To Spin or not to Spin

To Spin or not to Spin

Exercise... the new wonder drug.
It seems it's the cure for everything from PD to constipation.

When I was diagnosed 6 -7 years ago, in all the literature I found it was suggested that the Parkie should exercise.  A walk one or twice a week would do. The pamphlet Parkinson Canada handed out showed a series of sitting or horizontal exercises.  But most of the exercises were designed for "old People",  and I am most absolutely not one of those.

I continued to dig. Mine the interwebs as my mom would say.
There are studies out there that prove exercise is one of the best things you can do to "slow the progression". And I am living proof.  Going into my 7th year and I am still passing. Meaning most times you can't tell I have PD, unless I tell you.  My gait and stride, while a little stiff, are not bad for a 61 year old.

Funny, I had never even stepped foot into a gym prior to being diagnosed. 
I have always been active, participating in softball until I was 38. My last year I was there only because they could not find a 9th player.   Hey maybe I could blame early PD onset as the reason I went 0 for the season at the plate.  😋  I golfed, and still continue to do so.

So I joined a gym.
I hired a personal trainer to work with me, to help me develop a route of exercises that would concentrate on the ares most effected by PD.
So they did.  And I was going everyday. Same exercises day after day, week after week, never ending. And the ADD kicked in after a year. So I changed it up.

I added a stationary bike to my routine. It felt good. I felt good after.
All the time I was going to the gym, there was this strange room off to the side filled with bikes.
No idea what Spin Class was. It just looked strange. Calling me..... So eventually I ended up in Spin Class.  I felt real good after a class. In fact I felt good for 2 days after the class.

So now I have a routine.
Monday, Wednesday, Friday is Spin Class at 5:45 AM.
Tuesday, Thursday is weights, stretches, Tia Chi. 

So why can't I get motivated enough to go?
And PD is doing everything in it's power to keep me out of the gym.

Excuses I have made to myself on why I don't have to go to the gym today:

1. I have an early appointment at work and I have to go in early to prep for it. 
2. I was up late last night and the extra sleep would feel good
3. I was up early (2 am), and I am too tired the go. 
4. Last time at spin class my knee ached afterward, so I should stay off it 

"I tried to make it Monday
But I got so damned depressed,
So I set my sites on Tuesday
and I got myself undressed.

I ain't ready for the Cycle
But I do believe there are times
a Bike can be a friend of mine"

The truth is I get to the gym at 5:30, and I am home at 7 am,
and can be at the office by 8 am. Most mornings it's 8:30.  

How is it you know that with a little effort you can do something that will benefit you today,
and tomorrow, something that doesn't take a lot of time, yet you still find excuses not to do it?
I keep telling myself I will start on Monday. And I do. That's fine, but what about the rest of the week?

And those that love you and support you, look at you and say, "So why aren't you at the gym? You know how good you feel when you do."
I just shrug my shoulders.

There are the same people there every morning... the school teacher, the retired guys, the ladies working on the weight issues. They all come everyday.

Why can't I?

Okay it's Friday.
Monday is the day, the start of the new routine!
After all it is only 90 days until golf season.

No more Excuses!!

Oh yeah, Monday I have to take Cheryl's car to the garage for a MVI......😒 









  

Movapo 3

So
It's January 19, 2020 in New Brunswick
It's winter, it's snowing.
Big boot snow. Not a curl up and cry NL type of snow.

So good time to catch up on a few things, drink too much coffee, sleep.

It appears Rose has been busy.
I think I have received 3 or 4 calls about the Movapo.

It has been a little over a month since I have had the de-doping and got the pen.
(covered in Movapo 1 and 2 ) 
Let me answer the question everyone wants to ask, but is too polite to.
I can not speak for every situation.

For me the Movapo, and the needles, and the swabs are covered by my office Blue Cross plan.
Everybody's  plan is different so please check with your HR. If you are on the provincial drug plan.
I looked up the NB Drug plan and checked Movapo is there with the rest of the Parkie drugs.
So I would assume it is covered.
The other question is how much. According to Blue Cross the 2 boxes of 5 pens (10 in total) charged to my plan is $475.00. So 1 box of 5 pens = $238.00. Or  $48.00 per Pen.

It has been a month now.
In my usual style, I started great guns in recording the events. But then, now not so much.

What follows is a some what accurate account of the first 10 days after December 12.

The rules: As told to me (by everyone)...
1).  You can use the pen up to 5 times a day.

2).  Once you use a pen, you have to dispose of it after 48 hours. Regardless of how much is left in the pen.  I have tried to get a sense if this is a hard or soft deadline. But if you ask you get told " You must throw it out after 48 hours. " So 48 hours it is.

3).  Keep the pens out of the sun

4)   Keep taking the Anti-nausea medicine.

5)   Don't drive for at lease 1 hour after taking a shot.

 I do have a dated, detailed event list.     Boring .......
So I will try to answer some of the questions I have been asked, and give some observations.

First, it works as advertised. If you are feeling off, it will make you feel better, both physically and mentally.

The reason you take it is personal.
My reasons, I am up against the wall as to how much more Levadopa I can take. And I don't want to take more Premapoxole. So when I am experiencing an off period in the middle of a med cycle (4 hours), I can take a shot. And in 30 minutes I am back to work.

If working through a stressful event I can take a Movapo shot to help me work through it.

I have used it before my daily cycle starts.
When I go to Spin class, my right big toe will curl in my bike shoe 10 minutes into the Class.

My Spin Class starts at 5:45. My first dose is at 6 am. If I take my first regular dose at 5:30, the Levodopa does not start working until the class is almost over, and my toe curls about ten minutes in.
If I take a Movapo shot at 5 am, them I can complete the class with no incidents.  
Movapo helps before my regular dose takes effect.
Movapo helps if your day is running long as well.
 
Side effects...
What ever you do, don't stop taking the Anti-Nausea medicine.
Once or twice my stomach has been upset after taking a shot.
But it cleared up in 30 minutes.
I have noticed a slight up tick in the occasional Impulsive behavior, but it is nowhere near as bad as before. And the next day I was fine.
So I would have someone keep watch on you if you are using the pen a lot.

I would recommend Movapo to anyone.
I definitely do not use it as much as I thought I would, but it is nice to have when you do.  

I know there are a lot of questions I have not touched on.
I am on Face book.