Parkinson’s Awareness Week
This week is Parkinson’s Awareness Week when our branch along with most other branches attempts to make the general public more aware of the condition with the hope of raising funds towards research. However, the Chairman of our branch has been taken ill and as his wife is our secretary our branch has not got anything planned for this week. So, I thought I would use the good offices of this site to contribute in my own small way to raising awareness of the condition.
Parkinson’s is a neurological condition which occurs as a result of a loss of nerve cells in the substantia nigra part of the brain. These cells are responsible for producing the chemical dopamine, which allows messages to be sent to the parts of the brain that co-ordinate movement. Unfortunately almost eighty percent of these cells are destroyed before symptoms first appear. There are two main drugs used to treat the condition one is levadopa which, as I understand it, is a natural amino acid that the brain converts into dopamine, replacing the missing chemical. However, this drug has a side effect called dskynesia which I have. Someone was having a right laugh when whoever it was gave the researchers this little gem because dyskynesias cause … involuntary movement! LOL.
The other drug is one that stimulates the parts of the brain where dopamine works and mimics its function but this too has some unpleasant side effects. With this second drug a particularly nasty effect is one that can, in a very few cases, cause a type of obsessive, compulsive behaviour characterised by excessive spending, gambling and hypersexuality. I often think to myself that one would need this last symptom to earn a few bob in order to finance the first two. I’m sorry, please forgive me, I know it’s not funny but I have to see the funny side of things it’s just my way of coping with anything unpleasant. However, I know it is far from a laughing matter for the people affected by this behaviour as some have lost their homes their families and their self worth.
Incidentally, both these drugs lose effectiveness over time and that is when a sufferer is considered to be in the later stages. I know many people suffering from some illness or disability will say something to the effect that one shouldn’t grumble as there are always people worse off than oneself. I’m sorry but I cannot find a scrap of comfort in that assertion because I don’t want anyone to be worse off than me, I want them to be better off, if that makes any sense. Anyway, as far as neurological conditions are concerned I think Motor Neurone, Multiple Sclerosis and Huntingdon’s are probably worse, in my opinion, than Parkinson’s, not that the reader should think that this is in any way a recommendation! However, I think that is enough for today but tomorrow, I will try to explain how the condition has affected me and my family.
To be continued
Comments
jolono | April 16, 2012 - 08:50
Thank you Moya, very informative. I hope your week goes well.
Linda Wigzell Cress | April 16, 2012 - 10:53
Thanks for the above Moya. My lovely Dad is by now in the later stages of this, being 91 (when diagnosed a few years back he just said 'Never did like that bloke Parkinson' - and he still repeats this from time to time! (when he is able). As you say, you've got to laugh. Few people know the full extent of the problems that come with this disease, and I look forward to your further thoughts on this.
Linda
Silver Spun Sand | April 16, 2012 - 11:55
Moya - have just read this out loud to my husband...struggling to get dressed, I might add, and he has just shouted out to me, 'I agree with everything that she has said...one hundred percent'.
There is also a misconception by the public at large, that Parkinson's is an elderly person's condition. Totally wrong, of course, with a large proportion being diagnosed from their early twenties onwards, and as in my husband's case, in his late forties.
Obviously, this will be compulsive reading for us over the coming week, so more power to your pen, Moya. Just tell it like it is, kid;-)
Tina
The Other Terre... | April 16, 2012 - 16:03
Many thanks for this Moya - the focus of Parkinson's Awareness Week this year is on finding a cure, so a plea for people to dip your hands in your pockets and donate to Parkinson's UK.
Denzella | April 16, 2012 - 20:58
Hello Jolono,
Thank you for reading and commenting. I wasn't sure about it but in the end I just thought go for it.
Thanks once again
Moya
Denzella | April 16, 2012 - 21:02
Hello Linda,
I wasn't sure about posting this but now I am glad I did for your lovely Dad's sake and for all the other people affected by the condition.
Tell him I love his comment about not liking that bloke Parkinson and tell him also that I'm not fond of him either.
Moya
Denzella | April 16, 2012 - 21:18
Hello Tina,
Thank you for reading and commenting and I am now so glad that I decided to post it. Tell your husband we're all in this together. Its one for all and all for one. It's time to take to the barricades and bring Parkinson's into the public's perception. For too long we have been the forgotten charity. We might not be able to march on 10 Downing Street but when our dander's up we can certainly shuffle at a fair old lick! Members of Parkinson's UK demand fair care for all!
Your husband,like my friend's husband, was diagnosed while still comparatively young. It's not a nice condition to live with for all those years. I wish him well.
Moya
Denzella | April 16, 2012 - 21:33
Hello The Other Terre...
Thank you for reading and commenting. Yes, as you say, the focus of Parkinson's Awareness Week this year is on finding a cure. I tell everyone small change can make a big difference!
It is our Golden Wedding Anniversary this year and we are having a 1940's theme party but have said to our friends no presents but donations to Parkie would be most welcome. Two others in our group have done the same and all three of us want any donations to go to research. Our branch has already given £5000 for this.
It's time for all the movers and shakers in our national club to stand up and be counted.
Thanks once again
Moya
sue dinum | April 26, 2012 - 21:53
Hello Moya. Wanted to know more about 'Parkinsons' so I came over. Very informative, and you explain the condition and its technicalities very well. I think you're doing a great job here by bringing it to the fore and your work deserves a wider audience. I know most of us can say there's always somebody worse off than us, but I'm still amazed and humbled how you manage to put a brave face on it day after day (perhaps you don't, always) and maintain your sense of humour, which I love, by the way. You write with great humility and warmth.
I will read the remainder of these, and I'm sure I and many others will be the richer for it.
Trev
Denzella | April 27, 2012 - 04:46
Hello Trev,
Thanks for popping over and taking a gander! Thanks also for saying you love my sense of humour not sure everyone would agree with you there though. Particularly with My Mum stories as I am always afraid people will interpret them as an implied criticism but they are not. It's just that she was not made from appropriate Mum material but she was great and very funny and I miss her.
Trev, thanks for taking the time and trouble to read this and for your kind comments.
Much appreciated
Moya x
Denzella | May 1, 2012 - 21:45
Hello Trev,
Thank you for reading and commenting on this piece. I'm glad you thought it was informative. I'm ecstatic that you like my sense of humour. I love anything that makes me laugh so it makes my day if I can reciprocate. Laughter really is the best medicine.
Thanks once again, Trev
Moya