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You wrote: > >Item Subject: cc:Mail Text > >Hello all, > >My name is Barbara Zimmer. I'm 43 and have had Parkinson symptoms for 9 >years. Due largely to unsuccessful communication with my neurologist, I've >been taking Permax and Eldepryl for only the last 18 months. Prior to >that, under the apparently misguided illusion that I was buying time (for >the long term effectiveness of available drugs) I experimented with some >alternative medical practices with variable results. > >The good news is, the Permax impact on my symptoms (tremor on left side and >more and more on the right, as well, shuffling gait, falling, shallow >voice) has set me back to where I was about 4 years ago. I can now, among >other things, once again enjoy playing the violin/viola, and run without >having my legs turn mushy or toes curl under. > > >I consider my PD symptoms to be an unfortunate smudge on my life which has >otherwise been blessed with 5-year old twin daughters, a wonderful husband, >a loving, supportive extended family, and a challenging and rewarding part >time consulting job in the high-tech industry. > >I have a few questions to pose to the group, mostly having to do with >communicating about PD. I'm sure I'm not the first to ask these questions so if >someone wants to just point me to past discussions, that would be great. > >1. What do you say to your young kids' friends and classmates when the >ask you why you're shaking? Does anybody have any good one-liners or >short, helpful explanations? > >2. Bruce Warr's note on how he uses PD for teaching examples was greatly >appreciated. My work demands that I teach some classes and occassionally >facilitate meetings. Does anybody else have some stories, one-liners... >that would both help explain my symptoms and put people at ease? > >3. Has anybody had any experience with Rolfing? > >4. Are there any other runners out there? Have you had problems with >tripping or mushy legs? As a former competitive athelete (Olympic >Marathon trials 1984 & 88), I have found it somewhat difficult to deal >with the responses I get to my running now. I imagine myself now looking >like I used to feel after running 26 miles. > >6. Do any other string players read the list? Have you found any >exercises that help your playing? > >I look forward to more of your insightly sharing. > >Cheers, > >Barbara > >Barbara Zimmer >zimmer@ ce.hp.com (415) 857-4894 > >Hewlett Packard Software Initiative >1501 Page Mill Rd 5MR >Palo Alto, CA 94304 > Hi Barbara Im Barry, pd for about 9 years,45 years old. Two types of responses: 1)Tell them the truth,and tell them its not contagious.We need the publicity. 2)On, the humor side(albeit slight), tell them you never need an electric blender. I was a professional musician for awhile, clarinet. I still pick it up quite frequently but I find that if my muscles are pd affected and tight,that I loose the coordination to play well. I think that any exercise you do with your fingers or hand would have to be just stretching.I always overmedicate when I do a rare live gig. Ive taken to MIDI and now compose with the aid of computers at my own pace. I gave up running and took up swimming. Boreing but a great stretch. My toes curl on occassion but popping my dosage of meds about 40 min prior to the swim seems to take care of the problem.Sorry , but thats my second chemical solution. I try to keep as active as possible: flyfishing, camping,skiing, scuba,gardening, woodworking...but had to give up "muscle" sports because they gave me too much joint pain. Good luch with your strategies!Let me know if you discover any techniques. Sincerely Barry [log in to unmask]