Category: symptoms

Vyalev Pump: You Don’t Know What You’ve Got…

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The primary advantage of using the Vyalev pump rather than the pill form of the same medications (carbidopa and levodopa) is that the pump provides a steady input of medication throughout the day (and night), avoiding the “rollercoaster” effect that results from taking pills once every few hours. But the process ya have to go through each day to disconnect, refill, and reconnect is kind of an ordeal. Thus, after nearly two weeks using the pump, I found myself pondering whether it was worth it. So, this morning I decided to take a day off from the pump and revert to the pills.

Ah, how quickly we forget! Today has been AWFUL. When the pills are in full effect, I’m feeling quite good. But when they start wearing off, my whole body becomes tense, I become a hunchback, I get jittery, I can’t even think straight! In retrospect, none of this is new. I just needed a reminder of exactly how bad it all can get. Now I know, and I’ll be reconnecting to my pump first thing tomorrow morning!

Seasonal Affective Disorder?

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After my first few years with Parkinson’s Disease (PD), I noticed that about once a year, the PD would get significantly worse for a few weeks or months. I would tell my PD specialist about the new problems, and we would change something in my pill regimen, after which I would soon feel significantly better. But it occurred to me recently that, at least for the last two years (probably more), these Annual Worsenings have taken place during the winter months, with the Annual Get Betterments happening in the spring.

I’ve never seen Seasonal Affective Disorder listed as being associated with PD, but I’m beginning to think I may have both. The true test would be to buy a winter home in New Zealand, but I don’t want to be on a flight that long. So, I guess we’ll never know. On a completely unrelated note:

Over the last coupla days, whenever I’ve opened Microsoft Edge, I’ve been greeted by the screen shown below…

I keep asking myself, how exactly does one “celebrate 50 years of Microsoft”? The imagery that pops into my head is a guy yelling, “Wooooo! Let’s get rip-roarin’ drunk and try to install Windows For Workgroups 3.11 from floppy diskettes!” And, as pathetic as it sounds…I kinda wanna join him.

Oh, Poo!

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WARNING: This post contains frank descriptions of poop. Do not read this post while operating machinery (except maybe a manure spreader). It’s been two and a half years since this blog last addressed constipation. During that time, my own constipation has very gradually worsened. Mannitol, … Continue reading Oh, Poo!

10 Flippin’ Years

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Ladies and gentlemen, boyds and gorillas, today marks a major milestone in my life. Ten years ago today, I received my Parkinson’s Disease (PD) diagnosis. Yup, believe it or not, it has been an entire decade. In that time, I have been through quite a few ups and downs with PD (not to mention other aging-related issues like arthritis and generalized hurtiness disorder). This special occasion, combined with the fact I have been failing to update this blog regarding recent developments in my PD treatments, has got me ta thinkin’ I should give y’all an update on my PD status. The one thing I have kept you up-to-date with is Lions Mane Mushrooms. If you’ve missed my lions mane posts, click here for the latest. I hope to get you some updates shortly regarding Nicotine, timed-release Levodopa, and a stool softener (and of course, this week’s ThrowBack Thursday).