Oct 21 Mr. Fred Taube visits again. This trip he will not only talk about the latest developments in Medicare and Medicaid, but he’ll have information on how the new healthcare program will affect both our health and our pocketbook.
November 18 Mrs. Betsy Vanmarkwyk, Parkview Home Health Services, brings a physical therapist with her for a discussion and demonstration of the Lee Silverman Voice Training 'Big" Program. (LSVT - Big) Come, learn about large movement exercise to help you with balance and coordination.
August Support Group Meeting
Our August meeting was ”Caring and Sharing”. A special THANK YOU to Muriel Hunt and Joan Garman for facilitating the caregivers meeting and Ed Gatke for his efforts with the Parkinson’s meeting. To preserve privacy for those contributing, there are no names, and topics have been mixed up so, in some cases, it is more difficult to determine from which meeting they came. Thank you to all those who were wiling to contribute. The total attendance including both meetings was fifty-four.
Topics included and discussed were:
Handling challenges
The need to ask questions of other caregivers and Parkinsonians.
There is a definite plus for having attended either session.
Concerns about deep brain stimulation were voiced.
Evening caregiver group was discussed and survey taken.
There seems to be there is noticeable personality change in Parkinsonians.
Weight gain is a problem with Parkinsonians.
There is a time problem for caregivers to get “it” all done.
PD meds are producing some unusual desires in Parkinsonians.
There was a discussion of medication side-effects. Dementia is as important a topic as other symptoms. (tremor, rigidity, etc.)
What is the relationship between PD and Orthostatic Hypotension?(severe blood pressure drop)
Several book titles were discussed and one in particular:
I’ll hold Your Hand So You Won’t Fall, by Rashida Ali, Muhammad Ali’s daughter.
We must not forget to fill out the info on our hospital forms so our hospital stay is the best it can be. Type in fwpsg.org for access.
Thanks to Turnstone for providing such great fitness, aquatic, and exercise care or Parkinsonians. All for $30/mo.
Parkinsonians should participate in ongoing research if they have a chance.
Contact PD Trials .org.
A NOTE FROM DAN SPANGLER
September 16, Dr. David Vargas, D.C. will be our featured speaker at support group. He brings with him many yeas of experience in natural healing processes, including detoxification, acupressure, acupuncture and a variety of ways to heal natural healing blockages. We all are aware of the traditional methods our doctors have used including prescription drugs, surgeries, etc.
We have had several programs that expose molecular or holistic approaches to healing or bodies. Lest we not forget programs on Tai Chi, several types of exercise (John Argue, Alexander Technique, LSVT Big, and Tall), herbal and natural remedies (multi-vitamins, Piracetam for your memory, C-neutral for cellular detoxification, Glutathione to help free your body of anti-oxidants and toxins, and Co Q 10 for improved muscle function)
Not every method, medicine, technique, nor therapy works the same for everyone. YOU OWE IT TO YOURSELF TO INVESTIGATE ALL POSSIBILITIES. Never give up looking for a cure, treatment, improvement. Take charge of you health. Don’t close the door on any possibility. Be there on September 16th to hear about some additional ideas. You deserve it!
***************
Caregivers filled out a questionnaire about a caregivers group at the August meeting. We are interested in as much feedback as possible as we proceed with our plans for an "official" caregivers group. If you have not already done so, please take some time to give us your input. Mail the completed form to Dan Spangler, 8302 Beacon Ridge Place, Ft. Wayne, IN 46835, or bring it with you when you come to the September support group meeting. Thanks for letting us hear your voice in matters of this importance. We are working to improve your support group and you need to be a part of his progress.
CAREGIVER PROGRAM QUESTIONNAIARE
Circle your answer Name Optional____________________________--
1. I WOULD WOULD NOT be interested in a program for PD caregivers.
2. I could attend a meeting if it were held in the AM PM ANYTIME
3. I would prefer meetings be held WEEKLY MONTHLY OTHER____________
4. I like the caring and sharing program just the way it is. YES NO
5. I need care provided for my spouse in order to attend meetings YES NO
6. I would bring my spouse to exercise class knowing that there is an
evaluation and small charge for their participation YES NO
7. I prefer informal caregiver meetings with open discussion of caregiver issues
YES NO OTHER____________________
8. I prefer topical meetings with presenters YES NO OTHER______________
9. I would prefer a combination of the two with open discussion and some
topical presentations. YES NO OTHER___________________
10. Would you be interested in a leadership role in a caregivers group?
WOULD WOULD NOT Name_____________________________
Comments:
TIPS to make your life better
From the “Not everything works for everyone department”...
