Parkinson's Awareness Week - Mastermind!

Cherry
Story of the week

By Denzella

Mon, 07 Apr 2014
  • 7056 reads
25 comments
 

It's that time again.

Parkinson’s Awareness Week  -   Mastermind!

And your Name is :  Parkinson’s

Your Occupation:  Disease

And Your Chosen Subject is:  How to make life uncomfortable.

Right you have two minutes to answer the questions on your chosen subject.

What is the first thing you do to make life uncomfortable?

I destroy the cells that make dopamine.

Correct

What is the first symptom?

The most common one is shaking.

Correct

What percentage of the cells that make dopamine have been destroyed once shaking has started?

Between 70% and 80%

Correct

List three other possible symptoms apart from shaking.

Slowness of movement

Loss of dexterity

Increased Anxiety

Correct

How does slowness of movement affect the person?

It can mean falling over as the body moves but the feet do not.

Correct

What do most people call this symptom?

It is called freezing.

Correct

What is the affect of anxiety?

Increased anxiety can affect any part of everyday living for example: travelling in a car, any change in routine, any type of stress.

Correct

How does stress affect the person?

Any type of stress causes an increase in symptoms.

Correct

Is there any pain associated with the condition?

Yes, for example, if a person  stays in the same position for any length of time such as when they go to bed then when they do eventually wake up they will be extremely stiff and this can be accompanied by a considerable amount of pain.

Correct

Can the person turn over in bed?

Yes in the early stages but to accomplish this they may need to do it in five stages.

 Correct

Can the person turn over in bed when they have the more advanced symptoms?

No, they need assistance.

Correct

Does the condition have an impact on other members of the family?

Yes.
Correct

How does this worry the person with the condition?

They worry how the family will cope as the condition worsens.

Correct

Name one unusual symptom that the public are not generally aware of.

SOS – Sudden Onset Sleep

Correct

What happens if a person is suffering from SOS?

The person can fall asleep without warning: for example, when drinking a cup of tea or eating their dinner.

Correct

Name one thing where the condition has a positive effect on a person.

It makes one think that they must do as much as they can while they still can.

Correct

What good can come out of having the condition?

It may lead a person to join a support group.

Correct

How does that benefit the person?

They will meet people in the same situation and see how different people cope with their symptoms.

Are there any other benefits?

Yes, a good support group puts on lots of activities all suited to the needs of the individuals and generally the friendships formed within the group show a level of care for each other that is not always the case with other groups not affected by the condition.

 Correct

What is the relationship between you and Parkinson’s?

Parkinson’s may not be my friend but I have learned to accept that it does not need to be my enemy either.

Correct

At the end of that round, Denzella, you have scored 22 points with no passes.

Certificate U
Other
Unclassified

Comments

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Moya - loved the format of this...so did my nearest and dearestsmiley

He was more than interested in the part where the narrator asks about unusual symptoms that the public is not generally aware of, and said to mention the following:-

Involuntary movement of arms and legs, etc. (Dyskinesia)  Some shop assistants think he is dancing to their piped musicsmiley)

Slurred speech  - folk thinking he's had one over the eightsmiley

Spidery writing  - Difficult sometimes to explain why his signature doesn't always look as it should when signing documents, cheques etc.

 

Many thanks for posting this fantastic piece of writing, both from him and from me, and well done on the cherries.

Tina

 

Submitted by Denzella on

Hello Tina,

Thank yo for your very generous ocmemtn.  I wasoverwhelmed  by th eresponse.  As you cnas ee i am 'off' a tthe moment bu ti have beenaway and will be out todayand tonight so i wanted to  thank you while i   was here.

I am gla dyo and your husband thought it okay.  I wasn't too sure about postingi it as i thought people might thhink it waa a bit silly. 

Givemy very bes tot your husband and also to you of course.

Moya

.

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

The format certainly helps the reading of the facts, Moya. Well compactly put together too. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Denzella on

Hello Rhainnon,

Thank you for reading this and fo r your comments which are always welcome and always appreciated..

My best regards

Moya

 

Submitted by Bee on

Hi Moya.

A great way to present the facts - awareness of the problems to be coped with and also that there are still positives to be had. Cleverly done! 

Bee

Submitted by Denzella on

Hello Bee,

Thank you so much fo r   reading and commenitng.  I wasoverwhelmed iwth the response and so pleased that it has  challenged a few perceptions and given greater awareness not  fo r me but fo rthose that hasve  all the symptoms.

