Wednesday 31 October 2007

The last seven days have  been better, I feel I’ve taken control again of my situation.  I am sorting out an exercise regime by taking the plunge and joining a gym.  I hate exercise and only find it tolerable in a group.  The local LA Fitness has exercise classes before work which means I can get the exercise done before work and enjoy the day!  I have an appointment to sign up at the gym on Saturday.  So far this week I have swam (Monday), went to Bodybalance (Tuesday) and walked 3 miles after work (today).  I feel pleased with myself.  Bodybalance was testing.  A career as a contortionist might be a useful side effect of the condition.  The instructor had to keep looking away to stop herself laughing.

I have also made contact with another young onset PD person.  He is forty four and six years in.  Still working, driving and going to the gym!  I am meeting him on Tuesday.

The skin trembles are still there, I feel them across my face and at night, on one occasion, in my good arm.  They don’t scare me anymore.  Maybe the progression of the condition is in steps rather than gradual; something changes, you have a panic, recover some normality and wallop, another issue to deal with. “Progression” is a word I have difficulty in this context.  How can a positive word like progress be used in connection with this condition?

The most disheartening moment of the week was on Friday when I was unable to put my left cufflink in.  It was an evening event and there are reasons for the difficulty; I was tired, it was the end of the day, I was stressed and I had drunk a couple of pints!  Whatever the reasons, however, it was another painful first and was accompanied by a feeling of despondency

I saw my physio again today.  She is another person who enjoys inflicting physical pain on me.  I am surrounded by them.  I could hear the woman at the gym licking her lips in anticipation of my joining.  Another victim.  The physio spent an hour pressing/manipulating/convoluting my spine to loosen it up.  I am not sure why she just didn’t take a sledgehammer to it. Having said that, I feel looser this evening, as if each bone has fallen out with, and distanced itself from, its neighbour.