Dec. 13

My daily intake of Parkinson’s pills is timed at every four hours (7am, 11am, 3pm, 7pm & 11pm).  If I don’t forget, I try to make a mental note of my condition as the hour approaches and as my pills take effect.  Usually there is a small decline in how I feel and also in my walking and balance – a little more shuffling and a tendency to be aware of where I might need to hang on.  It is a dip in my overall wellbeing, but not very significant.

Today was different.  I was making some little wooden book-ends in my basement workshop and I got fully involved – no shaking, no shuffling, like no Parkinson’s.  Time passed and I was having trouble with the last one.  I put one part on the wrong way, the little nails I was using often bent and I had to take it apart and do a rebuild.  Finished, it was ok, but less neat than the others.  As I left the workbench, I realized that I was shuffling badly and was reaching out to steady myself.  Then I checked the time.  I had missed the 11am pill time by almost an hour.  Two hours later I was finally getting over my clumsy period. 

 

Interestingly, when I am working on a project, I don’t seem to notice what is happening to me.  The number of errors I made should have been a big clue and reminded me of my pills, but it didn’t.  I also had left my pill alarm upstairs.  Gotta pay more attention.