In a spin
Blogging with Parkinson's
by Zalamanda
3y ago
Around a week ago (obviously when I wasn’t paying attention), there was a flurry of media attention over a “simple drawing test” that might detect Parkinson’s early. The test uses a large (A3) digital tablet and pen to measure the speed and pressure with which the subject completes a spiral indicated with dots on a paper overlay. A person with Parkinson’s is likely to be slower and to apply less pressure. According to the Telegraph: Scientists already knew that symptoms that appear early in the disease can interfere with a person’s ability to write or sketch. I can’t say I have noticed that ..read more
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Could it really be so simple?
Blogging with Parkinson's
by Zalamanda
3y ago
My problems with sleep have been going on for more than two years, but they seemed to get significantly worse at the end of last year (2016), when I stopped taking Ropinirole. I had thought that the lack of Ropinirole might be the cause; my consultant had said that it could cause hyperactivity, which I thought might have been masking the effects of poor sleep, allowing me to run on empty … But now I have a new theory. A very simple one: I was undermedicated. And I’m amazed that it took me this long to figure it out. In June, I was bitten by an insect and had an impressive (but not dangerous) a ..read more
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Downside
Blogging with Parkinson's
by Zalamanda
3y ago
Happy Christmas [This post relates to my last-but-one post, “Don’t it always seem to be…”] I spoke to my consultant. Apparently this tiredness could be part of the withdrawal from Ropinirole, which can  make you “a bit hyperactive”. I think that’s what she said (I think I was, at times). But she also said that it will pass, and that I will reach an equilibrium. And I’m going to try a modified release Sinemet, which should help to even out what they call the “on” and “off” states. I refuse to stay down here for long. I’m looking for the UP escalator. Anybody know where it is?   ..read more
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Mervyn Peake winning entry shortlisted for Artist of the Year competition
Blogging with Parkinson's
by Zalamanda
3y ago
This is a cross-post from my art blog. It’s relevant here because the painting that got me shortlisted was orignally inspired by the Mervyn Peake Awards (Parkinson’s UK) theme, “Inspire”. I’m also posting it here because you can help me – there is a Reader’s Choice vote online and I’m told that it is hotly contested and I should ask all of my friends and acquaintances to vote for me. — The UK magazine Artists and Illustrators runs an annual artist of the year competition. I entered it and was delighted to hear that the judges had shortlisted my  Shelves of Inspiration. There are 50 artist ..read more
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Don’t it always seem to be…
Blogging with Parkinson's
by Zalamanda
3y ago
You don’t know what you got ’til it’s gone. Joni Mitchell’s song, drawn in a sketchbook by me in 2014 I’m really missing sleep. I used to sleep very heavily (it’d take me a while to get there sometimes, but I didn’t used to wake up worth noticing before I had to, and even then I was very good at sleeping through alarms). Now I wake up in the wee small hours and I can’t get back to sleep. It isn’t as bad as is has been, but it’s still not great. Last year, when I started taking Sinemet, I was waking up at 3am on a regular basis. Tired but not sleepy. My consultant supposed that it might be an ..read more
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2017 Calendars
Blogging with Parkinson's
by Zalamanda
3y ago
Not only does next year’s Mervyn Peake awards calendar include my Shelves of Inspiration, but an American organisation (the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, or PDF) has asked if they can include Atlantic Surf (above) in their 2017 calendar. In fact, there’s a public vote (open until 5:00 PM EDT (9pm in the UK) on Monday, August 22, 2016) to choose the cover, and Atlantic Surf is in the running ..read more
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Morality and Parkinson’s
Blogging with Parkinson's
by Zalamanda
3y ago
I recently had cause to take a good hard look at my own behaviour, and the way in which I was reacting to other people. It’s difficult to accept that you might be selfish or careless of other people’s feelings. It’s also far too easy to blame it on an illness – or the drugs used to treat that illness – especially if you are aware that this is a possibility. Which it is… In July 2015, a study was published that suggested levadopa (the most prevalent treatment for Parkinson’s, and the key ingredient in the Sinemet that I take) made healthy subjects more selfish. The same study also looked at an ..read more
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Mervyn Peake Awards 2016
Blogging with Parkinson's
by Zalamanda
3y ago
The Mervyn Peake Awards 2016 were presented on Wednesday 6 July at the OXO Gallery, London. That’s on the South Bank (of the Thames), a short walk from Waterloo station. There was an awards ceremony and exhibition launch event in the afternoon and a VIP preview in the evening. The exhibition is billed as a celebration of the creativity of people with Parkinson’s, and it is the first year that a full exhibition, open to the public, has been held in such a prestigious location. I have two pieces in the show: Ridge, a landscape that was shortlisted for the art award and Shelves of Inspiration, a ..read more
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Thatcham, Berkshire – Summer Craft Market
Blogging with Parkinson's
by Zalamanda
3y ago
The daughter of one of the other members of my local Parkinson’s UK group is co-organising this event. This is the press release: Pineapple Palace’s Summer Market for Parkinson’s UK   A group of local crafts people and artists will be hosting a fundraising weekend at the Pineapple Palace from Friday 17 June to Sunday 19 June to raise funds for Parkinson’s UK.   Pineapple Palace, located at Lower Way Farm in Thatcham, is a unique shop and café supported and stocked by a number of local artists. The Summer Market will include craft demonstrations, music, food, children’s activities, ra ..read more
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Mervyn Peake Awards 2016 – Inspired!
Blogging with Parkinson's
by Zalamanda
3y ago
Shelves of Inspiration, acrylic on wooden panel, 40 x 40 cm This is my winning entry to this year’s multimedia themed category. The theme is “Inspire”. My idea was that I find inspiration in many things – everywhere – and in many ways, and so I created a set of shelves to display them on. Parkinson’s UK’s official announcement is here. I was also shortlisted in the art category with “Ridge”. Ridge, oil on canvas, 30 x 40 cm But my poem didn’t make the grade. I am illusion I am illusion, A 2-d invitation, To step into, to step right through The picture plane, to find anew, Space to be, time ..read more
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