BirvidikBob
Active member
How do you know when it's time to bow to the inevitable?
www.sailblogs.com/member/birvidik
Not quite yet, anyway.
www.sailblogs.com/member/birvidik
Not quite yet, anyway.
Swallowing the anchor...
- Thread starter BirvidikBob
- Start date
rotrax
Well-known member
You must do what I did during the five years I tried - and failed - to be a motorcycle racing world champion. Treat every day as if it might be your last.
Take every day as it comes and make full use of it. Do thing you have always wanted to do, spend your money doing this. Life is not a rehearsal.
You will know when your condition makes it unsustainable. A good friend in NZ has been diagnosed with parkinsons. Her drugs were adjusted and now she is really quite good compared to the earlier trials. So there IS hope in this direction.
You are brave to put this in the public domain, well done.
If you ever need a chat, PM me.
Take every day as it comes and make full use of it. Do thing you have always wanted to do, spend your money doing this. Life is not a rehearsal.
You will know when your condition makes it unsustainable. A good friend in NZ has been diagnosed with parkinsons. Her drugs were adjusted and now she is really quite good compared to the earlier trials. So there IS hope in this direction.
You are brave to put this in the public domain, well done.
If you ever need a chat, PM me.
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oldmanofthehills
Well-known member
My baby sister is an a care home with Parkinsons and a friend died of it at 82. Not nice for them but progress is very variable and the OPs situation might differ considerably. My sisters cognitive capacity is impaired - but not her intellect
Many old sailors have the same dilema with ordinary aging. When will my mobility and strength mean that I cannot manage the boat, when will my mobility and strength mean that I cannot get in dighy to the boat. When will my cognitive capacity mean I make decisions so poorly as to endanger the boat or my Navigator?
Only the OP can tell his situation, but a lifetime of sailing will have set the standard he must judge against.
Many old sailors have the same dilema with ordinary aging. When will my mobility and strength mean that I cannot manage the boat, when will my mobility and strength mean that I cannot get in dighy to the boat. When will my cognitive capacity mean I make decisions so poorly as to endanger the boat or my Navigator?
Only the OP can tell his situation, but a lifetime of sailing will have set the standard he must judge against.
johnalison
Well-known member
We have a sailing friend with Parkinson's. It started some years ago and progressed slowly for a while. He downsized when the Etap 34 became difficult and bought an 8m boat but only had about three years use before he couldn't manage any more. By this time he was on medication, and now, a year later, is very restricted. A Dutchman on a Breehorn we met in the Baltic was in a similar state and when we met up again about three years later was about to give up. These are only two examples, and although fairly typical, there is great variety in the course the condition can take, with some people remaining stable for many years.
As far as I know, the treatment helps most people for several years, but this is changing all the time, and there are occasional reports of heroic therapies giving magical results to some patients. I think the most practical thing for a sailor is to consider scaling down one's ambitions in the short term. Whether one is the sort of person to plan ahead and make the necessary arrangements such as a change of boat or recreation, or wait until it is forced on them, depends on the individual, and I don't think there is a right or wrong way of going about it.
As far as I know, the treatment helps most people for several years, but this is changing all the time, and there are occasional reports of heroic therapies giving magical results to some patients. I think the most practical thing for a sailor is to consider scaling down one's ambitions in the short term. Whether one is the sort of person to plan ahead and make the necessary arrangements such as a change of boat or recreation, or wait until it is forced on them, depends on the individual, and I don't think there is a right or wrong way of going about it.
Humblebee
Well-known member
My best wishes to you, I really can't put it better than Rotrax did above.
stevie69p
Active member
Blog post written with your usual wit anyway! I can't offer any kind of advice to you, but I do hope that the medication keeps it at bay for as long as possible.
oldmanofthehills
Well-known member
My sister has electrodes implanted to counter the dystonic paralysis caused by parkinsons. Worked a bit for 2 years then body habituated and back to square one.
Her cognitive impairment was still the major issue, and the drugs especially dopamine seemed to precipitate some high risk behavioir. Not realising she couldnt managing the medication routine or the toaster caused overdose, fires and incident. Intellectual discussion on nature conservancy or politic wont manage a household - one can only overcome disability by being alert to and offsetting disability.
If mental clarity is retained, as I hope it is for the OP, the whole situation is more favourable. The very fact he puts the question here is a good sign
Her cognitive impairment was still the major issue, and the drugs especially dopamine seemed to precipitate some high risk behavioir. Not realising she couldnt managing the medication routine or the toaster caused overdose, fires and incident. Intellectual discussion on nature conservancy or politic wont manage a household - one can only overcome disability by being alert to and offsetting disability.
If mental clarity is retained, as I hope it is for the OP, the whole situation is more favourable. The very fact he puts the question here is a good sign
Frogmogman
Well-known member
Sorry to read about this. I wish you all the best, and hope that your Parkinson's proves manageable and not too unbearable. My mother in law has really suffered with it, but I know that outcomes are very variable, and that progress is being made.
