What’s It Like Having Parkinson’s?

What’s It Like Having Parkinson’s?

• Wear a leg weight on one leg.

• On the same leg, also wear a slipper that is 4-5 sizes too big. This will help you to “drag a leg/foot.”

• Every two hours take a break and find a bathroom. Quickly, within one minute.  This is what bladder urgency is like.

• When you wake up in the morning, walk backwards for the first 45 minutes until your meds kick in.

• Simulate taking meds every three hours, then miss a dosage. To simulate freezing, walk backwards again, or crawl, until the missed dosage kicks in.

• When the phone rings, simulate a freezing spell. Don’t pick up your feet to answer it; instead, drop to your hands and knees to try to crawl to the phone in time.

• Do not carry a glass filled with liquid because your tremor will make you spill it. Alternatively, try to drink from a full martini glass as a friend gently shakes your arm.  Note:  Don’t waste a good martini doing this!

• Get a leather belt and a cheap serrated plastic knife like you’d use on a picnic. Try cutting the belt with the knife.  This will simulate cutting meat.

• Hold a cell phone in your “affected hand” while a friend gently shakes your arm as you listen and speak to the person you’re calling.

• Hold a cell phone and try typing a text message with your lame hand while a friend gently shakes your arm.

• To experience dyskinesia, move your torso right and left for 15 minutes without stopping.

• At a crosswalk, wait through three lights before you cross the street.

• On one hand wear a thick rubber glove like you’d use for washing dishes. Try picking out 39 cents from a handful of change.  Then try to remove your driver’s license and/or credit card from your wallet.

• Try to type or text while wearing the same thick rubber glove.

• The next time you attend a cocktail party, wear a 5-lb. or 10-lb. wrist weight. Then hold your glass in that hand as you stand and socialize, trying to keep the glass level and at waist height or higher.

• Stand up, spin around until you’re dizzy, then try to walk in a straight line, the heel of one foot always coming down just in front of the other foot’s toe.

• If you’re right handed, unload the dishwasher with just your left hand while your right arm hangs listlessly by your side.  (If you’re left handed, unload with your right.)

• If you’re right handed and use a computer mouse, move the mouse to the left side of the computer and manipulate it with your left hand.

• If you’re right handed, use just your left hand when you wipe your butt after a bowel movement.

• Forget twirling spaghetti on a fork.

Copied from Parking Sun's blog (without permission) This is a wonderful Blog.

http://www.parkingsuns.com/2015/07/19/whats-it-like-having-parkinsons/