The other day I went to my usual neurological check and something new came up. I have something that is referred to as Pseudobulbar affect, also known as emotional incontinence. It is in short the in ability to control emotions. Laughing and or crying at inappropriate times. It makes it also very difficult to show true emotions, appearing mad when not. You here about this with Alzhiemers but not so much with Parkinson's, but Dr says it is common with pretty much all neurological disorders.
The next day I went to a speech therapist because my voice is getting softer and weaker. Also I had a swallow test. That didn't go to well I have to go in for a video swallow test. It is an x-ray of me swallowing barium. Seems the only part of the test I passed was sipping orange juice. Apple sauce was a bit tougher when it came to a soda cracker that was it. First bite was hard to get down, the second did me in. I chocked and coughed for about 10 minute's ending the test and requiring the video test. Seems I use many more muscles to swallow than is normal. We are going to worry about voice later, this is getting old fast.
As I had said in the beginning of this blog it is a way of sharing how this Parkinson's progresses and things to watch out for. When things don't just seem right you need to find out what is going on. Sometimes I feel like ignoring things that are going on but it is just putting off the inevitable.
Sunday, July 13, 2014
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
I know, more pd and driving
This has taken a while for me to write because it really isn't about Parkinson's per se but it has a great deal to do with living with pd. We had a neighbor named Bob whose wife was trying g to get him to stop driving for several years. Bob had very bad arthritis in his neck, could barely turn his head. It's hard to explain exactly what he did but over the course o about 5 years as a neighbor he had gone of the road into snow on either side of the driveway having to be pulled out. He has driven through our yard several time because he could not see or with the snow could not make out our little driveway/road.
He had a very frightening habit of when he needed to make a left turn out of our drive onto the 2 lane highway in front of the house. He would pull to the road turn right on the shoulder look in his rear view mirrors then turn hard left and do a u-turn to go up the road. A truck driver across the road and myself a former truck driver knew he would someday really hurt or kill someone. June 13 it happened.
My wife had just turned into the drive a Bob pulled out. I was inside waiting for her to get home. I heard the crash , ran to the window and at first just saw my wifes car. I was terrified then looked and saw another car in the front yard. He had been t-boned right in the drivers door. I didn't see the other car till I got out side found my wife was ok. The car in the yard was Bob's. My wife called 911 and we all headed over to Bob. He was still concious but hurting very bad. He had to be cut out of his car. We were all out there directing traffic and doing what we could till help arrived. The other driver was hurt pretty bad, didn't have his seat belt on and his head hit the windshield and was nearly scalped. Bob has caused 4 or 5 other accidents doing this same thing.
Bob was taken to the local hospital then med flighted to the university of Wisconsin Madison. He had broken his neck in 2 places. They did 11 and a half hours of surgery but he was paralyzed from his chest down. There was nothing more they could do. He died 2 days later.
I know this wasn't pd related by it was mobility related, just like the stiffness we all feel. My point with this story is that his wife had tried for years to get him to stop driving. I know how hard it is to stop, I still drive some but when my wife says stop I let her take over. I drive short distances alone but anything else only when she is with me. When she sees I'm stiff can't move or just not good to drive I don't. When our loved ones tell us to stop we need to listen. If we wonder if we should stop we should have already.
So many times here someone will ask about driving when you ask please think about Bob and stop. Don't put your life or others at risk. If someone you Love says stop PLEASE STOP. Don't be Bob or a possible victim.
He had a very frightening habit of when he needed to make a left turn out of our drive onto the 2 lane highway in front of the house. He would pull to the road turn right on the shoulder look in his rear view mirrors then turn hard left and do a u-turn to go up the road. A truck driver across the road and myself a former truck driver knew he would someday really hurt or kill someone. June 13 it happened.
My wife had just turned into the drive a Bob pulled out. I was inside waiting for her to get home. I heard the crash , ran to the window and at first just saw my wifes car. I was terrified then looked and saw another car in the front yard. He had been t-boned right in the drivers door. I didn't see the other car till I got out side found my wife was ok. The car in the yard was Bob's. My wife called 911 and we all headed over to Bob. He was still concious but hurting very bad. He had to be cut out of his car. We were all out there directing traffic and doing what we could till help arrived. The other driver was hurt pretty bad, didn't have his seat belt on and his head hit the windshield and was nearly scalped. Bob has caused 4 or 5 other accidents doing this same thing.
Bob was taken to the local hospital then med flighted to the university of Wisconsin Madison. He had broken his neck in 2 places. They did 11 and a half hours of surgery but he was paralyzed from his chest down. There was nothing more they could do. He died 2 days later.
I know this wasn't pd related by it was mobility related, just like the stiffness we all feel. My point with this story is that his wife had tried for years to get him to stop driving. I know how hard it is to stop, I still drive some but when my wife says stop I let her take over. I drive short distances alone but anything else only when she is with me. When she sees I'm stiff can't move or just not good to drive I don't. When our loved ones tell us to stop we need to listen. If we wonder if we should stop we should have already.
So many times here someone will ask about driving when you ask please think about Bob and stop. Don't put your life or others at risk. If someone you Love says stop PLEASE STOP. Don't be Bob or a possible victim.
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