A-Z Parkinson's: F

Fainting-Falls-Family-Fatigue-Food-Footwear-Freezing-Friendship-Frustration

Hello, lovelies. Welcome to the letter ‘F’ which includes this is a fucking annoying disease category! Thank you again for your continued messages of care ❤️

• Fainting

Never the elegant wilt of an Edwardian lady falling onto a velvet chaise lounge.

Always thumping collapse like a sack of potatoes.

• Falls

As above. With added bruises, broken bones and humiliation. Alas, generally becoming more frequent and more painful as Parkinson’s fulfils its damage over time.

• Family

A collection of individuals often living in one household - a motley crew of males, females, children, pets and pests.

Sometimes you can’t live with them, but in the case of Parkinson’s definitely can’t live without them. Responsible for keeping the shit together and listening to your lament when no one else will.

• Fatigue

The condition of a Parkinson’s patient after having considered symptoms and solutions.

• Festination

An involuntary quickening of gait, speech and handwriting.

Everything in Parkinson’s is either-s-u-p-e-r-s-l-o-w-orridiculoulsyfast.

• Food

Deemed essential. Has to be balanced but consumption is dependent on medication timings, dexterity and will.

A constant challenge on when, what and how to consume.

If in doubt resort to drunkenness.

• Footwear

The eternal quest for comfort, stability and style.

List of requirements includes:

no laces, no buckles, not too tight, not too loose, not too high, not too thin, not too hard, no toes exposed, no straps, not too chunky…

Solution? Sedan chair.

• Freezing

People describe it as feeling like their feet are 'glued' to the ground. If you experience freezing you may suddenly not be able to move forward for several seconds or minutes.

Or not cold but stuck.

• Friendship

Parkinson’s has an unerring capacity to determine who your true friends are. Upon diagnosis, friends are frequently lost but also found in unexpected quarters.

• Frustration

Daily occurrence.

Especially when opening the very medication that improves frustration.