To misquote David Bromberg "there I was again right where I Knew I shouldn't be". It was hours to meeting time and thanks to laziness I didn't have any plan for the support group activity. This left me with two options. I could stand up in front of the members and tell them straight from the shoulder that once again Generalissimo Pedro had dropped the ball, trying to keep a brave face while they tore my stripes off. We'll call this option 1. Option 2 was to improvise something at the last minute and try to make it look like I had planned it all along. The human heart being what it is, I opted for #2. This is called turning a problem into an opportunity. Although the two look much alike at this stage.
Really it's turning the problem into an opportunity to turn the problem into an opportunity. Creating the opportunity is now the problem. Somehow in that pregnant moment when irresistible force (laziness) smacks into immovable object (meeting time) out of the chaos springs an idea: The PD Pop Quiz! A little brainstorming on content and presto- instant meeting. Here it is:
PETE'S PD POP QUIZ (Answers at the end of this post)
Three early signs of Parkinson’s Disease Are A: Slowness B: Dementia C: Loss of sense of smell D: Tremor predominantly on one side E: Hair loss
Which symptom does not respond to treatment with sinemit? A: Tremor B: Loss of balance C: Slowness and stiffness
True or false: PD is contagious ( ) T ( ) F
True or false: The most noticeable effects of PD are caused by the loss of the neurotransmitter seratonin in the brain ( ) T ( ) F
An rare side effect of some PD medications is A: Offensive body odor B: Sex or gambling addiction C: Flatulence
True or false: Voice therapy is useless in PD ( ) T ( ) F
True or false : If I have PD, I should quit exercising ( ) T ( ) F
The tiny handwriting of people with PD is called_____________________
Scientists now believe that Parkinson’s is underway in the body (A) 6 months (B) 1 Year (C) more than a decade before it is commonly diagnosed.
True or false: PD is a disease of the old ( ) T ( ) F
A diagnosis of PD is a death sentence ( ) T ( ) F
The part of the brain where cells are dramatically lost in PD is called the
A : Cortex B: Hippocampus C: Substantia Nigra
DBS is the acronym for ___________________________
True or false: PD is curable with present medication ( ) T ( ) F
True or False: PD is treatable ( ) T ( ) F
Extra credit: PD is better than A: A sharp stick in the eye B: A sharp stick in the brain C: A dull stick in the eye
So why am I bothering you with this beyond showing off? Well, because the stupid thing made for a surprisingly good meeting. People seemed to enjoy the challenge of the test and, more important, when went we went through and graded it, each item provided a jumping-off spot for questions and discussion. By the time we got through it, most of our meeting time was shot.
So support group leaders, you are welcome to use it, Clip'n'Save for the next time you are caught without a topic. It's my gift to you. And it comes with a question: what's your suggestion for fruitful support group sessions beyond booking some excellent speaker? What have you done that gets your group members talking and sharing? Lazy as ever, I await your replies, please post to the comments section or by email to dunlapshohl(at)Gmail(dot)com.
Oh yeah, the answers:
Three early signs of Parkinson’s Disease Are A: Slowness C: Loss of sense of smell D: Tremor predominantly on one side
Which symptom does not respond to treatment with sinemit? B: Loss of balance
True or false: PD is contagious ( ) F
True or false: The most noticeable effects of PD are caused by the loss of the neurotransmitter seratonin in the brain ( ) F
An rare side effect of some PD medications is B: Sex or gambling addiction
True or false: Voice therapy is useless in PD ( ) F
True or false : If I have PD, I should quit exercising ( ) F
The tiny handwriting of people with PD is called Micrographia
Scientists now believe that Parkinson’s is underway in the body (C) more than a decade before it is commonly diagnosed.
True or false: PD is a disease of the old ( ) F
A diagnosis of PD is a death sentence ( ) F
The part of the brain where cells are dramatically lost in PD is called the C: Substantia Nigra
DBS is the acronym for Deep Brain Stimulation
True or false: PD is curable with present medication ( ) F
True or False: PD is treatable ( ) T
Extra credit: PD is better than A: A sharp stick in the eye B: A sharp stick in the brain C: A dull stick in the eye
