Microsoft word - gfpsg newsletter 091209 .doc

Greater Fresno Parkinson’s Support Group
"Helping to optimize the quality of the lives of People With Parkinson's and their Care Partners." every month, taking the month of August off. Our Next Meeting is on
3438 E. Ashlan Ave., Fresno, CA 93726, at the SE corner of Ashlan & Bond between Saturday, September 12, 2009
First & Millbrook. Enter the parking lot from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

OUR PROGRAM:
Dr. Robert Calmes, a leading neurologist
practicing in the Central Valley area, will
specifically address sleep issues for People
with Parkinson’s and their Care Partners. He
will also be available to answer other
questions concerning Parkinson’s disease.
The Hazel Hutchman Memorial
Chuckle of the Month:
Neuroscience Center Invites You to a PD
Experience: Saturday, Sept 26, 2009,
Why Teachers Need
9am—4pm, at
Senior Concerns,
Long Summer Vacations
401 Hodencamp Rd., Thousand Oaks, CA
91360.
nutrition, exercise, therapies, and fall including television writer Mark Solomon (remember the show “Newhart?”) You’ll love The PD Song! Celebrate the Art of PD with parent cell. The students were fascinated, some great artists who just happen to have one in particular. “This is amazing,” she Parkinson’s, including the highly acclaimed said. “I had no idea sheep laid eggs.” artist Jorge Lacoste who will be exhibiting Source: Aimee Caruso, Readers Digest with us. Meet the amazing marathon runner, Wayne Foster: Betty Foster informed us that
as of about two weeks ago, Wayne’s level of care increased to the point that he is now at Hy-Pana House Convalescent Hospital. He
would appreciate visitors: 3510 E Shields Ave., Patricia Dailey, Program Coordinator Info Van/Community Outreach (559) 222-4807,
(559) 227-9724. We all wish you the very best
OFFICERS
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Please respect the confidentiality of personal medical information revealed to one
Interim Leader/Emcee:
another in our meetings. Always check with your own doctor before changing your
medications or treatments based on what you read in this Newsletter or hear at our
meetings from others, even medical experts, because Parkinson's disease is such a
Treasurer/Alternate Emcee:
complex disease and our respective bodies react differently to the disease and to the
medications and treatments prescribed to treat it.
Membership Committee:
Getting to Know MARGARET DIXON: Care Partners Group Leader:
Margaret began her life in the humid "Deep South" of Spring Hill, Louisiana, but moved with her parents to Co-Librarians:
the cooler climate of Tacoma, Washington, when she was ten. The Pacific Coast states would be "home" to Margaret for the majority of her remaining years. Newsletter Editor:
Graduating from Stadium High School in Tacoma, she transferred to University of Washington where she ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STEERING COMMITTEE
years. Mutual friends and family ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
members introduced Margaret to John Dixon, an Allen & Anne Guenther, Emeritus agriculture student at Washington State. The couple married on August 22, 1959. John had grown up on a "dry land farm" with his family. After graduation, h Del Monte Foods in Washington, Oregon, and California (including two moves to Fresno). Two daughters were born to John and Margaret: Elizabeth (Libby) in October 1961; and Tracy in August 1964. Margaret was a homemaker with an interlude of working for the Fresno Board of Realtors while Tracy was in high school. Margaret has enjoyed tole painting, bridge, and knitting. She devoted herself to home and church. John loved woodworking as a hobby. Max & Charlotte Wolfe, Emeritus
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Pieces of his fine furniture are enjoyed to this day, and many toys were WEBMASTER
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handcrafted in his workshop over the years and donated to the local "Toys for Tots" program. John passed away in August 2004 from lung cancer. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PEER COUNSELORS FOR
The Dixon family became members of the Trinity Presbyterian Church after they OUR CARE PARTNERS
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returned to Fresno. At one point, both John and Margaret served as deacons at the same time. Traveling was also a special pleasure: John took Margaret on a "60th Birthday Trip" to tour Rome, London, Austria, Switzerland, and Paris. Caring From a Distance: Companions on that trip included Margaret's childhood friend and her friend’s www.cfad.org husband, a friendship that has lasted most of Margaret's lifetime with frequent Family Caregiver Alliance: www.thefamilycaregiver.org Well Spouse Association: Shortly after Margaret and her family came to Fresno, she became aware of www.wellspouse.org "something wrong with my leg." This was initially misdiagnosed as Essential Tremor. As her symptoms increased, her neurologist made the diagnosis of FOR MORE INFORMATION,
Parkinson's disease about 12 years ago. Margaret's father also had Parkinson’s TO UPDATE OUR MAILING LIST,
OR TO SUBMIT MATERIALS OR
disease; this was a factor in her agreeing to participate in the current UCLA PD SUGGESTIONS, CONTACT:
Ellen Jablonski
Ellie, a faithful yellow Labrador retriever, is a special pet for Margaret. Margaret tripped over Ellie early last autumn. That fall resulted in significant injuries and a Barbara Burmeister
change of residence for Margaret to The Fairwinds. As a consequence, Ellie is no longer able to live with Margaret, but comes over to visit from time to time. More recently, Grace Merritt has become an aide and friend to Margaret, taking her to appointments and helping her with errands. Small World! Grace is the www.FresnoParkinsons.org
granddaughter of our Parkinson's disease friends Jim and Betty Norman who attend our GFPSG meetings. (559) 593-9953
Study Shows Anticonvulsant Zonisamide is Safe and Effective for Parkinson’s:
Dr. Miho Murata of Tokyo's Mushashi Hospital recently told the Movement Disorder
Society's International Congress that the anti-epileptic medication Zonisamide controls
symptoms in long-term treatment of Parkinson's disease without causing its patients to
develop disabling dyskinesia. Symptoms such as wearing-off and intractable tremor were
found to be improved and maintained for a minimum of 3 years, at which time
antiparkinson’s drugs were increased in some patients.

