Wednesday, September 1
Missed entry. If memory serves, it was an unremarkable day except perhaps that I was PD symptomatic and coughing all day.
Thursday, September 2
PD symptoms strong all day. Janice says it’s the usual two steps forward one back that occurs when the brain is trying to establish new patterns. But I rose in good spirits and feeling perky, and spent three afternoon hours working instead of sleeping. I also started with the inhaler which had an immediate effect on reducing the cough – on de-triggering it from trying to speak. My voice feels weak and hoarse, but on the phone (my first conversation in a month) Joan reports it fine. Lots of right arm tremor when first waking (or coughing – and sometimes eating) and gait feels shuffling and heavy. By bedtime, things had calmed somewhat. Slept well after a little trouble.
Friday, September 3
Woke perky and happy. Walk was middling (hard to pick up my feet) but aspects of it were good – off and on. Voice felt very weak and muddled. Went to Blue Bar for snack, was quite tired by the time we returned home, slept briefly, ate a lot, napped for three hours – always with the intention of imagining a strong fluid walk, then after several minutes trying I’d fall asleep. Evening walk was as usual, but got me wondering if the bumpy ride in the wheelchair isn’t what wears me out, more than the walk itself. Voice very hoarse by evening, but cough faded to almost nothing.
Saturday, September 4
Slept until just before 05:00, then hit a wall, so transferred to the recliner where I can always sleep and, sure enough, was out for three hours within minutes. Morning walk was encouraging – balance exercise is easier to hold, was able to avoid shuffling for some of the time. Nothing miraculous, but progress. Wonderful lunch, then couple hours nap in spite of myself. Agility is not quick, but it’s not random or fumbling, either.
Sunday, September 5
Slept well, and woke at seven definitely done, so transferred to recliner and fell asleep while waiting for Roman. Both agility and stride feel closer to normal this morning. The strong PD symptoms of earlier in the week have abated. Morning walk was constructive; balance stronger, little or no ankle pain, was able to pick up my feet more often. Same with evening walk – six laps each time instead of the usual five. Cough is much better, I can speak without triggering a torrent, but my voice is very hoarse. I’m not sure if that is Parkinsonian or simply the result of a month’s coughing, but it is annoying. I’ve always been attached to a clear voice and good speech, and being without makes me feel feeble and stupid and inarticulate. I have noticed, however, that there is a part of me that is attached to feeling poorly, that proudly resists getting well or any suggestions that I might be.
Monday, September 6
Woke at around 05:30, got up, read messages, doodled around the web. Am hungry. My legs want to walk more than I am able to. Lying in the recliner yielded no sleep thanks to angry, jumpy feet. Massage calmed them. Morning walk was good, but fell way short of the Forrest Gump-loses-his-braces moment I keep expecting. Typing is slow and awkward. Not being able to write, I’m a bit bored. Hours Roman is here are kept busy washing, changing, eating, and walking, but the afternoons are long and I’m running out of movies and shows I really enjoy so evenings are becoming longer. Walking used to take up a few hours of that, and maybe will again, but in the meantime…