&nbsp;
It's
<BR>a pretty strenuous workout and I feel that perhaps it is making my
<BR>tremor
<BR>worse.&nbsp; I don't want to do anything that is going to aggravate
my
<BR>symptoms, but I do feel that while I am still mobile, I should do all
I
<BR>can to get in good shape.

<P>Anybody out there got advice for me?&nbsp; (I should mention that so
far my
<BR>only symptom is tremor in right arm and leg.)

<P>Cheers and thanks,&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Kitty</BLOCKQUOTE>
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