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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)