WELCOME TO OUR PARKINSON'S PLACE!

I HAVE PARKINSON'S DISEASES AND THOUGHT IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE A PLACE WHERE THE CONTENTS OF UPDATED NEWS IS FOUND IN ONE PLACE. THAT IS WHY I BEGAN THIS BLOG.

I COPY NEWS ARTICLES PERTAINING TO RESEARCH, NEWS AND INFORMATION FOR PARKINSON'S DISEASE, DEMENTIA, THE BRAIN, DEPRESSION AND PARKINSON'S WITH DYSTONIA. I ALSO POST ABOUT FUNDRAISING FOR PARKINSON'S DISEASE AND EVENTS. I TRY TO BE UP-TO-DATE AS POSSIBLE.

I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR IT'S CONTENTS. I AM JUST A COPIER OF INFORMATION SEARCHED ON THE COMPUTER. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THE COPIES ARE JUST THAT, COPIES AND AT TIMES, I AM UNABLE TO ENLARGE THE WORDING OR KEEP IT UNIFORMED AS I WISH. IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND I AM A PERSON WITH PARKINSON'S DISEASE. I HAVE NO MEDICAL EDUCATION,

I JUST WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU WHAT I READ ON THE INTERNET. IT IS UP TO YOU TO DECIDE WHETHER TO READ IT AND TALK IT OVER WITH YOUR DOCTOR. I AM JUST THE COPIER OF DOCUMENTS FROM THE COMPUTER. I DO NOT HAVE PROOF OF FACT OR FICTION OF THE ARTICLE. I ALSO TRY TO PLACE A LINK AT THE BOTTOM OF EACH ARTICLE TO SHOW WHERE I RECEIVED THE INFORMATION SO THAT YOU MAY WANT TO VISIT THEIR SITE.

THIS IS FOR YOU TO READ AND TO ALWAYS KEEP AN OPEN MIND.

PLEASE DISCUSS THIS WITH YOUR DOCTOR, SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, OR CONCERNS. NEVER DO ANYTHING WITHOUT TALKING TO YOUR DOCTOR FIRST..

I DO NOT MAKE ANY MONEY FROM THIS WEBSITE. I VOLUNTEER MY TIME TO HELP ALL OF US TO BE INFORMED.

I WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY ADVERTISEMENT OR HEALING POWERS, HEALING FROM HERBS AND ETC. UNLESS IT HAS GONE THROUGH TRIALS AND APPROVED BY FDA. IT WILL GO INTO SPAM.

THIS IS A FREE SITE FOR ALL WITH NO ADVERTISEMENTS

THANK YOU FOR VISITING! TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

TRANSLATE

Saturday, August 16, 2014

UNTANGLING NEUROPSYCHIATRIC SYMPTOMS OF PARKINSON'S DISEASE

Scientists and physicians at UC San Francisco are leading a $26 million, multi-institutional research program in which they will employ advanced technology to characterize human brain networks and better understand and treat a range of common, debilitating psychiatric disorders, focusing first on anxiety disorders and major depression.
One of the first research projects launched in support of President Obama’s Brain (Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies) Initiative, the work promises to generate unprecedented insights into how brain networks go awry in major depression, anxiety disorders and addiction, and will pioneer neural stimulation therapies aimed at coaxing the brain to “unlearn” the detrimental signaling patterns that underlie these diseases.

VIDEO: UCSF and UC Berkeley researchers discuss the potential of this new project.

