Some tips to ease the challenges
BY SANDY THORN CLARK
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Jo-Ann Golec, diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 1997, shares her advice nationally on a reality-style online video series called “Parkinson’s More Than Motion” on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ParkinsonsMoreThanMotion).
She reminds, “Although motor symptoms like tremors and stiffness are the most recognizable symptoms of PD, Parkinson’s Disease may affect more than motion. Common symptoms associated with Parkinson’s include sleep disturbance, fatigue or trouble with memory.”
If you have Parkinson’s, Golec offers these tips:
† Wear silk pajamas and sleep on silk sheets (“it will make sliding in and out of bed much easier, especially when you’re exhausted”).
† Use an electric toothbrush (“it will ease the task and help with dry mouth”).
† Lubricate your dry eyes during the day and night, especially before bedtime.
Good communication with your neurologist, movement disorder specialist and other physicians is key. “Tell them everything that is wrong with you, ask questions, and, when possible, take a family member or friend along. I often take my husband [to appointments] so we have four ears instead of two.”
Sandy Thorn Clark