MOya

 

Submitted by blighters rock on

Sure proof again that laughter is the best medicine, contrary to the opinion of most health publishers. This is such an evocative piece and would work extremely well as a tube ad for Parkinson's. It gets you reading about something without making you feel guilty and it broadens people's aspect to the illness as a way of life. I wouldn't have minded seeing one pass or incorrect answer. Perhaps 'Is there a cure for Parkinson's?' Reply 'Yes, stop gambling and smoking yourself to death while you're still young'. 'That is an incorrect answer. There is no known cure for Parkinson's.' Only playing around because I like this so much. Delicious.

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Actually, blighter's, smoking has been scientifically  proven to lessen one's chances of developing Parkinson's, strangely enough.  And as for gambling, it is one of the known side effects of Ropinirole (an extensively prescribed drug in the treament of Parkinson's). It's a funny old worldsmiley

Tina

 

Submitted by Ray Schaufeld on

I have a mental health condition where nicotine use is gambling with my mental health.I have now stopped sucessfully after a three week relapse. I feel clean againsmiley

I wish everyone well who has shared info on this site, big hugs                Elsie

Submitted by Denzella on

Hello Elsie,

I used ot smoke too and I tried everything,  patches... one over each eye so I coldn't find the damn things, hypnosis, you name it, I tried it but hten I read Alan Carrs The Easy Way to Stop Smoking and tha tdid it.  He really understands how a smoker thinks.  He used to smoke 100 fags a day.

Best wisihes,

Moya 

 

Submitted by Denzella on

Hello Blghters,

Thank you for the read and comment.  Sorry ithas taken so longot reply.  I showed the comments as well as the piece at our fcoffee morning for Awareness Week..  They wer  all very interested in what writer son the site had to say.

Thank you fo r  taking the time an dtrouble ot read and comment.

Moya

 

Submitted by blighters rock on

That's interesting, Tina. I can't see how smoking could be a good thing for any illness. It clots the blood flow and contaminates the mind and body. Smokers' endorphins train themselves only to be released at the time of smoking, such is the powerful addictive nature of the drug. With gamblers, it's much the same, replacing endorphins with dopamine, which is drip-fed by the ups and downs of the gambling rollercoaster. Rats act very similarly when presented with boxes and noises holding different values. As with all addictions, the need to comply by a life of gambling dictates that he'll probably waste every penny he has on that dopamine high. Just thoughts but it's a very interesting conundrum.

 

Submitted by Ray Schaufeld on

Brilliant. Taught me all the info as I knew none of it before. Wishing you wellheart     Elsie

Submitted by Denzella on

Hello and thank you for your lovely comments one and all. 

I usually put something up every day in Awareness week but I will refrain from doing that this year although I may just put something up at the  end the week.  However,  I did want to put up a piece that would be easy to read and was different from anything else I had written on the subject.

A big thank you must also go to the editor or editors who thought this piece worthy of cherries.   I am most grateful.

MOya

 

Submitted by VeraClark on

You inform where there's ignorance and assumptions, also kicks stereotypes out of the road. It's a strong piece of work and you don't dress it up in genre. 

 

Submitted by Denzella on

Hello Ray,

Thank you for reading and commenting.  

Moya

 

Submitted by jolono on

Absolutely brilliant Moya. I miss so much on this site by trying to read new stuff that sometimes I miss the gems. This is one of them. Hope Lincoln is doing well. 

 

Submitted by Denzella on

Hellol JOe,

Have missed you. Thanks fo rread ancd comment.  No, lincoln is not doing well.  He had ooperation and things looked good.  but over weekend I think it has come back..  Trying to see vet today.,

MOya

 

 

 

Submitted by celticman on

great stuff Moya. seen Pseudo Parkinson in action as a side-effect of medication and not pretty. I like your light-hearted approach to what is a weighty subject. But what else can you do?

 

Submitted by Denzella on

Hello celticman,

You are right what else can one do.  We all have to deal with the cards we are dealt and everybody has somethinig..  But thank you fo rthe read and comment.  It is much appreciated.

Moya.  .

 

Submitted by Starfish Girl on

I've learnt a lot and put in such a simple and novel way.

Thank you

Take care

Lindy

Submitted by Denzella on

Hello Lindy,

Thank you too fo r reading and commenting..  It is always nice when some oone responds to a piece of work.  I do appreciate it very much.

Moya 

 

Submitted by skinner_jennifer on

Hi Moya,

I too have learnt so much from this brilliant piece of writing.  All I have to say is well done and thank you for enlightening me in a light way.

Jenny.

 

Submitted by Denzella on

Hello Jenny,

Thanks fo r the read and comment.  I'm glad you got something from it.  'Tis a littlel thing but minen own.

MOya

 

Submitted by Denzella on

Thank you to Luke and all at ABC fo r cherries and SOTW. I feel like I've woln an Oscar! 

mOya