The new project is funded by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), a major partner in support of President Obama’s Brain Initiative, under the agency’s recently launched SUBNETS (Systems-Based Neurotechnology for Emerging Therapies) program. SUBNETS seeks to bring together neuroscience, neurotechnology and clinical therapy in innovative ways to address the burden of psychiatric disease among military personnel. The Brain Initiative, unveiled in April 2013, is a $100 million program designed to accelerate understanding of human brain function and to fund new technologies to tackle neurological and psychiatric diseases.
When UCSF’s new SUBNETS-funded project officially launches on June 1, 2014, physician-researchers will begin recording activity in diverse brain regions in people with Parkinson’s disease and medically intractable epilepsy who are already undergoing brain recordings as part of their clinical care, taking advantage of the fact—not well recognized by the public—that neuropsychiatric symptoms are common features of both conditions.
The overall strategy is to first identify brain signaling pathways specifically associated with anxiety and depression, then to develop devices to provide precise stimulation therapies that guide the brain to strengthen alternative circuits. By leveraging the brain’s natural capacity for neural remodeling and learning, this approach will potentially allow the newly strengthened circuits to bypass the disease-associated signals and thereby eliminate symptoms.
The five-year project, initially funded at $12 million, with supplemental funds up to $26 million if various milestones are achieved, will involve more than a dozen scientists, engineers and physicians at UC Berkeley, Cornell University and New York University, and will also include work with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under a cooperative agreement.
Edward Chang, MD
Vikaas Sohal, MD, PhD
“Human brain recording can now reveal aspects of mental illness that have been inaccessible to scientists and doctors,” said UCSF neurosurgeon Edward F. Chang, MD, team leader on the new project and a world leader in the use of brain recording technology for the surgical treatment of epilepsy. “By analyzing patterns of interaction among brain regions known to be involved in mental illness we can get a more detailed look than ever before at what might be malfunctioning, and we can then develop technology to correct it.”
The economic impact and toll in human suffering of common psychiatric disorders are staggering. Anxiety disorders, alone—which include panic disorders, phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder, among many others—cost $42 billion a year in the U.S., nearly one-third of the country’s total mental health care costs, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.
Existing treatments, such as psychotherapy and medications, can take many weeks to have an effect and their benefits often diminish over time. An even more serious problem is that millions of people with treatment-resistant psychiatric disorders do not find relief from any existing therapy.
“There are millions of people for whom these disorders are not well treated. These patients are often not able to keep their jobs or to work at all, because they’re constantly struggling with symptoms of their illnesses and the pain and suffering they cause,” said team member Vikaas Sohal, MD, PhD, assistant professor of psychiatry at UCSF. “This project offers hope because it’s a totally new way of seeing how the parts of the brain interact in mental illness. It’s as if we’ve been looking at still images of actors but will now be able to see the performance of a play.”
The project team will address psychiatric disorders in a new way, taking a “systems-level” approach. Instead of focusing on specific cellular processes to target with drugs, the researchers will seek to understand these disorders as disruptions of a complex network.
As these aberrant patterns are identified, a team coordinated by UC Berkeley’s José M. Carmena, PhD, will design, fabricate and use miniature implantable devices to elucidate neural circuits critical to these psychiatric disorders. The devices will detect neural activity and then use the information to determine when and where electrical stimulation should be delivered to correct abnormal brain patterns.
logo for Center for Neural Engineering and Prostheses
Carmena is a renowned researcher in the field of brain-machine interfaces (BMIs), which interpret brain signals to control prostheses for those with paralyzed or injured limbs. He is co-director, with Chang, of the Center for Neural Engineering and Prostheses(CNEP), a joint UCSF/UC Berkeley research group devoted to developing technology to restore sensory, motor and cognitive function in patients suffering from disabling neurological conditions.
“In this new project at CNEP, we are using the same BMI concepts we have been using for the past 10 years,” said Carmena. “After learning how large-scale brain circuits work in such conditions as depression, anxiety, and addiction, we will design an implantable BMI that can detect abnormal activity and electrically stimulate some locations in these circuits to alleviate symptoms.”
Jose Carmena, PhD
Philip Starr, MD, PhD
This therapeutic approach will build on the established concept of deep brain stimulation (DBS), already a successful therapy to correct circuitry that has gone awry in movement disorders. But the overarching goal of the new project, which will be pursued with industry partners Posit Science and Cortera Neurotechnologies, is to make major leaps forward in both the precision and effectiveness of neural stimulation therapy, such that guided strengthening of healthy circuits in psychiatric disorders will result in long-lasting alleviation of symptoms, perhaps eliminating the need for any permanent device, Chang said.
The study’s initial focus on anxiety and depression in epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease could shed valuable light on a range of psychiatric disorders. UCSF neurosurgeon Philip A. Starr, MD, PhD, a member of the team who regularly treats Parkinson’s patients with DBS implants, said, “Most people think of Parkinson’s as a movement disorder, but it is in fact a neuropsychiatric disorder that includes problems with mood, thinking, anxiety, impulsivity, and even a form of addiction to medication known as dopamine dysregulation syndrome. These symptoms are as fundamental a part of the disorder as slow movement or tremor.”
Moreover, Starr said, the psychiatric symptoms of Parkinson’s disease wax and wane, so the recordings, which will be made by high-resolution devices resting directly on patients’ brains, should reveal in detail how brain activity changes when patients enter a depressed or anxious state, data that have been unobtainable before recent technological advances. Because these data are so valuable and so challenging to obtain, all recordings—stripped of patients’ identities—will be deposited in accessible databases for the use of researchers around the world, said Chang. All work on the new project will be conducted with the oversight of UCSF- and DARPA-based ethical committees.
UC San Francisco (UCSF), now celebrating the 150th anniversary of its founding, is a leading university dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care. It includes top-ranked graduate schools of dentistry, medicine, nursing and pharmacy, a graduate division with nationally renowned programs in basic, biomedical, translational and population sciences, as well as a preeminent biomedical research enterprise and two top-ranked hospitals, UCSF Medical Center and UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital San Francisco.

