About Will

PD symptoms & changes

I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2010 and am in the middle stages. My symptoms include a decline in muscle movement – my left arm now moves freely; occasional muscle spasm and external trembling in my left arm and internal tremor has decreased dramatically; decreased trembling in my mouth; facial expressions have become more expressiv ; a high production of phlegm; hand writing is back to normal; tiredness is the same but okay; deformed vocal chords have become normal again but I need to continue my Voice exercises; one of my fingers becomes rigid and I simply bend it back to normal; My mouth closes and becomes very tight (I am changing this by refusing its determination and it only closes when I an unaware. My leg now moves consciously.

PD medication

  • Azilect – 1 daily
  • Stalevo –5 daily
  • Sifrol. – 1 daily

PD opportunities

PD has focussed me on life like nothing else after my neurologist indicated that the quality of my mental and physical life will deteriorate slowly, but dramatically. While this prognosis is not always true, and while I am working towards the best outcome, I am nevertheless making decisions based on the worst possible outcome, which has led to the following positives in my life:

  • Physical
    Pd targeted exercises; determined long paced, long armed walking and fast walking; weight exercises
  • Cognitive
    Writing poetry daily and prose writing
  • Mentally
    A positive outlook, always looking for what I can do and sharing with others, mentoring others
A vital component to all the above, I have found, is in the mutual exchange of experiences so that knowledge can be shared, projects can be more fulfilling and relationships enriched.

Physically

I have a chronic back condition. I have had both hips replaced, bursitis, a cancerous prostate removed, abnormally low blood pressure, osteoporosis and Parkinson’s disease. Nearly everything I do, whether talking, walking, thinking, computing or relating gives me great satisfaction while also becoming a conscious exercise.

Ongoing Interests

  • Traveling with Corrie, compiling slideshows and books of our travels
  • The Blue Mountains, where I garden, walk, read, write and enjoy time with friends
  • Writing poetry – with a special love of Omar Khayyam, Stephen Oliver and Leonard Cohen and sharing poetry with others
  • Listening to music, particularly Spanish classical guitar, and European classical
  • Watching the whirling Dervishes of Turkey, Spanish Flamenco and the Tango
  • Creative writing, mainly of personal experience
  • Exercising and associating with others who have PD
  • Being with my wife Corrie
  • Continuing to become involved in PD programs, the latest organising a walking program for over 15 people with Parkinsons using the most recent app (Walking Tall)