Dec. 19

Three annoying things:

There are a few social situations related to PD that irk me and I wonder if other PDrs are bothered as well.  Let me tell you about three of them and see if you can relate to my feelings.

Memory loss sharers:

My memory is beginning to fail me, at the moment in not very important ways.  A stranger wouldn’t likely notice.  For example there is a tree in our yard that I have known the name of for all my life, but frequently I can look at it, know that I know the name and can’t remember it.  (I remember it right now, it is Sumac.)  I have done some reading on PD memory loss and dementia and the percentage of persons with PD affected by it is very high as treatment time increases..  It comes, to a greater or lesser degree, with the territory.

My social situation happens like this.  At a certain moment I am unable to remember something and I say so to the person I am with, and may add that this sort of forgetfulness is happening more often.  The usual response is for the other person to say that they forget things as well, it is an age thing.  “We all forget stuff.”  Presumably this is to reassure me that I don’t have a problem that is any worse than other people and I shouldn’t be concerned.  To me it diminishes my reality - PD does have a very adverse affect on memory and it is a genuine and serious concern.

Weight lifters who insist on helping:

There are a few people in our social group who have a (to me) warped view of my physical abilities.  In the main, except for the occasional balance and shuffling effects of PD, I am in quite good physical condition.  I work-out regularly all year and work in the garden or shovel snow as the season requires.  As well, I am quite aware of my circumstances and if I am feeling overworked or overtired, I sit down for a rest.  If I can’t do something, I ask for assistance.

Heavy suitcases are my case in point. Our family can load more into a travel bag than can be imagined.  They are always at the maximum allowable weight – heavy.  Some individuals, however, who are smaller than I and do not train with weights, invariably insist that they carry the heavy suitcases.  Perhaps they have decided that at my age I shouldn’t lift things.  It is embarrassing and I protest but at some point it’s not worth arguing about.  It does bother me.

People who assume that poor voice equals poor brain.

There are occasional situations where, because I haven’t spoken very clearly, the other person I am talking with assumes that I am simple minded.  (No comments, please.)

My speech has been affected by three things.  First, PD affects aspiration and throat muscles, we tend to speak softly, and often speed up at the end of a comment.  Second, at the end of my open heart surgery I awoke with this piece of rigid plastic tube, about the size of a broom handle, sticking out of my mouth.  It was left in place longer than usual as there may have been the necessity of doing the operation over again.  This delay has made my throat extra sensitive and has affected my speech.  Thirdly, there has been a lot of dental work done in my mouth this past fall and at various times there have been sections of missing teeth and finally a new upper plate.  None of this has made me easier to understand.

There are several examples of shop clerks reacting to my less than perfect diction.  One, situation in a Nova Scotia Liquor Store, went like this:  As I got in the line to pay for a six-pack of beer I made some friendly comment to the man at the cash.  He immediately classed me as demented and said, very slowly, “Put-your-card-in-the-slot-at-the-bottom-there- (pointing)-and-enter-your- PIN- number.”  I paused for a moment considering an appropriate reply.  I did NOT answer but considered saying: “Stick-your-beer-in-your-ass,” equally slowly.  I paid and left.  This sort of response has happened a few times – I let it pass.