Catching Up
Catching Up
It’s been seven years since I learned I had Parkinson’s disease and nine since my last failed back surgery. It’s time to take stock and share some thoughts about how I’m doing.
First let me relate how one fits into the other. The back problems included minor pain and discomfort all the time. Pain was exasperated by standing or sitting more then an hour, walking to long and even lying on one side too long. Before this last back procedure I played tennis, skied double diamond run at Lake Tahoe and jogged daily. That is all gone.
I still walk a mile every morning and do other activities like Thi-Chi and swimming. Studies have shown that aerobic exercise can mediate the effects of Parkinson’s.
How does Parkinson’s effect the body? Parkinson’s attacks the part of the brain that controls the central nervous system. The disease stops the brain from making the hormone dopamine. This effects the body many ways. The most obvious problem is shaking. Before the name of this disease was changed to honor Dr. Parkinson’s research, it was called Shaking Disease. I shake, more on my left side. So now both my home state of CA and I quake.
Other ways Parkinson’s affects others and me:
Depression, pain, anxiety-which keeps me from driving out of the Napa Valley, muscle stiffness, memory, balance, trouble sleeping, choking, trouble speaking, constipation and other major or minor problems. Parkinson’s is progressive so I can look forward more of this crap.
What has helped: drugs, drugs and more drugs. When I was in college I smoked dope (pot). Now I take el-dopa, lots of this dopamine substitute and many other pills.
DBS (deep brain stimulation), wires implanted in the brain controlled by a battery pack in the chest. My first battery lasted 2.5 years. It has been replaced by one that will last 10 years but I have to plug myself in for about an hour every day to recharge my battery (really I’m not making this up.) The whole idea of this led me to write the Si-fi book--The Black Night of Berkeley.
Without tennis, skiing and my retiring from teaching I’ve turned to writing to occupy my time. I’ve written and self-published 15 books in ten years. I love writing. (Go to amazon-Nathaniel Robert Winters to find my books).
That’s all for now I’m off to walk my new dog, Rue.
Later,
Bob
It’s been seven years since I learned I had Parkinson’s disease and nine since my last failed back surgery. It’s time to take stock and share some thoughts about how I’m doing.
First let me relate how one fits into the other. The back problems included minor pain and discomfort all the time. Pain was exasperated by standing or sitting more then an hour, walking to long and even lying on one side too long. Before this last back procedure I played tennis, skied double diamond run at Lake Tahoe and jogged daily. That is all gone.
I still walk a mile every morning and do other activities like Thi-Chi and swimming. Studies have shown that aerobic exercise can mediate the effects of Parkinson’s.
How does Parkinson’s effect the body? Parkinson’s attacks the part of the brain that controls the central nervous system. The disease stops the brain from making the hormone dopamine. This effects the body many ways. The most obvious problem is shaking. Before the name of this disease was changed to honor Dr. Parkinson’s research, it was called Shaking Disease. I shake, more on my left side. So now both my home state of CA and I quake.
Other ways Parkinson’s affects others and me:
Depression, pain, anxiety-which keeps me from driving out of the Napa Valley, muscle stiffness, memory, balance, trouble sleeping, choking, trouble speaking, constipation and other major or minor problems. Parkinson’s is progressive so I can look forward more of this crap.
What has helped: drugs, drugs and more drugs. When I was in college I smoked dope (pot). Now I take el-dopa, lots of this dopamine substitute and many other pills.
DBS (deep brain stimulation), wires implanted in the brain controlled by a battery pack in the chest. My first battery lasted 2.5 years. It has been replaced by one that will last 10 years but I have to plug myself in for about an hour every day to recharge my battery (really I’m not making this up.) The whole idea of this led me to write the Si-fi book--The Black Night of Berkeley.
Without tennis, skiing and my retiring from teaching I’ve turned to writing to occupy my time. I’ve written and self-published 15 books in ten years. I love writing. (Go to amazon-Nathaniel Robert Winters to find my books).
That’s all for now I’m off to walk my new dog, Rue.
Later,
Bob
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Not Quite Kosher
My new book "Not Quite Kosher" is published.
It is not quite a memoir but a unique blend of
non-fictional prose, poetry and even some fiction that parallels reality.
My life has has had its share of Trag ...more
It is not quite a memoir but a unique blend of
non-fictional prose, poetry and even some fiction that parallels reality.
My life has has had its share of Trag ...more
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