Friday, August 15, 2014

News of Robin Williams' Diagnosis with Disease

Pic

Resources on Depression and PD: PDF Response to News of Robin Williams' Diagnosis with Disease

The Parkinson's Disease Foundation (PDF) has recently learned from a statement released by Robin Williams' widow, Susan Schneider, that the well known actor was in the early stages of Parkinson's disease. This news raised many questions in the community and amongst the media concerning the effects of a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease and symptoms such as depression.
While depression and anxiety are quite common in Parkinson’s disease – more than half of people with Parkinson’s will experience one or the other during their lifetime – they can often be successfully managed with medications under the supervision of a doctor who specializes in PD.
Anyone who has questions about this, or needs assistance in finding a doctor specializing in Parkinson's disease, is invited to call the National HelpLine of the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation at (800) 457 6676 or email us at info@pdf.org. Please also browse the facts and resources we’ve gathered below on depression and anxiety in PD.
 Contact the HelpLine
Pic
Facts about Depression, Anxiety and PD
  • PDF estimates that up to 60 percent of people with Parkinson’s experience mild or moderate symptoms of depression at some point in the disease.
  • Thirty percent of people with Parkinson's disease are diagnosed with depression before ever receiving a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease.
  • There is not yet one answer on what causes depression, but it is likely a combination of the stress of living with a chronic disease and changes in the brain that accompany Parkinson's disease.
  • There are strategies available for treating depression, including but not limited to, medications. It is important to address depression early, as it affects quality of life.
  • Parkinson's disease is very variable from person to person. Each individual will have a unique experience and journey with the disease and its symptoms.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ROBIN WILLIAMS DIES WITH PARKINSON'S DISEASE
Robin Williams (1951-2014) was an American actor and comedian who appeared in
numerous films and who recently committed suicide. His wife, Susan Schneider, has made a
statement that, at the time of his death, Robin Williams was in the early stages of Parkinson's
Disease.
His wife, Susan Schneider wrote : Robin's sobriety was intact and he was brave as he
struggled with his own battles of depression, anxiety as well as early stages of Parkinson's
Disease, which he was not yet ready to share publicly. It is our hope in the wake of Robin’s
tragic passing, that others will find the strength to seek the care and support they need to treat
whatever battles they are facing so they may feel less afraid.”
Starting as a stand-up comedian in San Francisco and Los
Angeles, he soon rose to fame as Mork in the TV series Mork &
Mindy (1978-82). His film career included : Popeye (1980), The
World According to Garp (1982), Good Morning, Vietnam
(1987), Dead Poets Society (1989), Awakenings (1990), The
Fisher King (1991), Hook (1991), Mrs. Doubtfire (1993),
Jumanji (1995), and Night at the Museum (2006). He was
nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor three times
and won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
He sometimes suffered from depression and struggled with drug and alcohol addiction for
much of his career. On 11th August 2014 he was found dead after committing suicide by
hanging. For more information go to : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Williams
http://www.viartis.net/parkinsons.disease/news/140815.pdf
mail@viartis.net
©2014 Viartis


