MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
My cousin who is the same age as me has this condition.
We rarely see each other but we met at his father's funeral during the week.
The only way I can descrie him is, imagine trying to function with the worst migraine imaginable.
Every action was laboured and he looked like he would rather be tucked up in bed.
I tried to talking to him but he really didn't take it in (or so it appeared). When he spoke to me it was in a whisper and I couldn't make out what he was saying.
He lives alone and I feel I need to help out .
What I need to know is , is he aware? Should I go visit and just talk to him and show him pictures of my life? Would me showing pictures of me having a charmed life be taking the piss?
He always liked a beer can I take him down the pub? I don't know what meds he is on.
What I need to know is , is he aware? Should I go visit and just talk to him and show him pictures of my life? Would me showing pictures of me having a charmed life be taking the piss?
He may have been told not to drink alcohol with his meds, but there's nothing stopping you giving him some company. Good on you for considering it.
He is probably very aware. My Dad has a form of Parkinson's and people think he's not taking it all in, but because he maybe can't articulate himself as well as he used to people assume he doesn't understand or is not all there. He most certainly is though, it just takes longer to get it out.
Some of the symptoms you describe might also be down to his medication.
I'm sure he would appreciate someone to talk to. You can ask him if he wants to go out, my Dad has to be dragged out of the house as he hates the thought of people he knew/knows seeing him like he is now, but when we're out he enjoys it.
It's a crap condition to have.
It’s important to get the Meds balance right for the individual’s symptoms.
My FIL has it and getting his meds doses right plus exercise (tennis) really makes a difference.
He also finds that playing the piano helps a lot.
There was also some news about cycling helping some sufferers ( even on an exercise bike)
[url= http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/253197.php ]link[/url]
My neighbor has parkinsons. I know alot more about it now than i did before i moved in. Depression is the part of it that no-one sees. My neighbors wife says its like living with two different people. One day he is fine, the next he will barely acknowledge her.
Would me showing pictures of me having a charmed life be taking the piss?
He always liked a beer can I take him down the pub? I don't know what meds he is on.
not to be blunt but just ask him.
Fancy a beer, or a coffee? I've got some photos of my ferrari/ bike/ kids/ 25 YO girlfriend/ chocolate lab/ coffee machine/ log burner/ STW forum activity page [delete as appropriate] if you wanna see?
My father had Parkinson's. It killed him in the end
Main thing is to make sure your cousin is being looked after by a proper consultant neurologist who will make sure his meds are optimised. Pay for one if you have to. Made a huge difference to my dad when we finally got him to see a proper neurologist instead of the geriatrician who was prescribing for him and who I think basically hadn't a clue.
My dad also developed Lewy Body Dementia which is another symptom of Parkinsons that not everyone gets but from what you are saying about your cousin he might have. These days there is a drug that can help with that.
Yeah, my Dad suffers quite a lot with depression. Totally understandable when only just a couple of years ago he was a fit and healthy man. Now it's quite advanced he struggles to do anything. He also struggles to cope with what he sees as the strain it is putting on all of us, but I keep telling him I don't see it that way. I just see my Dad needs help so I'm there for him.
My dad died early this year after a long struggle with Parkinson's. Mentally, still sharp, but physically wrecked.
Basically, Parkinson's stops your body producing the chemicals your brain uses to control it. These are replaced with meds taken at specific times and doses. As above, the balance of the meds makes a huge difference. First symptoms are shaking hands and slurred speech.
It took over my dads (and mums) life. He was in constant pain, ended up with a bent spine, and everything he did was a worry about trying to be comfortable. He still took great joy from seeing his grandkids, but would get very frustrated when people couldn't understand his speech.
My dad has parkinsons, as does my uncle (mum's bro) and my great uncle had it.
He will be very much aware and probably very frustrated as it affects the ability to speak, the brain is usually fine behind the scenes.
Exercise is really important, my dad still does a long walk every thursday with his mates and he's 70 now
The drugs cocktail is incredibly important for people with parkinsons and the side effects are often only picked up by those close to them. My dad got terrible depression and night terrors a few years ago and the consultant he had at the time tossed it off and didn't adjust his meds. My mum got him with a different consultant who adjusted his meds, got the depression dialed down and the night terrors went. His movement also improved.
Check that someone is going with your cousin to their appointments
I would also say to not invalid them. If they can do it, even slowly, let them otherwise you're taking away independence. My mum fusses over my dad and it frustrates the hell out of him. I know he's lucky in that he's 70, still fairly mobile and in pretty good health otherwise.
Parkinson's killed my Grandfather. My Grandparents moved next door to us, when I was a kid, and my Grandfather spent the last 5 or so years of his life having his Son change his nappies.
Circle of life.
Incredibly cruel condition. I spent 4 days in a bed next to a guy in hospital for respite care and gained a huge respect for anyone coping with it.
Bravo for noticing and Choosing to not be a bystander
The guy next to me was incoherent and immobile for long periods as his meds only worked for a few hours, his mind was rapier sharp and he just wanted to talk + thrash me at scrabble!
Ask him if hat he'd like to do, I'm guessing that there's someone behind the conditions....who wants a normal conversation, pint, go to a movie, a local football game.....
To try and lighten the mood.....
A quote from Billy Conolly about his Parkinson's. "I was told I had Parkinson's disease, well I wish he had ****in kept it".
My father died of complications associated with Parkinson's last year.
It is a spectrum disorder, in that the term "Parkinson's" (more accurately Parkinsonism) covers Parkinson's Disease (c.85% of sufferers) and a range of other disorders which have the same fundamental symptoms. My father was initially diagnosed with PD but later on was re-diagnosed with progressive supranuclear palsy, which actually made more sense.
As others have said, it is therefore key to have a good consultant who can perform a proper diagnosis and prescribe the right meds.
Your cousin will be fully aware of what is going on as the effect is almost entirely on the body; the mind remains pretty much untouched. My father was a maths lecturer and almost to the end was doing maths problems with my son who never ceased to be amazed by his granddad's ability to solve quadratic equations in his head.
So as people have said, talk to him, take him out for a beer etc,