 |
 |
Dennis 'n Kathrynne.... <Wildly waving primary left hand in air> Hey, youse guys, here's someone who's spent her entire life, who when asked to raise her right hand automatically raises her LEFT hand (then blushes, giggles, says "Ooops" and raises the correct hand) <grin>. I also automatically point to the left while SAYING "turn right." <blush> In defense, I'm VERY, VERY left-handed and having had PD only on my right side for 20 of the 22 years I've had the disease MUST have reinforced my left-hand dominance. I've been regularly and comfortably using my right hand/arm since my 10/24/94 unilateral pallidotomy but am still very much a instinctively a "lefty." One thing I've noticed within the past year is that I've been "losing" my car when parked in a large "mall-type" parking lot. I used to have an outstanding sense of direction - almost like having an "inner magnet." But that "inner magnet" has apparently dramatically declined. At first I'd end up standing alone in a parking lot with a puzzled look on my face, pissed as all get out at myself, the PD, natural effects of aging, and my car (I was sure the darn thing had MOVED) <giggle>. After having this experience a few times and realizing how MUCH I didn't like finding myself in this situation, I made a plan in my mind on how to prevent the "car-lost-in-big-parking-lot syndrome." Now I as I park the car I FORCE myself to mentally take note of the relationship of my little red car (not always visible even when I DO recall where it's parked) to any nearby buildings or other unique stationery reminder. Trees all look alike in a parking lot and I learned the HARD way NOT to use nearby cars as pointers 'cause HEY, people HAVE been known to get into their cars and drive off, not knowing how important it was to ME that they REMAIN parked next to me so I could find my own car! <LOL> I used to take it for granted I'd always be able to unerringly walk straight to my car no matter HOW large the parking lot. Nowadays I congratulate myself and make it a POINT to give myself an "Attaboy," to reinforce the positive experience of locating my car in a parking lot. It HAS become easier once again to find my car in large parking lots because I'm NOW using my MIND to locate it, rather than my instincts. And it feels GOOD to use my mind. Barb Mallut [log in to unmask] ---------- From: Parkinson's Information Exchange on behalf of Kathrynne Holden, MS,RD Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 1998 6:09 AM To: Multiple recipients of list PARKINSN Subject: Re: "Ghost walk" personal triumph Dennis Greene wrote: > This mixing up off directions is happening to me a lot these days, > I even have to give concious thought to left and right. I'm not sure > whether this is age, PD, or lazyness but for someone who used to > teach map-reading its a bit of a worry. Dennis,I don't know what causes it, either, but it's the same for me. Only I've been that way all my life. For example, if I'm riding with someone in a car, and they ask whether to turn left or right -- I KNOW to turn left, but will clearly say "Right!" In college I loved organic chemistry -- until we got to the chapter on stereoisomers. I knew exactly which chiral molecule I was talking about -- but couldn't say the right one aloud. Group study was a nightmare! To some extent, I can overcome the spoken part of this mixup. I first use my hand to point in the correct direction, then (concentrating hard) I speak aloud the name of the direction I'm pointing. You're the first other person I've ever heard of who's mentioned having this problem. I'm sort of glad I'm not the only one. Best, Kathrynne -- Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD "Nutrition you can live with!" Medical nutrition therapy Tel: 970-493-6532 // Fax: 970-493-6538