October 21 2017

Greetings My Friend,

I have finally had enough of the chocking, struggling to get food to go down and struggling to swallow or bring up the food. I went to the specialist who will do the procedure to stretch my esophagus and it is going to be on November 7th. Basically the surgeon will insert a tube down my throat and afterwards food won't be the problem it is now going down my esophagus. I have never heard of this problem until I moved to Virginia, more than likely because I was not having the problem until I moved out here. Since then I have discovered that several chronic illnesses seem to have a chocking problem. I have been diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease for a year now. That wondering what is wrong with me feeling has gone and my goal now is to live life to the fullest of my ability. I also know better how to handle my day allowing times to nap, worked out some exercise routines, some of which is doing housework.When we first moved into this house 7 years ago my goal was to build up my energy with  walking down our country lane. It is beautiful as I walk I see horses, the beautiful mountains and revel in the quiet of the country lifestyle. Since my first attempts to make it to the end of the street and back I have learned I no longer have that ability or the stamina to do it. My exercise is to walk in the yard of about an acre or just under an acre. My walker has taken a beating as I wander around the yard although I have the challenge helps me to quiet the tremors, gives me a bit of energy and helps keep my weight under control. In the spring I started picking raspberries, followed by blackberries, grapes, chestnuts, pawpaw's and walnuts. Now that the harvest season is ending my goal is to find kindling so we can start fires in the wood stove with. Daisy and I wander around the yard, me with the grab stick so I don't have to bend over as much. Not only am I getting exercise, Daisy too likes to get out of the walker and roam around the yard. Val and Brendy each take turns following me around, Val does the back yard and Brendy does the front and side yard. Lovey and Maxine our newest kittens also follow me around the yard. Some days I enjoy taking pictures while others I absorb the beauty that surrounds me. The other Sunday at church I found myself tripping over the wheel of the walker. I had over done it on Saturday, after dinner i made an oatmeal cake for the potluck at church. I was exhausted when I finished baking the cake, I also did up the dishes when I finished. I believe my tripping was due to doing to much, I also believe if I had not been using the walker I would have fallen and hurt myself. I chose early on to use aids since I also have brittle bones which have a tendency to break rather easily. I pray I won't break a bone although the odds are I will one day so I choose to use aids to help me walk. Many PD patients don't want to give up too soon and use aids. The problem I see is they start falling more. Exercise is quieting down the tremors, for me my legs tend to shake much more than my hands. Doing hand exercises helps my handwriting to be easier to read, the other exercises keep my body stronger and shaking less. I also have learned I need to nap each afternoon. When we are running all day, I have learned to sleep in the truck either while we are driving or while Junior runs into Lowe's or other man stores. At first I tried to drink a cup of coffee to give me the energy while we were gone, I have learned that coffee messes my sleep up so now I plan on taking a nap instead. I have sensed God leading me into these changes that are helping me to stay engaged in day to day life and I am grateful. I still can't volunteer but I am able to socialize with my church family, going to get my hair cut and with a few close friends. I continue to look to my online group to socialize with as well, we pray for each other, we care about each other and we share the love of Jesus in common along with many of us have various disabilities. We learn that we are not alone in our disabilities. Behind all of this is God directing my day to day life, exercise routines and even teaching me to reach out to Junior, to others. May God bless you and keep you make His face shine on you. Love Janet