Weight has not been a concern for me. My weight has not varied more than 8 - 10 lbs since graduating high school. At the time-1964-my weight was within a few lbs. of 165. Today, I weigh a robust 167. Although weight is not an issue, other routine physical tasks have taken more time and effort to complete.
I am having some difficulty being comfortable while sleeping. Retired now for six years, I am anything but a couch potato. Most days of the week I have two or more things to do. So I am usually physically tired and ready for bed between 9 and 10. The issue is, if I don't drop off to sleep quickly, I may be awake most of the night.
The nights I fall asleep soon after my head hits the pillow, I am assured of between 4 to 6 hrs. of restful sleep. If I am awakened during the night, I may not get back to sleep. If that happens, there is a good chance I will be fighting to keep my toes from curling uncontrollably, and painful cramps in my calves.
Dressing is not always a pleasure: After a restful nights sleep, my mental clock normally wakes me between 4 and 6 a.m. My first med of the day is taken at 5 a.m.. Allowing 30 minutes for the med to dissapate throughout the body, I can jump out of bed and dress myself without a problem. If I try to dress before taking that first med of the day, I will pay the price, i.e. curled toes, cramps, locked knees.
Brushing teeth first thing in the morning is a clear go or no go situation. By that I mean if the 5 a.m. med has been dissipated, my teeth get a good scrubbing. If I try brushing before that first med, my fingers do not get the message that they must first grasp the brush handle tightly before beginning the up and down motion.
Hiking: When a day hike is on the calendar, the adrenalin starts pumping the minute my feet first touch the floor in the morning. The routine of packing my day pack has been done the night before so all I need to add is sufficient water and secure my camera gear. This is my passion. I do it year round in all kinds of weather. Since I began keeping an annual 'bucket list,' this activity is always on it.
Driving is a luxury most people take for granted. Until that day when I am told to turn in my keys, I will enjoy myself behind the wheel. My entire life the vehicles I drive have had manual transmissions. Now more than ever, pushing in the clutch and shifting the gears dozens of times on every errand I run forces my brain to make basic yet important decisions. I have told friends that the only way to stop me from driving is to dislodge my cold dead hands from the steering wheel.
Eating:is not yet a problem. No shaking glasses of juice at breakfast. No problem finding my mouth with a spoonful of cereal. No peas falling off my fork at dinner. My wife is a wonderful cook with a fine tuned knack of making something healthy and tasty from scratch. Without her lean approach to preparing meals, my weight would be someplace in the obesity stratosphere.
Regarding all the physical elements mentioned, I consider myself fortunate that I have been able to delay any obvious signs of having Parkinson's to those around me. For that I owe it to a busy and at times challenging routine, a healthy diet, and a positive outlook for the future.
Because it is all about the journey!.
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