David,
Don't worry about becoming too personal on this list.
But if I were you ,and I met some of these people, I'd
certainly stay out of their way while they are running to
their kitchens to feed their cravings.
We have all, anyone who has had PD for sometime,
regardless of age, gone through the denial stage.
It lasts longer for some than others. You eventually
will learn to accept what you cannot change.
There are certain things you can do to make your life
easier. I offer you a few suggestions, you are the only
person who knows if they will work for you. These are
MOHO !
1. Get yourself an ATM card and use it in the grocery
store instead of trying to write checks. An ATM card
is just a debit card which electronically transfers money
from your account to theirs. Its the best things since
sliced bread as far as I'm concerned.
2. Go to your bank and order blank computer checks,
which will go with your financial software, MS Money 2000,
Quicken or Quick Books are 3 that I know of.
Then have a rubber stamp made of your signature,
go back to your bank, and sign a statement with the bank
for them to recognize this rubber stamp signature only!!
3. You will need to go to an Orthopedic Surgeon. Your foot dragging
will become worse, and you will trip yourself. He can make
arrangements for you to get an AFO brace, I'm on my second one,
I used to do a LOT of falling, actually over my own foot, before I got
my first brace. You'll probably have to talk with your Neurologist
about this, but its the best thing I ever got for PD.
4. Cut your bagel into quarters, put the cream cheese on only one quarter
at a time,
cut all sandwiches, including hamburgers,
into quarters too. It makes eating much easier.
Learn to handle your food in much smaller quantities, and don't
ask anyone to pass you the gravy!!!!
5. Accept the fact that most people are kind, no matter how embarrassing it is
to you. A helping hand can save a lot of problems. Don't try to step
off curbs
if you drag your foot, use the handicapped ramps!!! A few times of
falling on
your face while stepping off the curb will ingrain this thought into
your brain
FOREVER!!!!
6. Each person alive is given 168 hours a week, no matter how rich or
poor that person
is, healthy or ill. Smart or Dumb!!
Live life to the fullest each day, no one knows if they will really
get that 168 hours
this week.
7. Thank whichever God you believe in that your brain still works!!!! We
may get trapped
in a body with a mind racing in Mach 1, but believe me ,it beats
not knowing what
is going on in this world ,or in your own home!!
Best of Luck to you David,
just me,
Marjorie
I hope this is not too personal to share, but how many of you became
disabled at an early age?
I am trying to stay as positive as I can about this, yet as the person
who's cg seems to be in denial, so was I for about a year. With no dx
yet I still find myself saying Im just going to get over this. I wake
up the next day to realize I still cant shave or brush my teeth with my
right arm.
I started to cope with the ridgedness,stiffness slow moving arm,
fingers, and dragging right foot. I then began to have such a course
tremor of my right hand I can't put cream cheese on a bagel for
breakfast, and people stare at me in a check out line while trying to
write a check. The stress of it all makes the symptoms worse.
I left my job as a quality control technician because on occasions I
couldn't hold a precision measuring device of any kind to perform my
task. Write'ing became most difficult. (lots of documentation).
Here is the problem. I can still do what I've always done. It just takes
me a lot longer to do it. Staying caught up with this fast moving
society is tuff.
I feel like I need help. I dont want to go on disability at 36, yet I"m
concerned about my family's needs being meet.
All the talk of downsizing, moving, etc. I've been reading on the posts.
This has been most helpful, and all to familiar. My wife have been
discussing these things too. Thanks for sharing.
Dave
