April - Parkinson's Awareness Month

Part II of III:

The first part in this series, I addressed how my ability to process information is faring.  It was posted on April 10th.  This, the second part will focus on the situations, words, and conditions that tend to get the symptoms of PD, i.e.rigid extremities, shuffling of the feet, poor balance, and tremors to surface, making it difficult to function.

In terms of my overall disposition, those who know me best would likely say that I am reserved, laid back, or easy going.  Some may interpret that as being aloof, anti-social, or in the early stages of depression.  I don't subscribe to any of those.

Exercise of any kind is critical to maintaining good balance and posture.

Let me start with the first three terms.  I totally agree that I am reserved in my approach to people in public.  I would offer that I am actually shy when it comes to introducing myself to somebody for the first time.  It's difficult for me to initiate conversation, especially since being diagnosed with PD.  The past year, I have noticed a definite decline in my willingness to initiate conversation.  When in a conversation, I find I am reluctant to offer long explanations on a given topic.

The fear is that I will not be able to find all the words to speak well.  There have been occasions when I am talking to a friend and in the middle of a thought, I can't find a word to continue a thought or finish a sentence.

People have told me that I have a laid back, easy going personality.  That translates into virtually every aspect of my existence.  If I am driving in bumper to bumper traffic, in the height of rush hour, I don't feel uptight or a sense of anxiety.  In the doctor or dentist office waiting room, I can honestly say I am always calm, not concerned about what I might be told.

Symptoms of PD are always there waiting to show themselves.  Physical exercise can override those symptoms.          

I am not one to go crazy at a party...there was one exception when I was in my late twenties.  The firm I worked for held an annual holiday party.  At the time - late 1970's - the engineering offices I worked in was the headquarters of a global electronics company.  It was common for bosses to announce, 'Let the party begin.'  That was noon on the Friday before the Christmas holiday.  They knew little 'work' would get done otherwise.  People had liquor or wine or both in a desk drawer, ready to be opened.

The engineering staff was in full party mode within minutes after the announcement.  It was common for the business unit senior executives to come out of their offices and join in the activities.  It's what might be considered the 'Good old days.'  I can remember spending extra time in the mens' washroom until normal feeling returned to all of my extremities...including my head.

What upsets me today?

• Feeling cornered for words in a conversation..
• Being in front of a group of people with expectations to answer questions.
• Finding my memory a total blank when asked a question about my past.
• When writing handwritten letters to friends, forgetting details of the topic I am writing about.
• Leaving the house for an appointment, meeting, or planned event and forgetting a staple item, i.e. wallet, meds for the day. 
• Sitting in a room of people and hear the speaker say, 'I want everybody to introduce themselves and tell the group something about yourself.' 

What lies ahead that I must learn to accept?

•  An inability to control anxiety.

• Drooling unknowingly.
• Digestive issues.
• Deteriorating quality of life.
• Loss of the ability to do automatic movements...blinking.
• Seeing a person with a more advanced condition and seeing myself.

Check back on this blog for part III, soon.

Eldorado Canyon - Tuesday, April 16th.

A new feature on this blog began with the first scheduled weekly day hike-two weeks ago- for members of the High Country Hiker group.  What is new, you ask?

As you know, a journal entry-hike overview, with images-is posted after each hike of the year.  This year, each post will be followed by a "Preview" of what hikers can expect on the next weeks hike. 

Last week, the hike was cancelled due to snow.  So there was no posting.  What follows is a "Preview" of the hike next Tuesday.  Only those hikers registered for each weeks hike will receive an email reminding them of the "heads up" information.

Preview of the hike in Eldorado Canyon.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013

The bus will park at the Eldorado Canyon State Park Visitor Center for the day.  The Trailhead (TH) for Eldorado Canyon Trail, is at the side of the building, only a handful of steps from the bus. 

TH elevation = 7,287.'

Trail difficulty rating = Moderate

Trail begins moderately steep for the first half mile.  No less than 800' of the 1,000+' total elevation gain for the day will be realized in the first thirty to forty-five minutes.

One of a number of switchbacks.

Trail may be wet with sections of mud resulting from melting snow.  During the initial up, hikers will negotiate a series of moderate to high man-made stone steps.  Trail in the early morning will be a series of moderate to long meandering switchbacks to take hikers to the top of the canyon.

View from trail atop the canyon, looking to it's mouth.

When trail starts to level off, it continues to roll and snake across the top of the canyon for about 3.5 mi.  There, hikers will see the junction with Walker Ranch Loop Trail.  We will choose to either hike clockwise or counter clockwise for the next few miles, bringing us back to the same junction after lunch for the final stretch to the TH.

