1801-1800

One more week of BIG--and then I'm on my own. Was aware of that this weekend--as I did my BIG homework and dealt with a cluster of simple events. I was up and out early--since I had a RSB session at 9am.

I came home from RSB--and slept for several hours. I awoke this morning ready to go back to sleep--I just felt bone tired. I didn't want to do anything--just zone out.

Bit the day (daze) passed finally--and I settled into place of quiet and stillness. I did my two BIG procedures--and spent some time (to much) messing with my phone. The UI on this device is stuffed with dozens of options and settings--more than my cluttered mind can fully grasp.

I've had a stomach turbulence--which manifested in the RSB session and is fluttering around still.

Tomorrow is a rest day--and I plan on doing just that.

1804-1802

Days fly by--in the blink of an eye. BIG and RSP fill the hours--waiting for the showers.

Coming up to the final week of BIG activities--I felt good in today's session. Hydration and sleep--the only promises I keep.

After Monday's blow out in my BIG session--things have shaken out some and I'm starting to feel as if the down times are being filled by better vibes. The funk I felt on Monday is transforming into a sense of shift and change. BIG felt unstrange today--D, one of the BIG coaches, is really supportive. She keeps me moving--and helps me bridge the gaps in my BIG activities. When the BIG work concludes I'm curious as to how they suggest I maintain--without having contact four times a week like now.

Missed making posts for several days--and have punted on dancing. I can start to slide back into the groove over this weekend and through the next week--I know that dancing will help smooth out the bumps I'm experiencing while I'm doing the BIG work.

Today, as we counted our way through an exercise--I switched and started counting in German. It was fun to do something unexpected--maybe I'll take my juggling balls to tomorrow's session. We'll need something to wake us up--the session is scheduled for 8:45 in the morrow! Early for the BIG morning time--have to get alert.

1807-1805

Three days went skipping by--and now I'm trying to catch up as much as I can. Saturday I went to RSB morning class--and there was no Rescue dance to go to afterward. Thus began the long weekend where I spent a lot of the time doing BIG--or if not then sleeping.

Although the sleep was intermittent--not done at night but a lot of it during the day (daze).

The daughter's family and MD were all recovering from their stomach upset--that I gratefully managed to avoid. I felt rheumy--but ate my way through the hours. My metabolism seemed to be craving sustenance--so I ate whatever came in front of me.

Sunday was a quiet day--everyone was either sleeping or on the road.

And then there was today--a day (daze) of turbulence and jumble. Once again I spent way too much time dinking with the new phone last night--I'm having a lot of difficulty setting up everything that the phone can do and that I would like to use. But the device's interface is really voluminous--and there's so much cross functionality that I can't seem to stabilize the features.

I was frustrated when I finally had to leave for the PD support group meeting this morning--not RSB. I clearly felt that I would be better off doing an RSB session--but I also felt like I needed to go to the meeting.

Turns out that 2 hours of sitting in the meeting--listening to 25+ people share their host of issues fragged me. I had a BIG session scheduled around 2pm--I came home, ate some lunch, and tried to nap. I managed to sleep some--but not nearly like what I needed. My BIG session was the worse one I've done. I felt heavy and dull--and my movements were clumsy and stiff. And I still have a BIG session to do before bedtime.

Tomorrow I'll do an RSB in the morning--and a BIG in the afternoon. A little while ago, I downed a V8 Fusion--and seem to feel better already. Thank the queen--for her wonderful caffeine!

1809-1808

Here's part of a note that I sent to a friend from my dance group--about why I've had to ease back on dancing this last few weeks.

************

Got Shelley's note re the Sat classes... I've had to cut back on dancing while I'm taking the PD BIG and LOUD training... Not only is it BIG and LOUD--it's also INTENSE and TIME CONSUMING... There's HOMEWORK for every day of class... and more HOMEWORK for the days that I don't have class... I've maintained my attendance in the Rock Steady Boxing classes--skipping the RSB sessions makes it difficult to keep the conditioning that I've achieved...

I completed my 2nd week of BIG and Loud--two more left to go... And I can get back to dancing... I miss dancing and all of the dancers... I am OK--in fact I may be in the best shape ever... and theoretically I should be moving better when I resume dance classes... The physical therapists that I am working with on the BIG and LOUD program keep telling me that I move like a dancer--which most of their clients don't do... 

Love the change in the weather--will be doing some of the BIG and LOUD activities outdoors... That will be novel... Thanx for the info and for checking in... See you soon...

