Incontinence

Having an uncontrollable need to pee. And there is no warning. It trickles down my leg and into my slippers. I went to the doctor and the chemist in track suit pyjamas so as not to soil all my clothes. I got antibiotics (nitrofurantoin) and it is now the next day and the peeing is much less.

I have a ceramic poe from an earlier life and it inspired me to use a round plastic basin for a similar purpose. I used my left hand to position the penis such that it did not deliver outside of the basin. The right hand fine-tuned the aiming.

I remember sitting in the toilet of the servants’ quarters in Jamaica after a short holiday in Mexico. There were regular sessions of nippy shits but with an excellent view of the citrus and banana plantations stretching down the hill to the sea. Then there were the screaming shits of typhoid in Juba. There was the thought of being able, as a biology teacher, to teach about many of the tropical diseases from the inside. 

I also have inside knowledge of Parkinson’s Disease – particularly of the non-motor aspects. This allows me to rate some of the research findings – for example

“Increasing research, however, shows that Parkinson’s is a multisystem disease that affects other nerve cells besides dopaminergic neurons, triggering symptoms, such as cognitive impairment, sleep disturbances, depression, and sensory impairments. These symptoms, however, are barely used as endpoints in clinical trials for Parkinson’s.”

 Right enough – what is missing?

“Types of non-motor symptoms

    Emotional and mood changes including, depression, anxiety, and irritability. Antidepressant drugs can be taken to treat depression.

    Cognitive changes or dementia associated with memory, language, and thinking problems.

    Hallucinations and delusions, causing people to see, hear or experience things that aren’t real (hallucinations), or believe that things aren’t true (delusions). Nuplazid is an approved drug for the treatment of hallucinations and delusions associated with Parkinson’s disease.

    Orthostatic hypotension, a sudden drop in blood pressure that occurs when a person stands up from a sitting or lying position. It causes dizziness and, in extreme cases, loss of balance and fainting.

    Sleeping problems such as insomnia, nightmares, emotional dreams, and restless sleep.

    Constipation or urinary problems.

    Skin problems such as oily skin, particularly on the forehead and at the sides of the nose, and in some cases in the scalp. In other cases, the skin becomes very dry.

    Pain associated with muscle and joints rigidity. Treatment with levodopa (a medication that temporarily restores dopamine in the brain) and certain types of exercise can help relieve pain symptoms.

    Fatigue and loss of energy may result from other symptoms, such as depression, sleep problems, or muscle stress. Exercise, good sleeping habits, staying mentally active, or not engaging in too many activities may help in relieving these symptoms.

    Sexual problems. Parkinson’s disease affects nerve signals from the brain, which may cause sexual problems. Certain medications, such as antidepressants, also may contribute to these problems.

    Muscle cramps and dystonia. Muscle cramps are associated with muscle rigidity, especially in the legs and toes. Massages, stretching, and applying heat may help with cramps. Dystonia results from the variation of dopamine levels that trigger muscle contraction.

Other examples of non-motor symptoms may include:

    Vision problems.

    Excessive sweating, especially in the hands and feet with no or little exercise.

    Loss of smell.

    Weight loss or weight gain.

    Impulsive behaviours due to the side effects of medication.”

I have at times suffered many of those items. But I have three groups of nuisance symptoms which do not get a fair hearing on the above list.

Slivering. Especially while dosing in a more or less upright position. When working at the computer I position myself so as to dribble between my legs on to the floor. While dosing there is a flow through my beard and into my shirt which ends up severely soaking.

Voice. My voice is soft and I stutter. This is quite a nuisance when just speaking. It is a severe problem when trying to sing.

Hands. Weakness. Illegible hand writing; clumsy computer keyboard and use of a mouse; clumsy and slow playing of guitar and musical keyboard. Handling money. Opening tins and bottles.