I have a hard time dealing with a large bath towel after my shower, and I have discovered that what does work well for me is to use two hand towels instead of a bath towel. I get most of the water off my body with the first towel and finish the job with the second one. The hand towel is much easier to handle, it doesn't create any more laundry, and it gets the job done.
At a time when you are feeling fairly well, review and complete legal documents such as pension, will, power of attorney and living will. You and other family members will thinking more clearly when there is no urgency.
Over-the-bed tables (like in a hospital room) are great not only for when in bed, but also when in a chair. They are adjustable and some are built with a tray underneath for storage of eyeglasses, pens, paper, etc. Some also come with a built-in “book holder” on top the table to make it easier to read; this can be especially helpful if a tremor makes it difficult for you to hold reading material.
If you haven't already taken care of it, now might be a good time to prepare a wallet card that identifies you as a Parkinson's patient lest your symptoms be misinterpreted (aka misdiagnosed) in an emergency that leaves you incapacitated. The information on the card should include your primary care physician's name, the name of the physician treating your Parkinson's, and a complete list of the medicines you are taking, including their dosage. Of course, you will want to include your physicians' names, addresses, and phone numbers, including their after-hours phone numbers. You might want to think about doing at least the medicine list and dosage in pencil rather than ink because of the numerous changes that a lot of Parkinson's patients experience with their meds.
One other thing—carry your medical ID card between your driver's license and your insurance card. Emergency room personnel will stop searching your wallet after they find those two.
If you have a tip you would like to share with the rest of us please send it to ektag@comcast.net.You can also phone me at 260-484-6205.
Submitted by Ed Gatke
Labor was the first price, the original purchase-money that was paid for all things. It was not by gold or by silver, but by labor, that all wealth of the world was originally purchased. ~Adam Smith
There is precious little hope to be got out of whatever keeps us industrious, but there is a chance for us whenever we cease work and become stargazers. ~H.M. Tomlinson
PARKINSON'S DISEASE
Motor system disorders
- Tremor or trembling in hands, arms, legs, jaw, and face;
- Rigidity or stiffness of the limbs and trunk;
- Bradykinesia - gradual loss of spontaneous movement
- Postural instability or impaired balance and coordination
Etiology
Loss of dopamine causes the nerve cells of the striatum to fire out of control, leaving patients unable to direct or control their movements in a normal manner
Oxidation is thought to cause damage to tissues, including neurons
External or an internal toxin selectively destroys dopaminergic neurons
The Role of Dopamine
Dopamine is a catecholamine that functions as neurotransmiter involved in arousal level and motor activity. During sleep, dopamine levels decrease.
Mechanisms
- Oxidative damage
- Environmental toxins
- Genetic predisposition
- Accelerated aging
Major Symptoms
- Tremor - pill rolling
- Rigidity - cogwheel
- Bradykinesia- slowing down
- Postural instability
Other Symptoms
- Depression/Emotional changes
- Memory loss
- Difficulty in swallowing and chewing
- Urinary problems or constipation
- Skin problem
- Sleep problem
TCM Approach
- Acupuncture:
- Electrical Acupuncture
- Auricular Acupuncture
- Scalp Acupuncture
- Herbal Prescription
- Tui Na/ Acupressure
- Moxabustion
- Qi Gong Therapy
Acupuncture Treatment
- Acupuncture treatment based on stimulating the central nerve system to restore the medi-brain function.
- Promote thalamas and hypothalamas to release domamine.
- Influence of motor and sensory nerve transmitter to increase its function.
Auricular Acupuncture
- Stimulation of specific points in the car exerts therapeutic effects on those pars of the body with which they are correspond
- Examination of the ear will find sensitive points where associated body parts malfunction.
- It used in either diagnosis and treatment
Scalp Acupuncture
- MOTOR AREA
- SENSOR ATEA
- SPEECH AREA
- BALANCE AREA
- LIMB AREA
- TREMOR CONTROL AREA
Special Techniques to treating certain central nervous disease by stimulating the representative areas of the cerebral cortex.