1813-1810

It's been a jumble of RSB and BIG--into the 2nd week of BIG while plugging along toward 200 RSB sessions. But the bottom line is that I'm in overwhelm right now--I've had to drop out of dancing while working on the BIG stuff and to not let go of RSB.

When BIG completes in 2.5 weeks--I'll be able to restart the dancing. But the BIG stuff is supposed to remain part of my daily routine--PD doesn't rest and neither does BIG and RSG. It will take a lot of discipline to maintain daily practises of BIG and RSB--and fold in other activities. But I'm strong and doing OK with most everything--so time will tell.

So tomorrow it's onward and onward--RSB in the morning and BIG is he afternoon (and evening).

The family members seem to be through the stomach problems they were dealing with--for over a week. But health is returning--and so is the cooler weather. The wind feels good--a lot better than the sweltering heat we had for so many week.

Meanwhile, it's somewhat early to bed tonight--I'm ready for a BIG sleep a Rock Steady set of dreams. 

1814

Sad news today--R, one of the coaches in the RSB program, is moving on... The spa is not growing quickly enough--so they can't hold on to people who would normally be on the payroll. It gets involved with benefits--for people who are not working full time.

The owner, C, is stepping in and taking over all of the classes--which is going to put her in a tough spot. She will have classes from about 4am--to sometime in the evening on certain days.

R was the best coach on the RSB team--she had a unique mix of humor and motivational skills that were great for her classes. She'll be well with whatever she ends up doing--I'm more concerned about C and how she's going to keep it together and growing.

I went to RSB this morning--small class but a good workout. Coach was T--the woman who has been diagnosed with PD. She torqued her ankle moving one of the punching dummies--she is scheduled to do a 50-mile bike ride tomorrow. Her ankle was blowing up quickly--she was going to a cryo-facility for a treatment which should help with the ankle.

Cryo treatments are a way to use cold to moderate a variety of injuries--used by professional athletes.

The grandson has been ill and indisposed for several days now--he seems to have stopped hurling whatever he manages to get down but he's still fussy and cranky. It's terrible to not be able to find out what's bothering him--it becomes a trial and error process that is not all that satisfying (for everyone).

1815

Saw neurologist today--and he gave me a pass on how I'm doing. He said he didn't need to see me for about 4 months--and that he wanted a blood panel and a verbal report on my BP where I take BP measurements both sitting and standing.

The blood panel was a challenge--I went right from the meeting with the doctor to the Quest lab in the office building. The doctor's request required over a dozen vials of blood--which my venal system was reluctant to produce. It required three insertion sites to produce the amount of blood needed--I guess I'm not much of a bleeder.

I spent about an hour or more--trying to fill the required tubes.

I grabbed a sandwich and a Frap after the not-so-bloody activity--and went to today's BIG class. I was a bit jumbled from the bloodless episode--and felt heavy and clumsy in the BIG session. I also had a new set of tennis shoes--which didn't help my gait or foot movements. I felt fried by the end of the session--hopefully over the next few days, where I'll be doing the BIG exercises without a coach I'll be able to do better than I did today.

Oh, yes--I did the BIG exercises when I awoke this morning. I felt that I was half asleep--and would rather had climbed back in bed and skipped all the appointments.

Tomorrow, I have early morning BIG work--and a RSB early morning session.

1816

RSB and BIG today--and I slept poorly last night. I was energized and couldn't get to sleep--maybe a combination of exercises and watching the latest episodes of the Blacklist. In any case, I'm feeling somewhat fragged from today's activities--and not sleeping well last night.

Have a BIG session tomorrow--and a visit with the neurologist. No RSB tomorrow--will do one on Saturday.

I didn't eat a lunch today--and I'm ready for dinner. I picked up some chicken with pasta and broccoli--a hearty fare for my dinner. Plus a few cookies--peanut butter which I've been craving for some reason.

Weather is incrementing toward Fall--it was cool today and very comfortable without AC.

Will do my BIG practice tonight--adding in the new parts that the coach did today.

1817

Did my BIG exercises for today--but not much else. Punted on going to EDH dance class--instead I recorded my BP log notes so I can print a copy tomorrow to take to my 9/15 appointment with the neurologist. This BIG activity is not difficult--but it's taking time along with everything else. I think I can already feel some effects from doing the practises--I know that I'm slightly more sore than usual.

Last night we were eating dinner (grilled burgers with all the toppings)--and the grandson hurled right after he started eating. Apparently, he was not doing well--but no hint of it until hurled onto his dinner tray. His mom was laid up over the weekend--and he may have gotten a bug from her.

