FATIGUE In May this year I started back at work, after having my left hip replaced. I won’t lie, after eight weeks off, it was tough getting back into it. Not because my hip wasn’t up to it. I wish I’d had it done much sooner! Rather it was a case of struggling with …
Puck’s Guide to “How to Register” for the City to Bay
All aboard!! Let’s “Ride that train!” Puck Farkinson’s is rolling out for the City to Bay, on Sunday 16th September 2018. Check out the how to register guide below and when you’re good to go, click the “Register Here” link. It’s that easy to make a difference by raising awareness for Parkinson’s SA! We’ll post …
Swallowed a Fly (…..a Quick Trip to Sydney Town)
Hmmm! So many places to begin this story.
Do I start with last year’s Puck Farkinson’s City-Bay fun run, the night that I met my amazing Marzie, or Parkinson’s SA event, “Parkinson’s In The Park”?
Like the old lady who swallowed a fly, it was a chain of events, which led to accepting the opportunity to be flown to Sydney, for World Parkinson’s Day. Check out the link below:
World Parkinson’s Day – Today Extra
If it weren’t for my lovely partner, Marzie, I would not have met Channel 7 personality, Amelia Mulcahy, or, Steve Sant, CEO of Parkinson’s Australia, at Parkinson’s In The Park (Sunday 08/04/2018).
I’d have wandered about with a silly grin on my face, bought a few things from the stalls, and gone home.
But Marzie was all over it! She wasn’t going to miss the opportunity to meet and take a few snaps. It’s one of her ‘things’ and thankfully so!
After a brief chat and some photos, Steve approached us about the possibility of appearing on the Channel 9 program, Today Extra and Tuesday afternoon we were off to Sydney.
It was a great experience! Everybody we were involved with, from the driver collecting us at the airport, to the personnel at Nine’s studio and the return trip to suburban Morphett Vale, were so friendly and helpful (yes, even Steve, Olivia!).
With my amazing lady, Marz.
During the last 12 months, my symptoms have largely been brought under control with getting medication just right. There have been other beneficial therapies: physio and psychology.
However, one product of feeling so good, after several years, is that I have forgotten many of the symptoms experienced. So, again, as with the old lady, the Today Extra interview forced me to consider many of those manifestations Parkinson’s unwelcome arrival introduced to my life.
Whilst there has been a welcome stay to proceedings, these symptoms and possibly others, lurk in the wings. I don’t dwell on them, I’m too busy enjoying my life, but they do exist.
As mentioned in the interview, ‘Parkies’ impacts people differently.
Dopamine, or rather, a lack of, plays a key role in Parkinson’s Disease (PD). It is produced in the Substantia nigra, located mid-brain and plays a significant role in reward and movement. Imaging of my meagre brain reveals the left side nigrosome, perhaps more appropriately ‘sinister‘, is under-performing, the physical effects appearing mostly in my right side limbs. This is a nuisance, as I’m right handed. The following is an excerpt from a letter written for me by a physiotherapist in Karratha, W.A.:
“Michael has had on going problems with his wrist since fracturing it February 2009 when he fell from a balcony. He had further surgery December 2014 to realign the radius and ulna
Treatment has consisted of active and passive movement to the wrist and his range of movement has improved.
Whilst treating Mr Wiseman I have noticed that he appears have some neurological symptoms that I think need further investigation with a neurologist. On first appearance Mr Wiseman has decreased facial expression and is quite deadpan.
His right leg appears to be function at a different level to his right. His coordination and freedom of movement of the right leg is decreased .Mr Wiseman describes a tight feeling in the calf that sounds like spasticity.
His right upper limb also show signs of neurological deficit with intention tremor being very noticeable .On quick stretch clonus can sometimes being produced and on slow stretch there is apparent cog wheel type spasticity. On stretch of the upper limb there is tightness throughout the limb typical of spastic hemiplegia pattern.
Mr Wiseman has noted that his tremor and stiffness of muscles has become worse since the last surgery. He is keen to have further investigation and appropriate treatment to help overcome these problems that are manifesting.”
Whether I was considered too young, or the initial symptoms were masked by an old injury to my right arm, at last, that lady in Karratha had recognised the symptoms and I knew it wasn’t just in my head.
Please take the time to check out the following links, there are some poignant moments, tinged with the sadness many sufferers feel, not being able to dream for the future and others speak of the strength of the human spirit:
https://www.facebook.com/ParkinsonsAust/videos/1561503860838550/
Lightbulb Moment…
I’m no philosopher.
I’m certainly no angel.
I’m me and for the first time in my life, I feel comfortable and content with that.
Everything before has led me to this point – that’s obvious to a semi-intelligent person – but, I still feel obliged to say it, because parts of this journey have been very bleak and depressing.
Recognising those ‘dark times’ as both, part of life and being human, is important. You can learn much about yourself. You can grow and become a better person. Learning from these experiences, without dwelling on them, has helped me to recognise opportunities more readily and cut myself some slack when I have those inevitable stuff ups.
Puck Farkinson’s inception (at least this version) evolved via the following events.
I was sitting on the back verandah with a coffee, ‘Facebooking’, one cool morning, last July, when I read this: “So the darkness shall be the light, and the stillness the dancing .” – T.S.Eliot
It was a line from a poem called ‘East Coker’, and it took a little for me to interpret.
Shortly after reconciling with this, a post from Parkinson’s SA appeared on my feed regarding the Adelaide City to Bay Fun Run, as an opportunity to fundraise.
This seemed to mesh brilliantly with some banter I had read (again on FB), by a trio of friends, who were in training for the event.
The universe was telling me something. I believe that ‘something’ went like this:
“Michael, get off your arse and do something constructive with your life. You’ve only got one shot at it. Try to enjoy it.”
Thus, Puck Farkinson’s was born.