Mobility issues

....show up in unexpected places. Somehow I noticed that my right thumb can't close as far as my left. I've been stretching to try to get the mobility back, but it's not happening yet.

Check out the difference in how far my thumbs are closed;

I'm closing them as hard as I can. I can bend it a little further by squeezing it inside my fist, but I can't make it go any further on it's own strength.

Climbing Trees

I don't think my wife got a picture, but yesterday I climbed a tree. Well, at least a little bit - with a ladder head start. We've neglected the cherry tree at the front of our house for too long, and it's grown way too tall. It's too close to the house and I've considered taking it out completely. We still may do that.

I started out just cutting some of the branches that were easy to access from the ladder. Then I looked at it again, assessed my energy, and climbed in. I hung on with my affected arm and cut a few higher branches. Hurricane Earls' wind blew me around a bit. Every once in a while I thought; "what am I doing? I have Parkinson's." Somehow I was able to hang on and cut out about two-thirds of the branches. They're now laying in the driveway waiting for me to clean them up.

I think God is trying to tell me I can do more. And - that He'll take care of me even if I do something stupid.

What follows an announcement?

Hey everybody, I'm going to bike 3 times a day!


Translation = Hey everybody, I'm going to skip biking for the next few days.

Why do I never see it coming?

Three-a-days

I'm trying a new approach, with the goal of increasing my pace. Instead of one bike workout per day, I'm shooting for three. I'm trying to keep my pace over 15 mph. So far, it's a goal. I'm getting there.

Today's chart;

Hand shakes

No, not the tremor.

Yesterday, while being greeted by others at church and shaking their hand I was finding it hard to let go. It made for some awkward moments.

I really appreciate the connection of a handshake or a hug. I'll have to figure out how to disconnect quicker.

50 miles

I did it!

Now, what's the next goal?

More miles

Aiming for 7.5 miles each day now - targeting a 50 mile week. This'll be the first time.

I was easily upset over a work email this week, and when I tried to reply the shaking in my right hand was so bad it kept me from typing with my left! I have voice recognition software that I'm slowly learning to use, but I needed to use it that day. I think that was the worst my hand has ever shook.

Stress sure does bring out the best in us.

Oh, and Happy Canada Day!

Summer 2010 update

I haven't noticed a lot of change since March. I'm getting a little faster at one-handed typing. I'm back into biking, almost every day - being at home has taken away my excuses. I've only missed two days in the past month, and I'm doing about 6 miles per day.

 Judi and I are taking a vacation in July - at a cottage on Hall's Lake with her mom, brother and sister in-law. There's a paddle boat there, so we'll be able to keep pedalling.

The one armed man

I've been reviewing older posts, thinking about what changes I've had in my symptoms. I no longer attempt to type very much with my right hand, I do most of my typing left-handed. I have also switched hands for eating, and again - mostly use my left hand.

My right foot has been more troublesome, and quite often stiffens up while I'm sitting so that I need to stretch it before I try to get up.

Reading the old posts, I was surprised at how long some symptoms have been around. I'm dictating this post rather than typing. I haven't spent much time dictating, and I need to get better at it.

Today is my birthday, and I'm going to barbecue steaks for dinner. That's always been a more left-handed job for me anyway, so I don't think I'll notice any differences.

I need to be more disciplined with exercise, and start biking regularly again. I'm eager to experience some of the symptom relief benefits that exercise gives me.

Typing gets easier

I got a new toy for Christmas. It will help me to keep this blog (and others) updated. My typing has slowed down so much and I make so many errors that it's gotten very frustrating. I'm now using 'Dragon Naturally Speaking'. It was quick and easy to set up, and it's recognizing my speech quite accurately. It makes me wonder why I didn't get it sooner.

Now that I can type whatever I want, I don't know what to say.  :-)

So I'll just say; have a blessed New Year!

Be it resolved .....

One of the strange things about PD is that even though it takes and takes and takes from quality of life; it doesn't kill you. I've decided the grieving period is over. It's time to move on with the abilities that haven't been taken.

I've resolved for 2010 to think of myself as a normal person with some irritating problems, and not dwell on what PD may take tomorrow.