It's frustrating to have a young kid get ill--since he can't tell you what's happening or what's helping fix the problem. I have a theory--that he's been begging food from everyone who de facto are "handling" his food. They are giving him pinches of stuff from their plates--along with germs from their fingers and so on. His immune system is not built to handle everyone else's critters--although it might prove to be inoculating him from such things. After all, MD is carrying 100-year old microorganisms--weird to think about.

MD eats her daily infusion of ice creams right from the half gallon buckets--using a spoon that that transfers her saliva into the contents of the bucket The grandson is always right there when she's eating from the bucket--and she digs out scoops for him to eat. A hundred year-old vaccination--with long-lived, hardy bacterium!

Or it could be that he's getting some sort of bug from the dog--when he shares his food with the dog or gets into a kissing match with him. The only thing we know for sure--is that he barfed into his dinner tray last night and is still acting puny today.

1818

RSB and BIG today--like it will be most days for a while. I awoke early and did a BIG round--and then fell back asleep and was late for RSB. Not too late--but a few minutes later than the start time and I had to skip food in order to do that.

Grabbed a sandwich and Frap on the way home after RSB--and napped for a short time before hitting the BIG floor. The BIG session was a challenge--we do more reps than I do at home and I was wobbly from the RSB morning session.

On the way home from BIG, I picked up a flat bread snack--and snarfed it when I hit the house.

No BIG or RSB sessions tomorrow--although I will do the BIG routine at home. From the feedback I'm getting from the BIG coach--it appears that I'm in good shape vis-a-vis the PD conditions that I seem to be facing.

The BIG coaches are very knowledgeable--and very supportive. So, two days down--and 14 more to go (except the exercises don't ever stop).

1820-1819

Random thoughts from yesterday--rolled over onto today's space.

Lazy, hazy day--and I'm on my way to another day. What can I say--except hurrah, hooray. 

It's been a quiet day--everyone seems to be recouping from the activities of the past week. Multiple hurricanes and earthquakes--flooding, burning, raining, and more. 

I begin my BIG physical therapy sessions tomorrow--16 sessions over the next 4 weeks. And every one of the sessions lasting for an hour of intense activity--BIG is BIG and that's the bottom line.

Made it through this morning's RSB--and this afternoon's BIG session. This morning, I didn't experience any wooziness or such--I changed my smoothie to a Super Berry and my bagel to a plain french bread. I'm hoping that this small shift is what I can continue to make--to stop the problem issues I have been experiencing. We'll see if that is so--tomorrow I'll have the same routine with an RSB session followed by a BIG.

I also have to do homework for the BIG program--onward and onward.

1824-1821

Four days have drifted past--Wednesday through Saturday. Wednesday I went to the EDH dance class--and had problems with energy, balance, and feeling weak. Made me be concerned about what to do on Thursday--an RSB session and dance at FO was on the schedule.

The RSB session got canceled since the RSB coaches were going to the memorial service for one of their friends--a police officer who had been killed in the line of duty. I ended up punting on the FO dance class--and the RP dance class on Friday as well.

The ex and her partner came by with some food--and to pick up some medical items that were supposed to be delivered to the house. Turns out that the ex's partner had been hospitalized with pneumonia--and had ordered some medical items to be delivered to this address. The delivery was attempted--but MD didn't hear the delivery person and I was out doing an errand. Thus began a whole series of activities--centered around trying to make the delivery re-happen.

I didn't do much--worked with my new phone, ran some errands, paid some bills, slept, and did some dog sitting. Went to RSB session this morning--only three of us in the class. I felt woozy throughout the workout--but kept downing lots of water and that seemed to moderate the sensation. I decided to not go up to Rescue for today's dance class--I came home and slept for a few hours. No classes scheduled for tomorrow--Monday kicks off with an RSB session--and an afternoon of BIG (the first in a 4-week, 4x per week program).

I just downed a V8 Fusion--which makes me feel as if things are chilled for now. The daughter and her tribe have returned from their trek to a relative's wedding--and another Saturday evening begins.

Hurry canes are happening--three back-to-back in the Hurrah Cain Corridor.

1825

Day of dizzy daze--and feelings of being ajar. Went to RSB this morning--and we had one of the largest Tuesday classes on record. There were 18 or 19 people that showed up--the holiday activities replacing the workouts.