I love your blog; written with real wit.
How is the cat ?
Romeo
Well-known member
An interesting read, and thank you for sharing that. Did the original drug affect your ability to find words when writing, or only when speaking? Parkinsons is a condition which does strike fear, but which we should probably all find out more about. I have a friend who is retiring early from teaching as she is fed up struggling on with that when dealing with the Parkinsons too. It does of course mean that she can concentrate on the things she enjoys living for, so no swallowing the anchor for her, or whatever the equivalent is for her passions of art and hill walking.
AndrewB
Well-known member
No, not quite. Five years ago medical issues caused me to swallow the anchor and sell up. After six months stuck ashore, I was learning to cope and bored silly, so bought another! No epic voyages these days, but despite the earlier prognostications, still having fun.
BirvidikBob
Active member
My thanks for your sympathy, advice, comments and concern. It is greatly appreciated.
The neuro expressed the opinion that it was still very early days and the condition appeared to be progressing much more slowly than usual, although there was no guarantee that this would not change. With a bit of luck, I’ll remain fit and compos mentis enough to stay active until finished off by a number 7 bus or, preferably, a jealous husband. See ‘Let me die a young man’s death’ (Roger McGough). Michael J Fox has had Park’s for about 30 years. If I last that long I’ll be in line for an email from the queen. Talking of whom, she’s 94. What’s she going to do in six years’ time – send herself one? “Dear Me – congratulations. Well done. Love from Me”
In reply to some of your comments and questions:
“How’s the cat?” She’s fine. She says thankyou for asking and where are her bloody biscuits?
“You are brave to put this in the public domain, well done.” Thankyou. But brave? Egotistic might be a better adjective. Or insensitive. Or possibly attention-seeking.
“Her cognitive impairment was still the major issue,” It’s the mental deterioration that worries (and frightens!) me most. I could probably live with physical limitations but the loss of a sense of self would be a hard cross to bear. Luckily, I probably wouldn’t realise it, but the odd moments of lucidity must be Hell.
“…the drugs especially dopamine seemed to precipitate some high risk behaviour” Yes, this is a fascinating area of investigation. It has ramifications in philosophy, psychology, politics and law as it calls into question the whole concept of free will.
“Did the original drug affect your ability to find words when writing, or only when speaking?” Interesting question. Both, but it is much more noticeable in speech, where you have direct listeners. In writing (Well, typing in my case – my ability to write atrophied years ago) you have time to leave a mark at the missing word and come back to it later.
So, I’ll concentrate my efforts on writing. With a metaphorical calm sea and fair wind I’ll finish the third book in the series before my ty9ping deteirates to th% pint whe@r I t becomes uninte*11ibble zzzksdvassbvkk…..
The neuro expressed the opinion that it was still very early days and the condition appeared to be progressing much more slowly than usual, although there was no guarantee that this would not change. With a bit of luck, I’ll remain fit and compos mentis enough to stay active until finished off by a number 7 bus or, preferably, a jealous husband. See ‘Let me die a young man’s death’ (Roger McGough). Michael J Fox has had Park’s for about 30 years. If I last that long I’ll be in line for an email from the queen. Talking of whom, she’s 94. What’s she going to do in six years’ time – send herself one? “Dear Me – congratulations. Well done. Love from Me”
In reply to some of your comments and questions:
“How’s the cat?” She’s fine. She says thankyou for asking and where are her bloody biscuits?
“You are brave to put this in the public domain, well done.” Thankyou. But brave? Egotistic might be a better adjective. Or insensitive. Or possibly attention-seeking.
“Her cognitive impairment was still the major issue,” It’s the mental deterioration that worries (and frightens!) me most. I could probably live with physical limitations but the loss of a sense of self would be a hard cross to bear. Luckily, I probably wouldn’t realise it, but the odd moments of lucidity must be Hell.
“…the drugs especially dopamine seemed to precipitate some high risk behaviour” Yes, this is a fascinating area of investigation. It has ramifications in philosophy, psychology, politics and law as it calls into question the whole concept of free will.
“Did the original drug affect your ability to find words when writing, or only when speaking?” Interesting question. Both, but it is much more noticeable in speech, where you have direct listeners. In writing (Well, typing in my case – my ability to write atrophied years ago) you have time to leave a mark at the missing word and come back to it later.
So, I’ll concentrate my efforts on writing. With a metaphorical calm sea and fair wind I’ll finish the third book in the series before my ty9ping deteirates to th% pint whe@r I t becomes uninte*11ibble zzzksdvassbvkk…..
rotrax
Well-known member
I remember the Queen Mother being asked during an interview " Do you have any ambitions? "
With a smile she said " To get a telegram from my Daughter! "
Which, of course, she achieved.
With a smile she said " To get a telegram from my Daughter! "
Which, of course, she achieved.
SimonFa
Well-known member
If the cruising gets too much and you still want to get out on the water there's always Sailability and any number of boats that can be rigged to suit most physical impairments and if you need assistance on the water plenty of volunteers to help.
