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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)