Category Archives: self care
Hear It, Share It – Positive Daily Living (Part 4 of 4)
I hope that you enjoy this last installment (4 of 4) in the Hear It, Share It series where you can listen to chapters of my audiobook (for free/no download).
Chapter 29 of my book,
A Soft Voice in a Noisy World, is Positive Daily Living. The chapter offers some fresh perspectives and numerous suggestions on how we might make some changes in our daily lives. Voice actor, Doug Gochman does a wonderful job in expressing my words on the audio book.
Listen to the Series
If you missed the first three parts of the series, you can use these links to go back and listen:
Part 1: Timing in Parkinson’s Disease May be Everything
Part 2: This Disease Isn’t Fair
Part 3: How to Talk to Doctors
Please feel free to comment about this chapter by clicking the Leave a Comment button below. Share this post with others by clicking the share buttons on the right.
If you want to hear more of the book, the audio book is available where most audio books are sold. Here’s a link to the Audible/Amazon version. If you still use CDs, you can either order online via our Square store or email us to order the 4 CD collection!
Hear It, Share It – How to Talk to Doctors (Part 3 of 4)
It’s week 3 in my Hear It, Share It series. My goal for this series was to share some chapters of my audiobook (for free/no download) with you in hopes to help during this Coronoavirus pandemic. I hope you’ve enjoyed listening to these chapters and found something to take away!
Even though my book with this chapter was released in 2012, the information remains timely and pertinent for telehealth visits as well as in-person appointments. Making a connection with your physician(s) can build a rapport that is less stressful and reduces the usual doctor visit anxiety. Click the play button below to hear voice actor/narrator, Doug Gochman read Chapter 9:
If you missed the first two parts of the series, you can use these links to go back and listen:
Part 1: Timing in Parkinson’s Disease May be Everything
Part 2: This Disease Isn’t Fair
Please feel free to comment about this chapter and share your own tips on how you talk with your doctor(s) by clicking the Leave a Comment button below. Share this post with others by clicking the share buttons on the right.
Come back next Thursday to hear the final installment in this audiobook sharing series! If you subscribe to the blog today, you will receive automatic notification when the next post is released.
I am not a doctor and this is not medical advice. This is my personal opinion that I’ve developed as I’ve lived with Parkinson’s disease for over 30 years.
Does Masking Have A New Meaning?
There is a common, unfunny, and overused joke about not playing poker with people who have Parkinson’s disease because many of us have reduced facial movement and it can be hard to read our expressions. This is masking, as I understand it. Sometimes the muscles for smiling just do not work well. Speech clarity and projection are vital to being understood. Being heard under a cloth mask when one has voice issues makes life frustrating for both the speaker and the listener.
Now, to make matters more of a challenge, add practicing social distancing, having a problem with your speech, having a softer voice, and placing a mask over that soft voice. For someone with Parkinson’s disease, the combination of muffling the mouth, relying on just the eyes can be deceptive, and poor vocal projection, all add up to not being easily understood and worsens communications.
For some of us with Parkinson’s disease, our eyes are not as expressive or fluid as we would like, added to the tightening of facial, neck, and jaw muscles. Dry mouth, too much saliva, swallowing issues, and dental problems can all contribute to someone with Parkinson’s speech challenges.
Sight and Sound are Covered
Communication in a marriage is crucial and in this new COVID-19 pandemic of being home sequestered, the sharing of information is close and continuous. To maintain human interaction with family and friends by phone or new social technologies, takes a little practice.
Be sure that while under the fabric facial mask, (if your jaw is ok), to move your mouth, lips, and jaw. Exercising the facial muscles can add to your expressions. Do not just hide your face under the mask. Remember that you are going to have to speak louder, slower, and clearer, especially, with a mask covering your mouth. One more challenge to tackle. We can do it!
Hear It, Share It – (Part 2 of 4) – This Disease Isn’t Fair
Today’s posting is part two of the four chapters I am sharing from my audio book, A Soft Voice in a Noisy World – A Guide to Dealing and Healing with Parkinson’s Disease. This week’s chapter is about the fairness of Parkinson’s.
What is Fair?
We are all tasked with some sort of physical, mental, or spiritual challenge in our lives at some point. Some events that we face are inexplicable and hard to fathom. Often, we categorize a level of what is fair or unfair. Parkinson’s disease, for over 30 years, has taught me that as difficult as some lessons are to learn, they’ve helped me to grow.
Click the play button below to hear voice actor/narrator, Doug Gochman read Chapter 12 to hear my perspective on fairness:
If you missed the first post in this series, visit this link: Part 1 – Timing In Parkinson’s Disease May Be Everything
Please feel free to comment about this chapter by clicking the Leave a Comment button below. If you liked this chapter, please share this post with others by clicking the share buttons on the right.
Next Week’s Chapter…
The next chapter in this series has some ideas on how to talk with your doctor. Come back next Thursday to hear the next installment! If you subscribe to the blog today, you will receive automatic notification when the next post is released.
Hear It, Share It (Part 1 of 4): Timing in Parkinson’s Disease May be Everything
During these uncertain times, now seemed the right time to share with you some words that might be of help. As we all are at home during this outbreak, I know I’m thinking about and discovering how to get back to a routine that I can keep. It isn’t easy with constant distractions. The refrigerator constantly trying to lure me, the phone ringing with robocalls, trying to work, and timing my medications – all at once – they all pull at me!
Listen to the Audio Series
So, for the next four weeks, I will be sharing a chapter from my audio book, A Soft Voice in a Noisy World – A Guide to Dealing and Healing with Parkinson’s Disease that I think might be helpful. This week’s chapter is about dealing with timing in Parkinson’s.
Timing is Important
Timing your medicine, your diet, your exercise, your sleep, and your work are a challenge that takes some self-discovery. Click the play button below to hear voice actor/narrator, Doug Gochman read Chapter 15 of my book, to get some ideas on timing:
“Keeping up on a simple daily regimen can feel like a full-time job in itself, and the longer you have this illness the more you’ll recognize the importance of being diligent in monitoring how you’re body is reacting to your medicines.“
Karl Robb, A Soft Voice in a Noisy World
Please feel free to comment about this chapter and share your own tips on how you manage your daily timing by clicking the Leave a Comment button below. Share this post with others by clicking the share buttons on the right.
Next Week’s Chapter Hint…
The next chapter in this series deals with the dilemma of weighing the fairness of living with a chronic condition. Come back next Thursday to hear the next installment!
If you subscribe to the blog today, you will receive automatic notification when the next post is released.