Parkinsons Org. UK

- See more at: http://www.parkinsons.org.uk/news/14-august-2014/late-robin-williams-diagnosed-parkinsons#sthash.NveBKMkR.dpuf

Parkinson's UK balloons at an event
In a recent statement, Susan Schneider, the wife of the late Robin Williams, said he was in the early stages of Parkinson's at the time of his death.
Steve Ford, our chief executive, says:
Sadly, depression is just one of the many symptoms that people living with Parkinson's will have to contend with on a daily basis.
"The death of Robin Williams was a huge shock to us all and to learn that he was living with the early stages of Parkinson's makes his passing even more poignant.
"Sadly, depression is just one of the many symptoms that people living with Parkinson's will have to contend with on a daily basis.
"While we will never know whether Robin's diagnosis of Parkinson's was a factor in his tragic decision to end his life, we salute the bravery of his wife Susan Schneider, in making the bold choice to speak out about Robin's battle with the condition.
"One person every hour is diagnosed with Parkinson's in the UK, and we know that for many it can be a confusing and uncertain time.
"Parkinson's can be a very difficult condition to diagnose, as no two people with Parkinson's are the same.
"Symptoms - such as slowness of movement or a tremor and even depression - can change on a daily, or even hourly basis.
It's vital that anyone worried about facing the future with Parkinson's get the support and information they need.
"Many people, with the right medication, continue to live a full and active live with Parkinson's.
"But for some, it can be life-changing and it's vital that anyone worried about facing the future with Parkinson's gets the support and information they need."
You'll find lots of information and support on this website. Or if you need to speak to someone, call our confidential helpline 0808 800 0303.

Thursday, August 14, 2014

New Drug Extends Levodopa’s Benefits in Moderate and Advanced Parkinson’s Disease

- Aug 06 2014
A drug not yet approved in the US called safinamide increases “on” time and helps improve other Parkinson’s disease (PD) symptoms when taken as an add-on to levodopa therapy, according to the results of a phase III clinical trial reported in the July 10 online edition of Movement Disorders
Levodopa, usually taken as carbidopa-levodopa (Sinemet®), is the most effective medication for the movement symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.  However, after taking this drug for several years, most people experience fluctuations in its effectiveness. During the “on” periods when the drug is working, many people experience involuntary movements (dyskinesias) as a side effect.  During the “off” times, when the drug wears off before the next scheduled dose, people experience a return of PD symptoms.
Safinamide is a drug developed with the goal of extending “on” periods in people taking levodopa without worsening their dyskinesias.  Researchers led by Rupam Borgohain, D.M., at Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences in Hyderabad, India, recruited study participants at 52 medical centers in India, Romania and Italy to test the drug’s safety and effectiveness.  The researchers conducted the most rigorous type of clinical trial: randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled.  The primary end point of the study (the measurement indicating whether a treatment is effective) was improvement in dyskinesia as measured by a rating scale, and a second was a change in “on” time without troublesome dyskinesia.
For six months, 669 people with mid- to late-stage PD and who experienced ”on” and “off” periods, followed one of three treatment options: 50 mg/day of safinamide, 100 mg/day of safinamide or a placebo pill.  All three of the treatment groups continued their levodopa and other PD medications.  Of these study participants, 440 continued the trial for an additional 18 months. 

Results

  • There was no significant difference between the groups in regards to the primary end point – change in the dyskinesia rating scale.
  • People who took safinamide, at both the 50 mg/day and the 100 mg/day doses, experienced 45 minutes more “on” time without troublesome dyskinesias compared with people who took placebo pills.
  • At both doses, safinamide was safe and well-tolerated for the two-year study period.
  • Dyskinesias improved in participants who had moderate to severe dyskinesia at the beginning of the study, and who took 100 mg/day of safinamide.
  • People who took 100 mg/day of safinamide also showed improvement in PD motor symptoms, ability to do daily activities, symptoms of depression and quality of life.
  • People who experience improvement in PD movement symptoms while taking 100 mg/day of safinamide, still demonstrated improvement during the 18-month extension study.