I had a smoothie and a bagel on the way to class--and I think I triggered my morning episode of dizziness and feeling faint. I'll have to do Thursday class fasting--and see it that makes a difference. I'll carry some food as a backup--in case I have an episode even with the fasting. I'll see the doctor next week--and I've begun a BP log to take with me at that session. I'm recording my BP readings three times a day--morning, noon, and night.

I got a notice from the PD people who run the webinars--announcing a session on neurogenic orthostatic hypotension--or nOH. The condition is manifested when there is a blood pressure drop--when moving from one position to another. Some symptoms are dizziness, blurred vision, sudden muscle weakness, fainting, legs buckling--when fainting or falling is involved the condition is named syncope.

Things that can be done to moderate the symptoms--drinking lots of water, taking salt tablets, use of compression stockings, moving slowly and with awareness, raising the head of the bed, and so on.

This shift in condition has only recently manifested--and I've really only had it be a problem within the past month. But it's worrisome--and a definite distraction from all that I have underway.

Will return to dancing class tomorrow--will begin to fill out the events that I've scheduled for the coming month.

1826

Long, quiet day--labor unintensive. Didn't get up until later this morning--after not sleeping well last night.

Spent a lot of time wrestling with the new phone--have finally begun to grok how the UI works on this model. That is for the most part--there are still some mysteries which may remain so. The key complaint is that there are just too many features--and how those features are intertwined and buried. One example is the LED lights that provide status information--like the one that signals that the battery is being charged. That LED can be turned off when navigating deep in the UI--and it's not clear how I managed to do that. But I did--and spent a lot of time excavating that it had been done and flipping it back on. I thought the phone had stopped working--it was a just following instructions that I don't have a clue that were issued while I was exploring.

Enough of this techno-tangle--back to RSB tomorrow and a week of lighter stress before the stress meter gets tweaked by the BIG sessions that I start doing the following week.

Right now, I'm feeling like I want to go to sleep--or drink an energy drink to awaken my system. I spent the day being very sedentary--still working on the phone-as-puzzle. But I don't want to go back into that lost mist--time for a shift and a weave. In fact, I've treated myself to two Horchata Fraps today--and shouldn't need an energy drink. It's about dinner time--and although I've eaten well today I can still nosh a bit on a chicken wrap that I still have.

I just realized that I cannot say with certainty--what I did today in the sequence that things happened. I can repeat that condition of lost history for most of my of days--in particular the set of days since I was diagnosed with PD. My blog entries capture a little of what I was about each day--but doesn't begin to provide much detail about what actually happened. Lost in PD land--and the living is queasy!

1828-1827

I went to the RSB session yesterday and had a lot of problems with feeling dizzy--I'm beginning to suspect the food I eat before going to that set of classes. I normally have a strawberry/banana smoothie--with whipped cream and a pastry (or bagel or breakfast sandwich). I feel like my blood sugar level is off--especially since I have this food on my way to class and arrive just as I complete the meal. Will try doing a class without eating right before--and see how I do with fasting until after class.

I was wonky and totally out of sync after the class--I came home and napped for several hours. I had a V8 Fusion in the afternoon--which mellowed things out but left me awake in the evening and early morning.

Today, I had no classes--so I just ingested a fair amount of food and drink throughout the day. I did laundry and ran some errands--and had a breakfast sandwich, a smoothie, some BBQ chicken wings, a chicken wrap, and some pastry. Tomorrow is the official Labor Day holiday--which means another day without exercise. The weather continues to be 100+ days--so that precludes going for a walk or such.

Quiet here today--daughter and kids are up in Lake Tahoe. BH did not join them--he was blitzed by his work-and-no-sleep regime that each weekend brings his way. And this weekend was a holiday--which promotes more people going to the places where he bartends and works as a waiter. He, intelligently, decided to not make the trek up to Tahoe--after a couple of days with almost no sleep. Better that he stay here and sleep--and be fresh and frisky when everyone returns in the morrow.

1829

Hot today--and more hot tomorrow. Spent most of the day doing much of nothing--played more with the new phone. Slowly learning its mysteries--but would have been a better day with some exercise.

Will do an RSB session in the morning--the early class. No dance planned for tomorrow--the labor day weekend is changing schedules and plans.

Right now, I'm feeling zapped for some reason--I ate a lot today and drank quite a bit. But I didn't sleep well last night--in fact went to bed early and woke up in the middle of the night. Then slept in this morning--awoke around 10 or so.

It's early now--but I'm still heading for the bed. Sleep that knits up the raveled care--and does well at it.