Words of the Month: The term tardive (tär’ div)
Pay Less for Medications:
dyskinesia (dis’ ke nē’ zhe) was introduced in
1964. Tardive comes from the French word (tardif) Partnership for Prescription Assistance:
for tardy or late, meaning that the dyskinesias A coalition of pharmaceutical companies, appear late in the course of therapy with a drug health-care providers, and patient advocacy that blocks dopamine receptors (DRAs). These response to the use of the drug. Dyskinesia
companies provide 2,500 drugs, from Advair refers to an involuntary movement. The effect of to Zoloft. Since its launch four years ago, the these drugs can be tardive, meaning the
PPA has helped supply $14 billion worth of dyskinesia sometimes continues or appears even prescription drugs to 5.7 million people. Typically, a family of four earning about
$40,000 is eligible. To find out if you qualify,
go to PPARX.org. (888) 477-2669
People With Parkinson’s Need to
Avoid Most Anti-Nausea Medications:
YourRxCard.com:
This free prescription drug card program is produced to help all Americans cut their savings of up to 75% at more than 57,000 metoclopramide (Reglan®), and national, regional, and local pharmacies.
prochlorperazine (Compazine®) block
Benefits of the Card: no deductibles, no waiting periods, no pre-existing exclusions, an anti-nausea medication while taking a cancels the other out. One anti-nausea
drug, ondansetron (Zofran®), works on a
Is It Hot In Here Or Is It Just Me?: One symptom
that People With Parkinson’s might have is this problem. Be sure to check with your changes in body temperature resulting in higher or doctor and pharmacist before taking such lower “normal” temperatures. It’s important that you track what is now “normal” for you so you can be properly treated should you have an infection. Treasurer’s Report by Barbara Burmeister
GFPSG: The July 24 – August 25, 2009, Wells Fargo Bank Statement shows a
Beginning Balance of $335.74. Debited from the account during this period were two
checks totaling $84.67. Credited to the account was a $20.00 donation made in August,
leaving an Ending Balance of $271.07. Outstanding are two checks totaling $177.20: a
$77.20 check for documented newsletter expenses (postage, printing, envelopes, ink);
and a $100 check for the July and August stipends to our newsletter editor to
compensate/reimburse her in part for the tremendous amount of time, research, and
work required to put out a first-class newsletter each month, and for her miscellaneous
undocumented expenses incurred as a result of her work for the GFPSG (e.g. internet
access, electricity, gas, etc.), leaving an Adjusted Balance of $93.87.
The GFPSG expenditures for monthly meeting and newsletter expenses paid out of our Wells Fargo checking account for the period of January 2009 through August 2009 was $1,094.25 for an average of $136.78 per month. Donations made directly to our GFPSG group and deposited into our Wells Fargo checking account for the same period was $780.00 for an average of $97.50 per month. As our monthly expenses exceed our monthly donations, our checking account balance has been slowly depleted over the months. Therefore, the Steering Committee is considering requesting a grant from our Support Group account held at the Fresno Regional Foundation to replenish the Support Group's Wells Fargo checking account used for our monthly expenses. Although monies donated directly to our Support group are not tax deductible, they do help cover refreshments and Newsletter-related expenses and are greatly appreciated. Donation jars are at the sign-in table and refreshments area. Thank you for your continued generous support. Fresno Regional Foundation: The “Parkinson’s Support Fund” Balance as of
August 28, 2009, is $3,733. There was one gift received in the month of August in the
amount of $100.00. Donations and gifts made to our Support Group through the
Foundation
www.fresnoregfoundation.org for additional information. Thank you! Our Group Depends Quite Possibly On YOU
Our Group both provides support for and requires the support of many hands. We have been blessed with a great number of People With Parkinson's (PWP) and Care Partners who help in many ways. Of course, worsening of conditions, waning energy, etc. create a continuous challenge to balance their individual work loads and even relieve them from time to time. We would very much appreciate hearing from you if you or someone you know could help with leadership tasks such as upkeep of the library, providing refreshments, emceeing the meetings, arranging guest speakers and programs, tending the sound system, editing our newsletter, updating our website, straightening out rooms after meetings, etc. Thank you!

Source: http://gfpsg.org/docs/September09.pdf