What Does It Mean?

It is challenging to treat moderate and advanced Parkinson’s disease.  Although carbidopa-levodopa often works well to ease symptoms, many people taking the drug experience debilitating fluctations and dyskinesia.  Doctors already prescribe several medications to be taken alongside levodopa to lessen side effects and extend its benefits.  This study, the first long-term investigation into safinamide’s effects, provides encouraging evidence that the drug may provide benefits when used in combination with levodopa or other PD medications.   
Strengths of the clinical trial include that, as in a real-life situation, participants continued their usual regimens of PD medications, and also that safinamide did not worsen existing side effects or cause new ones.  The drug’s manufacturer, Newron, submitted a new drug application — an application for approval to distribute safinamide in the United States—to the US Food and Drug Administration in May 2014.  Their application included requests that the drug be approved for use not only as an add-on to levodopa but also for people with early-stage PD who take dopamine agonists (for example, pramipexole or ropinirole). Previous studies have indicated safinamide can help movement symptoms in these cases.  While the improvements in symptoms seen with the use of safinamide are modest, it is likely that, if approved, safinamide could become another useful tool in the management of Parkinson’s disease.

Learn More

Do you have questions about medications for Parkinson's? Find answers by calling us at (800) 457-6676 or info@pdf.org or use our free resources below.

DEPRESSION & ANXIETY More Information


DEPRESSION
DandelionDepression is a mood disorder that affects how we think and feel. Depression can replace hope, joy, positivity, self confidence, and possibilities with hopelessness, sadness, insecurity, 
and impossibilities. Depression can ‘color our world with shades of gray'. Symptoms of depression include
  • sadness
  • memory problems
  • fatigue
  • sleepiness, or insomnia
  • irritability
  • poor concentration
  • loss of enjoyment in social activities and hobbies
  • loss of appetite or increased appetite
  • decreased libido
  • feeling of hopelessness or guilt
  • excessive worrying
  • feeling of worthlessness
  • failure and even suicidal thoughts
  • apathy or amotivation
  • anxiety
Parkinson’s and depression
Many people with Parkinson’s experience depression. In fact, research studies report that up to 50% of people with Parkinson’s experience symptoms of depression. Depression can begin before the movement symptoms of Parkinson’s have become obvious otherwise termed a preclinical symptom. The cause of depression in Parkinson’s is thought to occur from
  • biochemical changes (serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine) in brain regions that influence mood.
  • circumstances and frustrations such as a reaction or response to your Parkinson’s diagnosis, life worries, social isolation, loneliness, or secondary to chronic frustrations when symptoms cause problems with everyday tasks.
  • Depression can be present at all times, as a reaction to having a bad day
  • As a wear off symptoms experieinced before the next dose of medicine is due.
ANXIETY
Anxiety is experienced as nervousness, worrying, 
feeling jittery, having an unsettled mind or inability to stop thoughts that interfere with daily activities or sleep. Anxiety can affect our ability to concentrate, attend to details, and effect our social interactions. Common physiologic changes associated with anxiety include
  • palpitations, racing pulse
  • sweatiness
  • jitteriness
  • dizziness
  • atypical chest pain,
  • nausea, loss of appetite
  • muscle tightness (especially in the neck, shoulder and trunk), and headache.
Anxiety can occur from changes in brain regions that influence mood. Anxiety can be present throughout the day, during the medication off period, or surface sporadically as a panic attack. Some people with Parkinson’s describe worsening phobias or anxiety producing situations such as fear of crowded spaces.
Parkinson’s and Anxiety

Anxiety can be part of your ‘worries’ about diagnosis, your future, or other life concerns. In addition, anxiety can be a symptom of Parkinson’s. It can be constant or change with your changing movement symptoms. For example, feelings of anxiousness can occur when Parkinson’s medications wear off usually prior to when the next dose is due. Certain movement symptoms can increase or worsen with anxiety, especially tremor and gait freezing. When anxiety is coupled to your movement problems, one problem can worsen the other, like a snowball effect. This is familiar to you if you have tremor as you may have noticed tremor increases at times of stress or anxiety and the increased tremor, in turn, increases anxiety. In addition to tremor, anxiety can worsen off states, dyskinesia, and motor initiation or freezing. Anxiety can cause or worsen restlessness, sleeplessness, fatigue, pain, bladder urgency, and even increase your sensitivity to medicines and their side effects. All in all anxiety can rob you of much needed energy.


