Hi all,
I hope that what I am about to write here doesn't make me
sound emotionless or like I have no feelings. Take this into ac-
count along with the fact that I am on the Digest and at times am
forced to read them a day or two late due in part to my work-
travel. And, please understand I am not flaming anybody nor am I
trying to start a flame-war.
But the recent postings about Parkinson's causing death made
me twinge more than just a little. And, even though I haven't
posted recently, the number of times that this emotional state-
ment was made -- and the absolute, indisputable, surety with
which the statements were made -- finally got to me. (the reli-
gion-oriented tag-line may have had something to do with it too.
(-:)
So please note that the following is In My Humble Opinion:
I've only been dealing with this dis-ease for about six years
now. But, as I understand it, Parkinson's is a label placed on a
variety of neurological symptoms and conditions for which there
is no other name, cause, or cure. Whether the symptoms include
Bradykinesia, Dyskinesia, Micrographia, Ataxia -- what ever --
the Parkinson's label is attached to the condition if the patient
responds favorably to one of the "Parkinson's medications (usual-
ly the combination of Carbidopa and Levodopa)."
It is also my understanding that the current medical thought
and theory on the dis-ease is that it is caused by the lack of
Dopamine-producing cells in the Substantia Nigra area of the
brain. And, if this is true the only way that they are currently
able to make that determination -- the lack of the Dopamine-pro-
ducing cells -- is in an autopsy.
I may be "splitting hairs" here. But, as much as I've tried
to make my thought processes more right-brained, I seem to be
fairly stuck in a left-brained body this time around. And, as is
typical of a left-brainer, I happen to have a need for having
things in order, organizing things, and having exacting ideas and
definitions.
Again, please note that the following is In My Humble Opinion:
Nobody dies *from* Parkinson's. The lack of specific brain-
cells whose only known purpose is to smooth the movement of mus-
cles when in the waking state doesn't cause death. Instead,
IMHO, that a person may pass over *as a result of* having Parkin-
son's. Maybe it's something different than being left-brained,
but I do *NOT* believe that Parkinson's is a fatal dis-ease.
I may pass over after falling down some stairs (which I have
unfortunately had some experience with recently )-:), or not be-
ing able to move fast enough to get out of an emergency situa-
tion, or not being able to swallow my food, or not being able to
step on the brake in my car quick enough, or trying to beat the
train at crossing the tracks, or not having a parachute open
correctly for me, or falling overboard on a boat trip, or refus-
ing to be fed intravenously, or any of a thousand different
things. But, in any of these cases, Parkinson's did not *CAUSE*
my passing -- *HAVING* Parkinson's caused it.
Well, that helped. The knot in my stomach has loosened up and
I feel better. Thanks for listening, thanks for helping me to
blow off a little steam. I'll go back to lurk-mode for a while
(after all, nobody has posted about computers and the 'Net re-
cently (my reply specialty (-:)). Everyone take care, be well,
and always grok in fullness ...
Bill--
...who is a little sad today because he ran over his Dogma with his Karma.
.. William A. Parrette ...... 7177 Heritage Drive ....+------------------+
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