The Fall Seminar! Please plan to attend!
The Seminar is to be held on Friday, Sept. 24, 2010 at Baptist Health Center in Little Rock, AR. We will meet in the J.A. Gilbreath Conference Center, across from the parking garage.
We will have a day filled with wonderful information on Parkinson Disease (PD) with the first meeting starting at 8:00 am and continuing on to 4:00pm. See the schedule inside for details or call 1-800-345-6621 ext. #3990 or 1-501-622-3990.
What is Parkinson Disease? Parkinson's is the second most common progressive neurological disorder (second only to Alzheimer's disease) caused by the death of certain cells in the brain that help control movement. Symptoms vary from person to person, but may include tremors, rigidity, stiffness, slowness of movement, and poor balance. Other symptoms may include difficulty with thinking, depression, small handwriting, sleep disorders, and problems with speech and swallowing.
Message from our MEDICAL DIRECTOR
The diagnosis of Parkinson Disease (PD) is fairly straightforward. The differential diagnosis can be very complex. Drug induced PD is rather common and is often associated with drugs such as Haldol or Reglan which should be discontinued if possible; but these are sometimes necessary when treating other conditions. Communication with all health care professionals is very important.
PD usually begins with a unilateral tremor or gait disturbances. PD is often associated with "benign essential tremor", a common disorder where the tremor is not present until the person attempts to do something. The PD tremor is a resting tremor. A person may have both. The coincidental occurrence may be present just because essential tremor is so common. Essential tremor is familial, while the PD tremor is not.
An interesting phenomenon is the loss of the sense of smell. This can be an early warning of the onset of PD. It can occur prior to the onset of any motor symptoms such as resting tremor. The loss of the sense of smell is often not detected, but if someone has unexplained loss of the sense of smell, they should check to see if they "are a candidate" for PD in terms of other symptoms that may have gone un-noticed or age. It may be worth a "trial treatment". If one waits until motor symptoms develop, there is significant loss of neurons in the Substantia Niagara part of the brain. If there is improvement, it would be worthwhile continuing treatment.
R. Paul Tucker, M.D.
A message from out Chapter President
Greetings,
I hope you all enjoyed your summer and managed to stay out of the heat most of the time. I have really enjoyed my work with the AR Chapter APDA for the past several years, but in September I will be stepping down as the President of the Board of Directors of the AR Chapter, and handing the reins over to our new president. It is time to move along and let someone else hold this responsibility. I do plan to remain on the board and active in the media and outreach aspects of getting the word out about our great AR Chapter. I hope to continue to see you at seminars and support group meetings.
I have seen changes take place both at the National and Local level. Last year, my main priority was to get a web site set up for Arkansas. I'm so happy to report that this goal has been accomplished by one of our board members, Kim Harrison, and it is wonderful! We are at www.arparkinson.org. Please pull this site up and see what we are doing in Arkansas!
I've seen many changes since I started with the Parkinson Board, and I'm hopeful that all the research that is happening will lead us to a cure soon. Until then, symptom management is better controlled now than it has been possible in the past. It is an exciting time for us, and I look forward to being able to announce that we have found a cure!
Everyone has been so supportive and loving, and I'll miss being in the president's position, but I am looking forward to serving you and the AR chapter in other ways.
Bette Fancher
FROM THE WEB MASTER:
WE HAVE FINALLY DONE IT!! THE ARKANSAS CHAPTER HAS A WEB SITE!
www.arparkinson.org
The web site includes a list of support groups and when they meet. It also includes general information on Parkinson Disease. The Home Page has information on the latest happenings - PD studies, events and other news items. The most recent Bi-annual Newsletter is viewable on the web site, and the registration form for the Fall Seminar will be up there in Aug.
I try to keep it fairly current and changing, but at times my husband's PD gets in the way. So, if you have anything you'd like posted, just send it to: website@arparkinson.org, and I'll try to get it formatted and up on the site in a timely manner. Photos of what's happening in your support group would be welcome as well.
We haven't been "live" long enough to be easily searched for on the major search engines, so type in www.arparkinson.org in your address bar and then add us to your Favorites. If you have any questions about the web site, and how to navigate it; or would like to see something added, let me know by e-mailing me at website@arparkinson.org.
We have also entered the technology age of fund raising. The Arkansas Chapter is registered with www.GoodSearch.com and www,GoodShop.com. Every time anyone does an internet search for anything, using GoodSearch, and specifies the American Parkinson Disease Association - Arkansas Chapter as their charity, we receive 1 penny. If anyone buys something over the internet through GoodShop - whether from Amazon.com, Ebay.com, Target.com, etc, we can receive up to 30% of the price as a donation from the vendor, at no additional cost to you.