WEARABLE SENSORS FOR PARKINSON'S DISEASE




A study was launched earlier this year to evaluate three wearable devices for tracking measurable features of Parkinson’s Disease such as slowness and frequency of movement.
People with Parkinson's Disease wore the devices during two clinic visits and at home over a few days.
Intel engineers are comparing the data obtained from the devices
to clinical observations and patient diaries in order to test the
devices’ accuracy. They are developing mathematical formulas
to measure the symptoms and the progression of Parkinson's
Disease. These devices can capture up to 300 observations per
second. So formulas to interpret all that data and report what it
means related to someone’s Parkinson’s Disease can help
individuals and their physicians monitor disease.
The next phase of the MJFF-Intel study will capture data to measure medication response such as on/off episodes. Recruitment is expected to begin soon in locations including New York City, Boston and Tel Aviv, Israel. The Michael J.Fox Foundation plans to expand their use to other clinical studies. For more information go to :

https://www.michaeljfox.org/foundation/news-detail.php?watch-yourself-device-data-may-i
mprove-research-and-parkinson-monitorkn


http://www.viartis.net/parkinsons.disease/news/140814.pdf
mail@viartis.net


©2014

Rest and Sleeping by NPF

Rest and Sleeping

With PD, it is not unusual to have trouble turning over, or
getting in and out of bed.

 These tips may help:
• Discuss trouble getting in and out of bed, or turning over
in bed, with your health care provider. You may need to
have your medication adjusted.
• A satin sheet or piece of satin material tucked across the
middle of the bed can make it easier to turn over.
• Flannel sheets and heavy blankets can make it more
difficult to turn over.
• Make sure the pathway from the bed to the bathroom is
well-lit. A nightlight or a closet door left open with the
light on works well.
• Keep the bedroom floor clear of things that could cause
tripping and falling. For example, don’t leave shoes,
books or papers on the floor.
Tips for getting into bed
1. Approach the bed as you would a chair; feel the mattress
behind both legs.
2. Slowly lower yourself to a seated position on the bed,
using your arms to control your descent.
3. Lean on your forearm while you allow your trunk to lean
down to the side.
4. As your trunk goes down, the legs will want to go up,
like a see-saw.

✦ Do not place knee up on the mattress first. In other
words, don’t “crawl” into bed.

Tips for getting out of bed


1Bend knees up, feet flat on the bed.
2. Roll onto your side toward the edge of the bed by letting
the knees fall to that side. Reaching across with the top
arm. Turn your head and look in the direction you are
rolling.
3. Lower feet from the bed as you push with your arms into a
sitting position.

✦ A straight back chair anchored at the side of the bed or a
bed rail can help you roll more easily.

Tips for rolling or turning over in bed
1. Bend your knees up with feet flat.
2. Allow knees to fall to one side as you begin to roll.
3. Turn your head in the direction you are rolling and reach
top arm across the body.
Tips for scooting over in bed
1. Bend your knees up with feet flat.
2. Push into the bed with feet and hands to lift your hips up
off the bed. Then shift hips in the desired direction.
3. Finish by repositioning feet in the direction your hips
moved.



