In this blog, I have spoken about many aspects of my life with Parkinson’s and new things are cropping up all the time. Subtle changes in swallowing, maybe a memory that’s a bit worse and some other things so subtle it’s hard to put a finger on. I think I might notice a bit more now if I take my meds a bit later than I ought to. I talk about my mobility issues, but most of these are directly related to my back issues and recovery from my surgery.
There is one topic, I don’t think I have really touched on, however and that is the subject of voice. I’m not sure if I have deliberately chosen to try and ignore it or that it hasn’t seemed much of a problem? I’ll admit, with all the physical issues I have had over the past probably three years, my voice has not really registered with me as being a priority. Sad but true.
For someone who likes to talk – and some would say ‘boy does she love to talk!’ – I have sorely neglected doing much of anything in the way of vocal exercises. Now is the time that I need to sort myself out and see what I can do to protect and improve my voice. At the moment I have developed a cough that I am really struggling to get rid of. Being 64 years of age, this can be a risky business and products are needed even more so to protect me from leakage. A sad fact and part of ageing I guess, but very true!
I started doing a podcast with the name ‘My journey with Parkinson’s’ which is on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Pocket Casts and Youtube. Much as I do with this blog, I talk about how life with Parkinson’s is with me and it’s many aspects. In a prior life some 30 years ago probably now, I worked as a co-host on a breakfast show in a little town in the North Island of New Zealand. So, in thinking about how I want to reach people I decided to start a podcast. I have enjoyed doing it and part of it is interviewing various people on topics that are useful to talk about. These include topics such as Wills, Enduring Powers of Attorney, Speech Language Therapy and our local Parkinson’s Society’s services. They have been fun to record and I’m sure people have found them useful.
So, my voice has been very important to me.
Why, therefore, might you ask have I not been doing anything to support and keep that voice? The honest answer is that I am not altogether sure. Perhaps it’s avoidance because I haven’t wanted to face the fact that my voice will have problems? However, recently not only do I have a cough, but I start to get breathless halfway through a sentence and it tapers off to the point where my husband misses the final part. To be fair, he does have ‘husband ears’ at times, so I put it down to that! It couldn’t possibly be my fault!
But, with noticing the changes of late, I don’t want to lose my voice and have to give up my podcast or not be able to talk with those I love. I am seeing my GP on Friday and I know we asked for a referral to a Speech Language Therapist, but I have a feeling the referral was declined. Possibly because my symptoms were deemed not significant enough to warrant a place on the waitlist. Now, I feel I do need some help to get a programme together for my voice. It is time I put my big girl pants on and faced the fact that if I need to do something. If I don’t then the voice that has served me so well these past 64 years may be a thing of the past.
In the meantime, I have found some online voice exercises I can do, so at least that is something. Hopefully, I will soon be able to report back that I have a programme and am improving.
Crossing all my fingers and toes…
My journey with Parkinsons 