A-Z Parkinson's: S

Symptoms-Stress-Sleep-Slow-Speech-Skin-Sweat-Sex-Swallow-Substantia Nigra-Supplements-Shakes

• Symptoms

Many, many symptoms.

• Stress

I stress about stress before there's even stress to stress about. Then I stress about stressing over stress that doesn't need to be stressed about.

Then Parkinson’s goes into overdrive.

• Sleep

Sleep and night-time problems are common in Parkinson’s. They can affect you at any stage of the condition and may leave you feeling tired and drowsy. 

Falling asleep face down in your lunchtime soup but bouncing around the walls at 3 am - again.

• Slow

Bradykinesia as it’s technically known, one of the cardinal signs of Parkinson’s.

PwP do get there eventually, don’t rush us as we just can’t do it. But don’t do it for us, we can do it!!

• Speech

Parkinson's disease (PD) can affect speech in several ways. Many people with PD speak quietly and in one tone; they don't convey much emotion. Sometimes speech sounds breathy or hoarse. People with Parkinson's might slur words, mumble or trail off at the end of a sentence.

Speech therapists have ways of making you talk.

• Sweat

Parkinson's disease can affect skin and body temperature regulation.

The thermostat is broken.

• Sex

One’s gender; the designation of the physical attributes of being either male or female.

Putting those attributes to the best possible use can be challenging.

• Swallow

Dinner becomes a thrilling ride of choking and spluttering.

Throat feels as if it has been gripped by the husk…

• Substantia Nigra

The substantia nigra is a part of your brain that helps control your movements.

• Supplements

A sense of control and positive action with substantially fewer side effects than full medication.

Sadly a supplemental income is required to afford the vitamins.

• Shakes

• Swearing

The use of profanity. A vulgar and coarse way of expressing oneself that comes in really handy for everything from bumping one’s head to ending a long-term relationship.

The is a fucking lot of swearing in Parkinson’s.