Parkinson’s: Some Jazzy Blues Holiday Music

"Jazz washes away the dust of everyday life." Art Blakey "There are two kinds of music. Good music, and the other kind." Duke Ellington Intro to the Introduction: This blog primarily focuses on Parkinson's and (hopefully) gives helpful advice about various aspects of the disorder. Along this journey, I have shared a lot about myself, and …

Happy Thanksgiving: Live On, Our Lives Have Not Been Canceled By Parkinson’s

"Accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself." Harvey Fierstein "Don't get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life." Dolly Parton Introduction: On October 23, 2015, I posted a blog entitled "Poetry to Parkinson's'." I go back occasionally and revisit old blog posts. Today, "Poetry to Parkinson's"(click here) was …

Words Worth Living in the Presence of Parkinson’s

“You can observe a lot just by watching.” Yogi Berra “Though the road's been rocky it sure feels good to me.” Bob Marley Introduction: Since my diagnosis with Parkinson's, I seem to have become a collector of quotes and sayings. Some make me smile, like the one above from Yogi Berra. Some make me take …

Parkinson’s: The Cave

"Welcome out of the cave, my friend. It's a bit colder out here, but the stars are just beautiful." Plato "It doesn't matter if a cave has been in darkness for 10,000 years or half an hour, once you light a match it is illuminated." Paramahansa Yogananda Introduction: I am always searching for a topic …

Journey With Parkinson’s: Everyday Heroes

"A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles." Christopher Reeve "Heroes take journeys, confront dragons, and discover the treasure of their true selves." Carol Lynn Pearson Nothing is redeemable about Parkinson's, but each Person-with-Parkinson's (PwP) has redeemable qualities.They awake each new day to a …

Journey With Parkinson’s: Mind the Gap

"Mind the gap - it's the distance between life as you dream it and life as it is." Cate Blanchett "The biggest gap in your life is between what you know and what you do." Bob Proctor Introduction: Several concerned readers have contacted me recently about not posting on "Journey with Parkinson's," asking about my …

EMST 150: Strengthening Expiratory Muscles for Voluntary Cough and Swallow Function in People With Parkinson’s

"The human voice is the most beautiful instrument of all, but the most difficult to play." Richard Strauss "The human voice is the organ of the soul." Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Précis: Have you ever had a pill get stuck in your throat while swallowing? Have you ever gagged and choked, trying to swallow a piece …

Beta-Hydroxy-Beta-Methylbutyrate (HMB) and Vitamin D to Potentially Improve Muscular Function in Parkinson’s

"The mind is just another muscle." Ted Turner "Courage is very important. Like a muscle, it is strengthened by use." Ruth Gordon Introduction: This is a complicated blog post. Ponder these scenarios: (A) an older adult, healthy and aging naturally with evidence of decreased thigh muscles. This patient has a disorder named sarcopenia. (B) A …

Parkinson’s: The Importance of Drinking Water

"Water is life's matter and matrix, mother and medium. There is no life without water." Albert Szent-Gyorgyi "Thousands have lived without love, not one without water." W. H. Auden Introduction: We are experiencing unrivaled and sustained summer heat in parts of the USA. While everyone needs to stay hydrated in such situations, it is vital …

Why Monitoring Every Parkinson’s Symptom Matters

"We must never neglect the patient's own use of his symptoms." Alfred Adler “A sick thought can devour the body's flesh more than fever or consumption.” Guy de Maupassant Painful Leg Cramps with Parkinson’s: I bent down to put some extra toilet paper rolls into a bathroom cabinet this morning. Suddenly, the hamstring muscles in …