Bear with me, for I have PD, and over seventy standby...
Ready for movement ... To get the gist Here is my Motor hierarchy checklist
Muscles ... checkMotor neurons ... checkCentral Pattern Generators ... checkBrainstem ... checkMotor cortex ... check
OIL!!!! Oh no! THE OIL! ‘Tis my foil! Alas! I am defeated Oil production 90% depleted No transmitter to be seen I simply lack That DOPAMINE.
Hierarchy Not a go Not substantial OIL to flow
I am the tin woman of Wizard of Oz fame, oops they left me out (... misogyny once again?)
Stiiiiff and rigiiiid Increased tremor For a few years As I remember Dystonia comes No matter the weather
Every sinew pulled so tight Grit my teeth with all my mightTry to sleep throughout the night
Symptoms Were my only chance Of analyzing This stiff motor dance
Had MRI And CT To see just what was meant to be
... No MS (No de-my-el-in-a-tion)Hence E-lim-in-a-tion!
You see ... Alas, as yet there is no actual PD Test!
If PD Is meant to be Only midbrain section is route to see If substantia nigra Is black or not.
But I shall have to wait to see what I have got
Must wait until I ex-pir-ate
Then I promise My brain to donate
And then, oh then All will see If I actually Had PD?
So my cells that make my dopamine died Neouro folks Still wondering why Neuro-toxins?
Such as pesticides? My genes perhaps? Yet to decide...
Neuro transmitter “D”... The process has many quirks But I shall attempt to tell How system works
Action potential Goes on its way Axon to Syn Terminal If things OK Channels open Ca+ ions Flood the way Snarepin says OK Here is the way Then vesicle membrane
(D “oil” inside) Fuses to next cell membrane Action Potential Can simply slide From cell to cell An easy ride Thanks to the D Transmission can abide
Process repeats and repeats See what it means That ease of movement thanks to dopamine
Unfortunate-Lee That is what I lack Is my D producers This is a fact
In substantia nigra (In midbrain, telencephalon) Are in effect DEAD Forever gone No oil production Forever more. Wish I could purchase D cells At the Pharma-Store.
Wish I could just Ingest D freely Impossible, impossible Unfortunate-Lee
Oh dear, oh dear, I am at a loss ... As the blood brain barrier The D cannot cross.
I must rely on substrate Pharma-made ‘Tis the only thing That can give me aid
Sigh, my own dopamine Is my quest Not possible, Give it a rest!
On Pharma-made, I must rely For of my D producers 90% did die
Generic L-Dopa Or Brand Sinemet With either Partial need is met Forcing D production In cells I have left (For now Not totally bereft)
Timing is crucial Four hours is max Then dose again Those are the facts Imperfect, but most days Does suffice
For the inhibitors Can be inhibited still With a simple swallow Of Levodopa pill.
To be honest, some days are hell No rhyme no reason. Perhaps too early to tell Tremors and pain often cast their spell.
What helps is exercise And loud music with a beat Chanting Math multiples As I move my feet Reading and gardening These seem to often defeat The arduous pathways
I am forced to meet. Although gardening has a price to pay But to see it blossom Overcomes my “payback” day.
Years ago, my Father The same path travelled (Little I knew My fate too would unravel The same diagnosis Would become my focus)
His mind was sharp Right to the end A wheelchair topple ... He did not mend A scene it was Reminiscent of ED Devine A rush to check lottery Caused his decline An aside here ..
Dad had sinemet Side effect We wondered how His needs could be met
What happened was His jaw would lock Botox was new, Luckily, Dad got
A research doc ... Injections three times a year Keeping muscle Free and clear.
Botox blocked the The muscle contracting Cut the snare pin And jaw lock, was unlocking
One must find humour, In every state. A Sally Ann ringer I could make!
Sincere-Lee Roberta Lee Campbell