April Is Parkinson’s Awareness Month
Vicki Bisbee’s Story
I had never known anyone with Parkinson’s Disease even though there are nearly 90,000 people in the U.S. diagnosed each year. About 20 years ago, I was refereeing a basketball game and fell down; I had no idea how that happened!
When I jogged, which I enjoyed about five days a week, I started getting cramps in my left foot. I went to several specialists, including a foot specialist, who could not figure out what was going on.
My husband noticed I wasn’t using my left arm when I walked so we told the neurologist when I saw him in 2011 for the third time; he was stumped. He said one of the medications I was on was known to cause Parkinson’s like symptoms. I heard that word, but I didn’t think much of it. I went off that medication believing that was the problem. Nothing changed. Then, I started noticing I would freeze; I literally couldn’t move — getting out of the shower or the car, making a quick turn refereeing. I believed if I didn’t get to the bottom of this I wouldn’t be able to move at all in another year. That’s when I remembered what the neurologist said, ”Parkinson’s like symptoms.” I googled the medication I quit and saw no reference to the symptoms. So I googled Parkinson’s symptoms, printed it and took a highlighter to show all the similarities.
In February of 2012, I excitedly went to see my provider. I proudly took my paper that was bright yellow from all the highlights. I was sure I solved the mystery. After we went over the information, my provider got teary-eyed, and I wondered what I got myself into.
He put me on medication assuming I was right and made arrangements for me to go to Mayo Clinic. In September 2012, Mayo confirmed I had Parkinson’s Disease.
The medication worked and I was no longer freezing, but there were other symptoms. I knew I could no longer ref, my balance was unstable and I still got leg and foot cramps. Again, I was referred to a neurologist at the Billings Clinic. After several appointments, he recommended Deep Brain Stimulation. I watched a video on YouTube and was very nervous.
Luckily, they had just improved the surgery so the patient no longer had to be awake during the surgery. Whew! It went well for nine months, then my cap had rubbed a small hole on my head so I had to immediately go to Billings to have it removed for fear of infection. Three months later, I returned to Billings Clinic and had it put in on the other side of my brain. I’ve now had it in for six years and charge the battery under the skin on my chest, as needed.
I now know I’m not alone in our community — I found four men and one lady in Wolf Point with PD! I’ve spoken to all of them and even had dinner together at Harry’s once. I was always happy to run into them somewhere.
Jump forward to today. I’ve had a few serious falls, so I now use a walker 24/7. I’m retired from Wolf Point Schools but continued to go in and sit with students or have lunch, but now it’s too difficult. If it weren’t for my husband I’m sure I’d be couch potato. I’ve actually reduced my medication this year but made only one visit to the school. My symptoms are slowly progressing. Two of my fellow friends with PD have passed away, one is in a nursing home and I haven’t seen the other two. I still enjoy painting rocks and recently had two books published about the Assiniboine language, so that’s exciting. I hope to do more! I joined two Parkinson’s groups on Facebook which keeps me up-todate.
Everyone has a different story. Personally, I feel lucky! I have a supportive husband who is an amazing caregiver, wonderful friends that stop by or invite me to functions, get to go south for part of the winter, can still drive and I have a wonderful friend who comes in to clean weekly.
We get to visit our daughter and granddaughter in Billings and see our grandsons in Kansas. The Fort Peck Tribes and IHS have been very supportive. I am lucky and this is my PD story!
