So, here we are in beautiful Rarotonga just settling in for our first full day on the island. One of the things I have been especially looking forward to has been snorkelling. On previous trips we have snorkelled every day and was one of our favourite things.
Today, we went for the first snorkel and hopefully not the last. Before we decided to snorkel today we talked yesterday about whether I would be OK to snorkel if my husband wasn’t with me. Of course, me being independent me, I said I would be fine and could go on my own if he didn’t want to.
Little did I realise how much I would need him after all.
Another of life’s changes with Parkinson’s was to come my way today. We got down to the beach with our snorkels and flippers and I sat down – with some difficulty I might add – in readiness to put on my flippers. I found I couldn’t do it independently and so my husband had to put them on for me and do up the straps. Then we were ready to go.
I decided to start on my knees and sort of crawl along until the water was at a level when I could at least float. I put my snorkel in my mouth and – just as it had happened previously – I started to hyperventilate and basically have panic breathing. It took a few goes before I felt reasonably safe. Then I gave my husband the signal and we started off.
It then took me by surprise that I constantly wanted to know where my husband was to feel safe. This was a sharp contrast to last time we snorkelled and it surprised me. As long as I knew where he was I was reasonably OK. But, if I couldn’t see him I became anxious.
We didn’t stay too long in the water, but have agreed to try again while we are here. Hopefully, I will become more relaxed and we can both enjoy snorkelling without my anxiety getting in the way.
More to come….
My journey with Parkinsons 