Herbal supplement for Parkinson's Disease
Muscle relaxants:
1. Magnolia
2. Pueraria
3. Peony
Herbal Combinations:
1. Pinelia and Magnolia Combination
2. Pueratia Combination
3. Peony and licorice Combination
Pinellia and Magnolia Combination-Plus Qi regulated
- Pinellia 9gm
- Magnolia 9gm
- Paria Cocos 12gm
- Zingiberis 15gm
- Perilla Leaf 6gm
- Recommend to:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Dizziness
- Heavy sensation in the head
- Palpitation
- Obstruction in the throat
- "Sloshing" sound in the gastric area.
Pueraria Combination
- Pueratia 12g
- Ephedrae 9g
- Cinnamomi 6g
- Paeoniae 6g
- Zingiberis 9g
- Zizyphi 12pc
- Glycyrrhizae 6g
- Recommend to:
- Stiff neck and shoulder
- Body and joints achy
- Numbness of muscle and tendons
- Lack of perspitation
Peony and Licorice Combination
- Peoniae 12g
- Glycyrrhizae 12g
- Spasmodic pain of the arm and leg muscles
- Spasms in the rectal and abdominal muscles
- Abdominal pain
- Dysuria
Self-care Techniques
- Diet
- Nutrition Exercises
- Emotional Support
Diet
- Well-balanced, nutritious diet
- High protein diet may limit effectiveness
Food recommendation based on individual conditions
Nutrition
- Vitamin B6
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin C
- Anti-oxidant and deprenylslow the early symptomatic progression of the disease and delay the need for levodopa.
Taken from advancedacupuncture.com
Parkinson's Disease Blog
From Patrick McNamara, Ph.D., Former Parkinson's Disease Guide
Acupuncture for Parkinson's Disease?
Thursday August 27, 2009
For years now there have been reports that acupuncture improves Parkinson's disease symptoms including body posture, tremor, and rigidity. Now a recent study in the journal Movement Disorders demonstrates that acupuncture does indeed activate areas in the brain that are normally responsible for movement and that are typically not functioning normally in PD. Specifically the authors used functional magnetic resonance imaging to study brain effects of acupuncture at acupoint GB34—a site traditionally used to improve motor functioning. The investigators found that when the left GB34 acupoint was stimulated, brain activity in the putamen and the motor cortex-two key motor function areas that are impaired in PD, demonstrated a significant correlation with the degree of the enhanced motor function (a finger tapping task) associated with acupuncture treatment in the patients with PD. The findings indicate that acupuncture stimulation can consistently influence those brain regions that are known to be impaired in PD.
In short acupuncture may be construed as a form of deep brain stimulation via systematic stimulation of the skin. It may therefore one day prove to be an effective tool in the battle against PD.
Taken fromAabout.com – Parkinson’s disease
Creativity and Parkinson’s
Do you find that creative activities - such as painting, drawing, dancing, singing, making jewelry or playing an instrument - actually ease your Parkinson's disease (PD) symptoms?
You are not alone in your experience. Many people with PD report that creative endeavors temporarily relieve their symptoms.
The Creativity and Parkinson's Project exists to explore, support and encourage the therapeutic value of creativity in Parkinson's. This Project:
- Hosts a gallery of artwork by people with PD.
- Invites you to show your work
- Shares our artists' inspirational personal stories of courage and triumph.
- Welcomes all forms of creativity - including painting, drawing, photography, song, crafts, and more.
- Publishes an annual calendar featuring the work of 13 of our talented artists.
Many people with PD experience a temporary cessation of symptoms while engaged in a creative activity. The Creativity and Parkinson's Project is dedicated to exploring the reasons behind this, as well as promoting the therapeutic value of creativity in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. It is our hope that visitors to this section will leave with a renewed sense of respect and understanding for the abilities of those living with Parkinson's disease.
If you have Parkinson’s and have artwork you would like displayed in the Creativity and Parkinson's Gallery, download a Consent Form and submit it with your artwork at www.parkinsonsdiseasefoundation.org.
Taken from the Parkinson’s disease foundation website