Especially for care partners

• As PD advances, the person may need help turning over
and changing position during the night.
• Use cushions and pillows to help support the person in a
comfortable position. Upholstery foam works well for
this.
• When helping the person go from sitting to lying down,
guide the person’s shoulders down while the feet come up.
Place your hand at their shoulders and at the bend of their
knee.
• When helping the person from lying to sitting, place your
hands attheir shoulders and the bend of their knee to guide
the feet to the floor. Don’t pull the person up by their arms

Helpful bedroom aids:

Helping handle/bed rail provides assistance with rolling
and support for pushing yourself to an upright position. It
attaches between the mattress and box spring. An inexpensive
alternative to a bed rail is a straight-back chair laced to the
bedframe.
Adjustable blanket support keeps the blanket off feet, making
it easier to move. Adjustable, lightweight aluminum frame
inserts between the mattress and box spring.
Motion-activated nightlight detects movement and
automatically switches on.
Electric beds make it easy to elevate your head and upper body
and can make breathing easier.














Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Tips for Better Travel with Parkinson's disease


From the train ticket collector who wanted proof of my Parkinson's disease to the airport security ladies who laughed at the way I was moving, I have certainly experienced my share of frustrations while traveling. Even so, it is the fellow travelers who reached out to lend me a hand that I remember most.
I am not ashamed of being a person with Parkinson's disease. So when I travel, I don't hide. But there was a time, in my early twenties, when I would not tell people I had Parkinson's. Now in my forties, I feel a responsibility to educate everyone who has an interest in this illness.
Traveling these days, whether you have a physical challenge or not, can be a hassle, but there are ways to make the time away more enjoyable, safer, and less stressful. Here is a list of helpful tips that I hope will make you and your travel companions more comfortable on your next vacation.
Create a checklist. Following a good list will help you be prepared and not be over packed.

Start packing early. Packing ahead of schedule will allow you to relax and feel less rushed the day you leave. Make sure that the clothes you want to wear are ready (do not wait to wash them the night before) and all the items you want to bring are easily accessible.
Choose comfort over fashion. Pack comfortable clothes and walking shoes that will allow you to move freely. Your mobility and flexibility should be a priority when you are on the go.

Bring extra meds. Carry at least a week or more of extra prescription medications and a current prescription for refills. Keep your medications in their original, labeled containers in case you need to go through security or get refills.
Carry a list of your meds and a doctor's note. You might want to consider getting a laminated copy of your current medications and a letter from your doctor explaining that you are being treated for Parkinson's disease. A document like this might be helpful in case you have a health issue or need to show airport security.
Pack your meds in your carry-on bag. Doing so will help you avoid any chance of being separated from you medication. You do not want to lose your luggage with your meds to boot! Make sure you have the generic name of all your meds. Other countries may not have the same commercial name.
Plot your course before you get there. Whether you are flying or driving, research your destination and the stops along the way to find out if hotels and rest stops can accommodate your special needs. You can use Google Earth, a website that allows you to zoom in on specific areas such as airports to get a picture of entrances, stairs and more.
Charge your cell phone. Make sure your cell phone is charged and ready in case of emergency. Be sure all phone contacts are current.
Take water and snacks to go. Pack some portable fruit like an apple, energy bars and some trail mix. Have water on hand so you can take your pills on time. You might want to pack a collapsible cup (available at most drug stores) so you can get water from water fountains.
Get an early start. Heavy traffic and long security lines can leave you feeling pressured. Getting an early start will take the edge off a stressful journey. If you need assistance at any point, do not hesitate to ask. A little help will make your trip go more smoothly.

Pace yourself. Do not wear yourself out trying to do and see everything. Be realistic about how much energy you have for site seeing activities and other events. Also, pay attention to how you are feeling and rest when you need to.
Take your meds. When traveling, it is so easy to overlook a medication dose. Do your best to follow your medication schedule.
Check the time zone. for time If traveling to a country with a different time zone consider making adjustments to your medications. Discuss your medication schedule with your physician before your tip.
Make things easy. If flying ask for handicap assistance, consider a non-stop flight and an aisle seat close to the restroom. In your hotel you should ask for a handicap room in the first floor.
Consider a cruise. A cruise can be a good way to enjoy vacations for you and your caregiver. However, if you suffer from motion sickness you should remember that metoclopramide, prochlormethazine and droperidol should be avoided.

Enjoy yourself. Traveling with Parkinson’s can be an enjoyable experience, or a real drudgery. Following these tips will help make your next trip a rejuvenating adventure.


Ref: NPF