Well, we are over half-way through February now and spring is certainly in the air here in Cornwall UK. It`s very mild, perhaps too mild and no doubt mother nature will give us a reminder she is in control before the spring is out!
First some good news (touch wood) regarding the pancreatic cancer. The latest blood test showed a slight increase in the markers they use but still within normal parameters. Dare I hope I may be in the 5% that reach 5 years post whipple surgery with no sign of re-occurrence? I know its a very thin line I am walking we have all heard of the famous names we have lost to this cruel disease over the past couple of years, but the fact is I am still walking, camera in hand, with my 2 Jack Russell's (the hooligans) in tow!!
I have mentioned before how I am convinced these two guys have helped in my recovery as they still need their walks each day so the need is there for me to get motivated and get out in the fresh air. We have a choice of locations from the beach(es) to the woods, to the cliff path, we are so fortunate to have this on our doorstep.A link to my flickr photo site, https://www.flickr.com/photos/tjkernow/with/7840140738/ it is under a bit of a spring clean at the moment, I have taken out over 100 older pics so I can refresh it before I add some newer photos.
As to where I am with this Parkinson`s disease, well that`s a different story. I realised recently just how different my mobility really is compared to just a year ago. While I remain independent and as active as this body of mine allows, I realise I shuffle a lot more after sitting for a while, making me aware of health and safety ie catching my foot in the rug which could trip me up leading to a fall. I also need to be aware of turning too quickly as that can unbalance me, sometimes I feel like a younger man in the body of an older person. I notice it too when I am out with the dogs, I get so far then suddenly it feels as if I am walking in thick mud and it becomes an effort to keep going, so consequently I am more careful where I go.
Another area of deterioration, is turning over in bed. I must try and find out what is available to help me, I find I sleep more on my right side, and when I try and turn over I get an horrendous gripping pain in my right hand side this is due I am told to the cancer surgery and the pain is caused by scar tissue. I don`t want to reach the stage where due to pain, I am unable to get myself out of bed! I do have a pendant I wear around my neck so it links to lifeline, but I would be so embarrassed to have to contact them for assistance because I was stuck in bed!!
Our parkinsons support group continues to go from strength to strength,
https://www.facebook.com/groups/490857204425819/ If nothing else we are making lifelong friends with people who truly understand the bad days and folk can have a good moan if they wish in a safe environment. We recently had a saying posted in the group, "I love my laptop, all my friends are in there" how true this is and one major benefit of the internet must be how it shrinks the world and we can communicate in real time with parky friends worldwide.
I am waiting for an appointment with my new neurologist who specialises in parkinsons, and I hope will have a greater understanding of how this disease is affecting me and perhaps change my medication accordingly. Well, this has been a brief update, do please look into our facebook group_ THE PARKINSON`S SUPPORT CHAT AND SOCIAL COMMUNITY, we are now 1,000 members plus and still growing.
Take good care of yourselves and thanks for reading this little blog.
Tony.
