Do you know what Parkinson's disease look
like? It is different for everyone who has it.
Some may shake uncontrollably all the time, while others shake less, but have
terrible back and/or shoulder and neck pain. Some can smell the slightest
fragrance, while others bemoan the fact that their sense of smell has
disappeared completely. Some sing to strengthen their faltering voice, while
others can still yell up a storm. Some have a difficult time with walking –
others run marathons.
However, most people don’t and most
likely won’t ‘see’ these things: You won’t see the restless legs that keep a
person with PD awake half the night, pacing the floor to get it to stop. You
may miss seeing when they fall, due to being off balance, bruising their arms or legs. You won’t see them struggle while getting dressed because their fingers are cramping. You won't see the pain they live with day in and
day out or the muscles in their body that seize up and cause their toes to curl
under or cramps throughout their body as if their muscles are twisting together
like they were a wet wash cloth being rung out. You won't see them freeze as if their feet are glued to the floor. You won't see them struggle to take
their pills because their throat muscles are quitting to work properly, Or someone having muscle spasms of the throat. Some people choke at every meal.
You won’t see a lot
symptoms even if they are visible, because
you may not really understand the disease or know what to look for. But, the Parkinson's person is fully aware of what is going on inside of them.
I can't smell, I don't shake much, at times I need help with getting dressed. My voice gets softer and softer as the day goes by. I am in pain always. I have curling toes and cramping feet and legs. Yes, it feels like a wet wash cloth being rung out. I sometimes get cramps in my hand and fingers making them useless and painful for sometime. I struggle at times moving when getting up from sitting. Some nights I am unable to sleep, but I stay awake during the day, hoping I will sleep the following night.
I can stay in bed and feel sorry for myself, but life is getting shorter and shorter and I want to live. I watch and see the ducks in the pond and the turtles' heads pop out before climbing up the water's edge. Oh how lovely life is. I care about people and want to shout out. I am alive and I will fight this disease because I have a family and friends and things to attend.
I thank God that I am still here.
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