To make it easier, you can go to www.GoodSearch.com and download a toolbar that will automatically route all of your searches and purchases through GoodSearch/GoodBuy without having to go through their web site and specifying the charity each time. So, go add the GoodSearch toolbar to your internet browser and help us raise funds for the Arkansas Chapter, YOUR Chapter of the APDA!
Chapter Membership...Why should I Join???
The Chapter is self-supporting and needs your membership & donations. They can be mailed to: AR Chapter APDA, P.O. Box 22445, Hot Springs, AR 71903. Basic Chapter membership is $10.00 per year per family. The funds raised stay in Arkansas to help PD patients and caregivers learn more about the disease and symptom management through support groups, newsletters, and seminars.
Fall Seminar Information:
Make plans now to attend the Fall Seminar. It will be held Friday, Septmenber 24 at Baptist Health Center in Little Rock. The schedule of speakers and registration form is now posted.
MEMORIALS AND GIFTS
The Arkansas Chapter of the American Parkinson Disease Association receives generous gifts from members of our community that are often memorials made upon the death of a family member, friend, or colleague. All contributions are used in Arkansas for supportive services and education. Donations are tax deductible.
Generous donations to help us help people in Arkansas were made this year. To see all of the memorial gifts recieved, refer to the membership and donations page.
Honorariums, memorials, or donations can be mailed to: Arkansas Chapter APDA, P.O. Box 22445, Hot Springs, AR. 71903. (These gifts will stay in Arkansas to help those who still suffer in our state.) However, if you want to send money for research or to the national APDA office, mail it to APDA, 135 Parkinson Ave., Staten Island, NY 10305.
Just a reminder...if you have not subscribed to the free e-mail newsletter, do so to receive your Parkinson's Tip of the month! Just e-mail your full name and your e-mail address to enews@apdaparkinson.org
WHAT IS APDA?
The mission of APDA is "to ease the burden and find a cure". APDA focuses resources on research, patient services, education, and increased public awareness.
I didn't know that!...
- Spray a bit of perfume on the light bulb in any room to create a lovely light scent in each room whent the light is turned on.
- Candles will last a lot longer if placed in the freezer for at least 3 hours prior to burning.
- To clean artificial flowers, pour some salt into a paper bag and add the flowers. Shake vigorously as the salt will absorb all the dust and dirt and leave your artificial flowers looking like new! Works like a charm!
- "laughter is the brush that sweeps away the cobwebs of the heart." Mort Walker
Love in Deed is Love indeed!
Caregivers are the only people on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with no pay and love doing what they do. They never quit! Sometimes they do need gelp and support and encouragement. Caregiver support groups are starting. See the web site for information or call 501-622-3990. Contact us if you are interested in getting a support group started in your area.
TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR!
There are a few symptoms that sometimes go unchecked because people don't talk to their doctors about them...please talk to the doctor:
- ...if you experience excessive sleepiness. This can be a side effect of your medication and a medication adjustment may take care of it.
- ...if you are having problems controlling your impulses. Again, a change in medication may help.
- ...if you are going to have surgery of any kind (elective, procedures, etc.) there may be medications you need to avoid with your Parkinson meds. Different ones can be prescribed if the other medical staff is aware of your Parkinson Disease and the medications you are on. Always provide a current and complete list of medications and the dose and frequency of each.
- ...if you are experiencing an unusually stressful time, your Parkinson symptoms may temporarily worsen. Talk to your doctor.
- ...if you experience a sudden change in your symptoms for no known reason, talk to your doctor. This may be medication related, or you may have developed an infection, or maybe you started some new over the counter cough medication and it is interfering with your Parkinson medications. Talk to your doctor.
- ...if you start running a fever or have difficulty breathing, you may have aspiration pneumonia (caused from inhaling food or drink with people who have difficulty swallowing). Talk to your doctor and see a doctor as soon as possible.
Remember, your doctors do not know how you are doing unless you tell them. Communication is very important. When possible take someone with you to help you remember what the doctor tells you. Also take a list of the 2-3 most important things you want to discuss with your doctor when you go to the office. His time is limited so you don't want to waste that time on things that are less important. It is easy to forget what the most important topic is if you go into the office with dozens of thoughts running through your head. Keep a journal if you are able to. Just a brief description of problems as you experience them may be helpful in finding a pattern that may lead to a helpful adjustment. One or two sentences a day is enough for most people. ...but if writing is your talent, I am always on the lookout for an article for this newsletter or our new web site. Write and mail it to me (P.O. Box 22445, Hot Springs, AR 71913) or e-mail it to Lydia.Stevens@Mercy.net. Who knows, you may "get published"! I would like to have a sharing corner and you could have the first article. (If you e-mail me, be sure to put "Parkinson newsletter" in the subject line so it doesn't get tossed with the spam.)