Hikers are reminded that the loop trail is open to mountain bikers, equestrian, leashed dogs, and trail runners, as well as hikers.  Be listening for the leader and/or sweeper to call out, "biker or runner or dogs."  Hikers should step off trail and allow them to pass the group before continuing.

There may be some trail realignment due to a recent effort by BP&OS to upgrade trails in the area.

Tall rock canyon walls are a climbers (red shirt) dream challenge.

Walker Ranch landscape provides commanding views, especially during the initial climb out of the canyon, open rolling hills, numerous interesting rock formations, and diverse wildlife.   

Total miles = 7.5 +/-

Total elevation gain = 1,000'+

April - Parkinson's Awareness Month

 Part I of III,

How can I address the topic of 'Parkinson's Awareness' this year?

I decided to talk about where I am in terms of my ability to process information, what upsets me, and how my physical side is faring.  So this is the first of a three-part article to inform readers of this blog about the disease that an estimated one million people live with in this country, ten million worldwide.  Plus there are 60,000 people diagnosed each year. 

Processing Information:

During the last six-month visit, my Neurologist suggested I have an adaptive driving evaluation.  So I made an appointment with Spalding Rehabilitation Hospital, in Aurora. 

There were two parts over a two-week period to the process.  Part one includes a series of tests including identifying a building at varying distances as it relates to other structures, identify muted numbers within a multi-colored space, and identify various other shapes and images.

Next, I was given a laminated page with images showing 12 different road signs.  I was to study them for one minute, then return the page and recall as many of the signs as I could.  Next was a device called the brake reaction simulator.  I was to place my right foot on a throttle type pedal while waiting for a green light to turn red.  When the light changed, the device measured my reaction time to go from the throttle to the brake.

In addition, this part of the evaluation had a sizeable Q & A phase where I was placed at a monitor and used a mouse to click through a series of timed exercises.  The focus here was to identify shapes, numbers, and colors from memory.  Plus a part where I was given specific instructions, then timed for an answer.

Result:

• Brake reaction score was 9% faster than the norm.  The evaluation specialist told me, "Mr. Alleman, you have a reaction time similar to that of a high school kid."  OK, I'll take that.

• Recall identification of road signs;  Recalled 12 of 12 correctly.  On a roll.

Inspiring Profile Coming Soon

The third in a series of stories about people you may or may not know will be posted later this month.  It is the story of a woman who has excelled at numerous sports, earned her Masters and Doctorate degrees, raised a family, was diagnosed with Parkinson's, and completed a 40-year teaching career.  If you think she has slowed down in retirement...think again!

Writing her story has been an inspiration for me.  I trust readers of this blog will find it inspiring as well. 

The first profile was posted October 22, 2011.  The second profile was posted February 20, 2012.

Check them out.

Lake Ladora - First Hike of 2013

The official hiking season kicked off at a site the High Country Hikers group had not visited before.  Lake Ladora is located on the grounds of The Rocky Mountain Arsenal, in Adams County.  This 17,000 acre wildlife refuge is home to many species including Bald Eagles and Swainsons Hawks.  The refuge offers 90 miles of nature trails for public use.

Built in 1942, the lake is the result of Ladora Dam, and is used for irrigation, drinking water and fish and wildlife protection purposes.  The lake is a popular fishing site for large and small mouth Bass, Crappie, Walleye, Catfish, Sunfish, Perch, and Lake Trout.

Lake Mary located next to Lake Ladora is connected via a trail system including Legacy, Lake Mary and Lake Ladora Loop trails.  The trailhead is at 5,233' elevation, with minimal elevation gain throughout the system.  The refuge is bordered on the east by Pena Blvd., on the south by 56th Avenue, on the north by 96th Avenue and on the west by Route 2 - an extension of Colorado Blvd.

The weather forcast for today is a 40% chance of rain/snow showers, with a high of 48 degrees.  Not sure if it reached 48 but maybe the low 40's.  The rain?  Well, it held off till we were on the back end of the day.

RMA Visitor Center Marker.

No surprise that all the seats (13) on the van were full for the first outing of the year.  Four were students from the 2013 "Hiking, The Basics" class, plus two first-timers.  The rest were old-timers but we don't like using the word 'old', so we'll call them 'regulars'.  We hope to see all of them on trail again soon.

We arrived at the Visitor Center and were on trail by 8:40.  Overcast skies and a cool breeze kicked at our heels as we began the day on Legacy Trail which would take us one mile to Lake Ladora.