Sue Richards, regular Canadian gal, heats up as her reproductive Best Before Date expires.
Wednesday, 20 February 2008
I haven’t come out and said this directly but today seems right for fessing up. Last summer I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.
There are many grim reports and scary beliefs out there about PD - I’ve Googled my poor old brain out for the last several months, talked with scores of folk that ‘had an aunt’ and allowed my symptoms to hook up with my imagination for a hair loosing romp. None of this was fun or pretty. But it did serve to lead me to the PD Recovery Project - a very bright light indeed.
I’ve been following the treatment protocol offered by PDRP for three months now. I know without a hint of doubt that I am on the right path and that despite the main stream belief that Parkinson’s is incureable, dear old lumbering main stream is wrong.
Recovery will take many months. Meanwhile, my symptoms make typing extremely laborious and painful. Writing this blog became impossible and making a living as a writer - well, let’s just say, not so good. The artists way - my particular choice of life vocation - worked beautifully while well but not so good now that PD symptoms have disabled me.
One might call this a rock and a hard place. I certainly did for a few months. But then the universe twisted in a particular way and voila, another light was shining down my tunnel.
MacSpeech has just released highly regarded, voice recognition software for my dear Apple. Thanks to a generous monetary gift from dear friends in Montreal, I am ordering it today.
I have no idea how well I’ll take to ‘talking to my computer’. Over the year’s my verbal commands have been anything but kind, printable or even interesting. Still my hope is for this match to be made in heaven. [Sue clasps hands and offers a pretty please prayer to the techno gods. Amen.]
With technology acting as my friend, the hurtle of writing should be behind me. The next challenge will be to pry my menopause loose from my Parkinson’s experience. Not to be crass or insensitive but if you want to get menopause in perspective try getting really sick. I truly love my menopause now. It helps me feel normal.
Sue Richards
Menopause Tags: My Menopause Blog, my menopause blog,Sue Richards, peri-menopausal, menopause relief, guelph blog, baby boomer, womens health news, menopause symptoms .
February 20th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Hi Sue,
What a treat to read your blog again. I hope that whatchamacallit software works wonders for you, but mostly, I wish you success with your PD Recovery Project. The only thing you know for sure is if you don’t do it, the western type thinkers will be right. Go for it like you always do.
February 20th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
Thank you for opening up and sharing this. I know that everyone has their problems, but sometimes it helps putting ours in perspective to see what really having a problem is. I know it helps me not to sweat the small stuff. I wish you the very best in your healing journey. Thank you for continuing to share about menopause via this blog as well (I am a subscriber).
February 21st, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Here’s one of the kabillion things I love about you and your writing:
you convey the most difficult things with grace, hope and always, always a killer sense of humour.
So good you’re back Soozie-Q.
Here’s to believing those great apple minds can handle your particular brand of language.
February 23rd, 2008 at 2:50 pm
I happen by once in a while. When you paused your blog, I was sad but figured you’d be back. Today, I took a chance to see if you were posting again.
While I am very sorry about your diagnosis, I agree with the previous comments, you are such a witty woman. I know you will have challenges but you will answer them with the will of a strong woman with a wicked sense of humor.
I am looking forward to reading your posts about your recovery. You are one of my teachers. And as a student, I will drink up all your wisdom.